A Father's Heart

A couple of thoughts to share with you on this Father's Day...

On Christmas day (2005), we were traveling from Michigan back to Indiana and had to stop at my office to pick up the other car which we had left there over that weekend. We went inside long enough for a bathroom break and to let the other car warm up a bit.

While there, our then-3-year-old, Hannah, discovered a water cooler and a supply of Dixie cups that she put to good use, filling one, walking back to my desk, drinking it, and then running back for more. She had done this a couple of times on her own, but during one trip, I heard from another room, softly at first, "Daddy" -- then louder, "Daddy?" -- then immediately, the desperate cry of one in the most helpless of situations: Lost -- and seemingly, alone.

I rushed to find her. She wasn't but a few steps from familiar territory, but she had gone straight through a hall where she should have turned.

It got me to thinking -- how often do I get to doing my own thing my own way only to make a wrong turn and find myself lost, crying out, "Daddy?" I used to imagine that as often as I get myself into trouble, that God might get tired of hearing my cries, but now I realize that God, the Father, hears my cries when I'm truly lost and it breaks His heart, just like Hannah's cries broke mine, and God comes running, every time.

Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Luke 11:11-13 (NIV)

Also on this Father's Day, I'd like to take the opportunity to announce to those of you who may not know that Christy and I are expecting our second child!

We are very excited about expanding our family and all that comes along with that.

Hannah is excited about being the big sister, and had done her part to inform the world (including perfect strangers) of the big news.

She is also convinced that the baby will be a girl.

"What if it's a boy?" we ask. "We'll see." says Hannah, knowingly. :-)

We (that's "We") are due mid-December.

Stay tuned right here for all the baby news you can handle!

Films Recently Watched:

Slowly trying to make my way through the Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection. I've had it for over six months and haven't even made a dent. With some birthday money from my parents and Christy's parents (thanks Moms & Dads!!), I've also recently added eight John Wayne/John Ford films to my collection, so I'm going to try to cut back my DVD selections from the library and work on getting through some of my own collection that I have yet to watch.

The Birds (1963) dir. by Alfred Hitchcock
Anyone who ever said that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush hasn't seen this movie!
For an older 'horror' picture, it is still legitimately scary at times. Very effective use of sound effects.

The Trouble With Harry (1955) dir. by Alfred Hitchcock
Unexpectedly funny! The trouble with Harry is that he's dead. Throughout the course of the film, at least three of the four main characters have reason to believe that they may have been responsible for Harry's death. The various reactions from the small town occupants are priceless. Beautiful fall colors throughout. This has to be among Hitch's most colorful films. All that, plus a young Jerry Mathers, who later would play Beaver Cleaver in Leave it to Beaver (see picture, right). This is easily among my favorites of the Hitchcock that I've seen thus far.

Saboteur (1942) dir. by Alfred Hitchcock

Man on Fire (2004) dir. by Tony Scott
A beautifully-photographed thriller from Tony Scott, director of Top Gun, Crimson Tide, and Enemy of the State, among others. Denzel Washington is excellent, as usual.

Karate Kid II (1986) dir. by John G. Avildsen

Karate Kid III (1989) dir. by John G. Avildsen

Now Playing...
The Saturday before Father's Day, I got a special Father's Day present. I got a chance to go see a couple of movies currently in theaters. Christy and Hannah had a girl's day out with two friends from church. One is getting married in October of this year, the other is the Mother of the Bride. Hannah is going to be the flowergirl in the wedding and they all went shopping in Indianapolis for dresses.

A Prairie Home Companion (2006) dir. by Robert Altman
"It's Saturday -- the band is playin' - Honey, could we ask for more?" As a listener of National Public Radio, I've heard these opening lyrics to the radio program, A Prairie Home Companion, many times -- usually on the way home from Sunday services at church. Garrison Keillor is the quintessential entertainer, and basically plays himself here. He, alongside some of the other Prairie regulars join film stars Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Kline and others to form a really strong cast. I loved the use of mirrors in the backstage areas. It was a little weird seeing a movie in a theater, set in a theater, about a real radio show, starring real actors playing other real actors, but it's a sweet little movie. However, unless you don't mind being the only one in the theater under seventy, I recommend renting it when it becomes available on DVD.

Cars (2006) dir. by John Lasseter and Joe Ranft
As if I couldn't get enough NPR movie tie-ins, the guys from Car Talk make a cameo in this one. Good Stuff! Another homerun from the folks at Pixar! It's everything that we've come to expect from Pixar: stunning visuals, simple, but strong story, interesting voice acting -- in this case, Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy, a couple of Pixar favorites, Bonnie Hunt and, of course, John Ratzenberger (who got some of the biggest laughs -- over the end credits). This isn't just for NASCAR fans or racing in general. There's enough heart here for anybody.