One of the last things Dad and I worked on together was a slide show / video for a music CD that I am producing. Now for a bit of background: Although Dad was an engineer by profession, he enjoyed more and found his artistic expression through photography. Many of his photos grace the walls of our home, his home, his sister Patti’s home, and also happen to be used for the CD artwork. I am in the final stages of getting my CD finished, which happens to be an instrumental interpretation of the biblical creation story, and while I was waiting for other people’s schedules to fall into place, I was thinking about what I could add to the project, especially since Disc #2 is less than half full. I approached Dad with the idea of putting together a slide show using his nature photos to accompany the opening tune, “Creation Overture” (the video is included as bonus content on the disc, accessible through a computer). I remember seeing his eyes light up as he agreed to do it, and within a couple days, he had culled about eighty to ninety potential photos for us to go through. We discussed a general approach, whittled the number of slides down to about thirty-five to forty, bought some software that would do what we wanted done and spent many hours putting it all together. Mum told me after Dad died that working with me on this video was a highlight of his life. Mine too, Dad. Mine too.

I could share other memories with you but I feel right now that I am meant to share what others had to say or write about him, and also a few of his own words, to gain some insight into the life of this great man:

[Someone speaking to me] “If you are half the man your father is, you are doing well.”

“I could tell that on or off the [basketball] court, he really enjoyed life to the fullest.”

“What a kind, gentle, loving Spirit he had. He was the love of God and Light of Jesus to everyone with whom he came into contact.
I know he would have been greeted with, "well done, good and faithful servant. Come into the Mansion I have prepared for you. You have fought the good fight of faith, you have run the race.... and won."”

“I will miss you so much papa. I feel so Blessed to have known you.”

“Bob was a man who carried the father’s heart he was of man of love, of impact, of outrageous generosity and compassion. You will be missed Bob!”

“I have not met him personally but I heard about him many times. I saw his pictures and talked to him in skype one time. I know he's a very good man. Tim told me a lot about his goodness. He touched thousands of filipino lives thru [the] Biosand Water Filter [project]. Uncle Bob is the father of this water filtration [project] here the Philippines. Thanks uncle Bob.” [side note: Dad had pioneered clean water projects in many parts of the world and in the Phillipines alone, it has been estimated that at least 60,000 people (and growing) now have clean water and will not die from water born illnesses.]

“Bob especially was like my dad, I love him so much.”

“Bob was the man! He was gentle and wise, full of compassion. He was a very patient man, he was even my room mate. When I was in India, my luggage was left in Hyderabad, Bob let me have a pair of his boxers! Bob was more than double my age and he whooped me in basketball!”

“Bob shined the light of Jesus when he smiled. He will be missed. The one-thing I am sure about, is that Bob is certainly in heaven. Some Christians I am not to sure about, but Bob was welcomed home by his Loving FATHER GOD...”

“Your dad was one of the first people at the Vineyard to come along beside me when I first started coming out. He was like a big brother to me. I knew I could count on his big, strong shoulders when I needed them. I will truly miss him.”

“He was a father to many, but none so intimately as you. I've never met anyone who had the Father's love shine out of their eyes like him.”

“Rob, Your Dad touched the lives of many people. He left a legacy that leaves the world a better place for many.”

“The relationship you had with your dad has influenced for the better my relationship with my dad - and it was already good!”

I could go on. There are many more comments other people have made along those lines of “legacy,” love,” “father.” Sounds more like a superhero! (He was mine!)

Now here is what Dad had to say, which I pulled from his blog.

[Oct.28,2009] I think I am struggling to figure myself out. But not too intensely, because we have been very busy moving back into our home – cleaning, painting moving furniture, repairs, etc.
I would like to have more time to sit here & look out the window.

[Oct. 19, 2009] ‘Are we all wanderers in the same forest trying to find a fresh trail to truth?’[quoting from the book, Soul Cravings, by Erwin McManus]
“Is it possible that truth is more than an idea and that it is found in God?” [quoting from Soul Cravings]
I have been reading in the gospel of John lately. Pilate asks “What is truth?” This was in response to Jesus’ statement – “. . . I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
If one is truly searching for truth, then the search should eventually lead to God through Jesus.

[Oct. 12, 2009 Thanksgiving] I am so thankful for so many things – especially my precious wife, Sylvia.
God has blessed me so richly with a wife that is exactly perfect for me in every way.
And, Sylvia really loves me!
She must – putting up with me for 44+ years, and supporting me in all of my plans & adventures.
Thanks Lord, for everything!!!!

[Aug. 4, 2009] While listening to Hawaiian music (the beautiful voice of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole) and reading (the boy who fell to earth), I was touched by God. I felt His wonderful love for me. It’s hard to describe the experience – warmth, peace quiet, contentment, etc. (You had to be there – I am glad I was.)

[Jul. 22, 2009] “To lose ambition is to become complacent.
To lose passion is to become apathetic.
If this is our only option, how pathetic!”
(Soul Cravings)
Destiny, vision, ambition, passion – I struggle with these ‘issues’.
Why?
Is it because I am not sure that my ‘dreams’ are big enough?
Maybe I am afraid I am or might become ‘complacent, apathetic, pathetic’.
I am not sure how destiny, vision, ambition, passion fit into my life.


[Jun. 12, 2009] Oddly enough lots of stuff in this ’section’[from the book, Soul Cravings] resonates [in] me.
“. . . we are all hypocrites in transition. I am not who I want to be, but I am on the journey there, and thankfully I am not who I used to be.”
“Love is ever expanding. Love always grows, not just deeper, but wider. Love always loves people more and always loves more people. Love calls us into community . . .”
- - - - - - - - - - -
Does this surprise you? Does it surprise you that a man who obviously had such an impact on so many people would . . .struggle? Struggle with figuring himself out? Struggle with destiny, vision, ambition, passion? Felt at some level that he was being put up with?

I recall two DVDs Dad got for Christmas one year: One was Braveheart. It wasn’t the action, or battle scenes that drew him to this film. It was that William Wallace sacrificed a life of ease and comfort to step into something bigger than himself and full of risk. One line from that movie sums it up: When Wallace was asked something like, “Aren’t you afraid to die?” He answered, “Every man dies. Not every man really lives.” The second DVD was The Passion of the Christ: the man who gave the ultimate sacrifice and showed us all how to really live. Dad wanted to really live. And he did, but not without sacrifice. His adventures led him and Mum to Vancouver for four years - away from his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. After one particular misson trip, he got a nasty cough that took months to get rid of and wiped him out physically. But judging by the impact he has had on so many people - it was worth it!

But it wasn’t for adventure’s sake that he did this, or to make a name for himself. Isaiah 66:2 (from The Message) sums it up well, “. . .there’s something I’m looking for: a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say.” (Thanks Tina!) It was God’s love for him and his love for God that prompted him to greater things. There is a song that impacted him many years ago and significantly changed the way he related to God:
Precious Child

Show me dear Lord how You see me through Your eyes / So that I can realize Your great love for me.
Teach me O Lord that I am precious in Your sight and as a father loves his child, so You love me.

I am Yours because You have chosen me. I’m Your child because You called my name. And Your steadfast love will never change: I will always be Your precious child.

Teach me O Lord that Your love will never fade, that I can never drive away Your great mercy.

This was my Dad’s life. Many have spoken about the way he loved people, the way he was like a father to them, the way he saved lives, about his legacy.


So, what will your legacy be?
.
.
.
Really. What will your legacy be?



I am beginning to understand the following scripture in a different light, “But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matt 6:33. Dad’s legacy started with seeking God, with relating to Him, with receiving His love. Every life my Dad saved, everyone he loved, everyone he was a father to, everyone he touched in some way was born out of simply hanging out with God first. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Heb 11:6

This was his legacy.

It can be your legacy too.

It will be mine.