The Gospel For Fathers

I shared some reflections on "the Gospel for Fathers" in our worship for Fathers Day and wanted to post them as well.  It begins with this story about the life of Thomas Vander Woude that I came across on the Atlantic Monthly website.  (Click Here for the source article.)

The morning of Sept. 8, 2008, was like most mornings for Thomas S. Vander Woude, a former airline pilot who, in retirement, kept a farm in Nokesville, Virginia. He went to Mass, and then turned to the relentless demands of his 26 acres. By his side was his youngest son, Joseph, known as Josie, who was 20 at the time, and who had Down syndrome. Josie’s six older brothers had long ago moved out of the house, but Josie was his father’s inseparable companion.

While Thomas was working, Josie was off in a different part of the yard when a broken septic-tank cover gave way under his feet, and he slid in. Vander Woude, from a distance, saw his son fall. He understood right away that Josie was in mortal danger. The tank was 8 feet deep, and filled almost to the top with waste. 

Vander Woude rushed to the hole, which measured 2 square feet. He reached down to grab his panicked son, but without success. A workman at the house saw what was happening and told Vander Woude’s wife, Mary Ellen, who called emergency services. The workman and Mary Ellen rushed outside to help. By then, Vander Woude had lowered himself into the tank. He treaded in the sewage in an attempt to keep Josie’s head above the water line, but Josie was still sinking.

So Thomas Vander Woude made a decision: He would hold his breath, dive under the sewage, and lift Josie onto his shoulders. When rescuers finally arrived, they pulled Josie out of the tank; he was alive. But Vander Woude, 66 years old, was dead.

He had made the deliberate decision to risk drowning in sewage in order to save the life of his child. 

There are three reasons I wanted to share this story with the people of Christ Covenant.

First, it's important to hold up real-life pictures of life lived faithfully.  We live in a self-indulgent and narcissistic culture that surrounds us with it's vision of what life is all about.  I want to share this story to remind myself and others that Fatherhood is not about what you get, but about what you give.  Paradoxically, that is where the joy and hope is.  I can't think of a thing I've given up for my family that I have regretted.  It's a different story on some things I've not given up on.  And let me say it clearly: A male human does not become a father by being a sperm donor.  This story reminds me of the joy of Fatherhood: caring for a treasure that is worth more than my life.

Secondly, a personal word.  I am thankful that my own father never had to do for me what this Father did for his son.  But I am deeply shaped by having know all of my life that my Dad would have.  He didn't enlist in the Marine Corps hoping to get a taste of Korean food.  He wanted to preserve something he valued in order to pass it on to four get-to-be-born children.

Finally, I know that not everyone grew up with that sort of love from a father.  But there is hope and healing in the Gospel, for there is One who has loved us with a greater love than even a father like Thomas Vander Woude.

The Good News is this: There is One Who left His safety and climbed down into the septic tank of this sin-sick and broken world and lifted us up so that we might be rescued.  It cost Him His life, as well.  In a sense, Mr. Vander Woude's life is a shadow cast from the true and perfect Savior, Jesus Christ.  Jesus went on to be raised to new life and Lordship of the universe.  Mr. Vander Woude will be raised to life by that same power one day.

The Gospel is not about browbeating men into being more focused on others - their wife and children - because that would only last about as long as the browbeating continued.  There can be no false promises in this life either.  Even when good father's give their best for their earthly children, things can still break down and run off the rails, at least for a season.  And how could there be any hope for a man who doesn't want to pass on to his children the brokenness, alienation or abandonment he experienced from his own?

Our hope is what Jesus has accomplished.  When a man is gripped by the Gospel - the announcement that there on the cross, Jesus gave His life in exchange for ours in this septic-tank-of-a-world - our hearts are changed.  We experience a love that is beyond any love known or missed in this life.  That love, and the new heart it creates, is the source of hope and power for earthly dads.  Because we have seen the love of the Heavenly Father, and experienced the grace of His Son, we can live out such a love for our children.