A Father's Blessing
By Robin Volker

A therapist friend of mine told me a story one day that carved its way into my mind.  His father was a career military man with successful tours all over the world.   The father longed for the son to follow in his footsteps.  His connections could have made the son's way easier than most.  But the son was not of the military bent.  He didn't like anything about the military way and chose instead to go in the opposite direction to the healing arts and become a psychotherapist.  Many years later, the father was diagnosed with a cancer disease and chose to live out his days with as little treatment and medical intervention as possible.  While he was still in relative good health, the father and son took a hike on a mountainous trail.  They reached a precipice, where they sat and rested.  There on this enormous rock outcropping, they surveyed the view in all directions.   The son turned to the father and said, "Dad, I know I haven't lived my life the way you would have liked for me to have lived it.  I know you wanted me to follow in your footsteps and make the military my career.  Have I disappointed you terribly?"  The father, in a soft and tender voice that the son could not remember ever having heard before replied back , "Son, my only desire for you has been that you have the strength and will to cut your own path in life, and then the courage to walk it wherever it takes you." 

What an honoring that moment was.  The son was honoring what he thought was his father's desire for him.  The father honored the individuality of the son and gave his blessing, in his own way, for his son's choices.  The father's declaration to his son on that mountain has become a special motto for me.   I share this story with you today; may it bless you in some way. 

Namaste`

Rev. Robin

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