be-musings

I just asked Scott if it's too obsessive to post one more thing about dad, and he said "No, your dad died! Two is not too much." So I'll indulge one more time. This is the "sermon" Scott gave. I think that for the little time they spent together, he understood him fairly well.

I met Lorne late in his life. I vividly remember my first impression of the man – he was short… and quiet. He was a man’s man – flannel and jeans and grease on his hands and a smoke in his mouth. He was like a little cowboy almost. I liked him instantly.

Lorne grew up in a world that didn’t talk about their feelings much, unless there was beer and a hockey game involved. Lorne seemed quiet about himself at first. Polite, accommodating, rough and tumble – a good dude.

My wife Annette often tells me that her dad wasn’t a big talker, but I remember vividly one night, sitting across the table from him all alone, as he described for me how much he loved his kids. Later it seemed hard for Annette to believe, but for that hour, that night, he gushed about her and her siblings – words he had a hard time saying to someone’s face.

He was a unique guy, let’s be honest the whole family is unique, wonderfully unique. I think God loves making people like Lorne – he was never boring. In a world of copycats, Lorne was an original. He was like a flannel John the Baptist, preparing the way in the wilderness. I promised Annette I wouldn’t mention how he would take the family on campouts to the middle of nowhere and seemingly randomly choose a spot to camp – usually miles from electricity or water. I promised I wouldn’t mention that, so I won’t. I think God has a special place in his heart for people like Lorne, people who uncompromisingly live their convictions. People who aren’t afraid to be different. I’m pretty sure God loved Lorne a lot. And though this is a time to mourn, it’s also a time to celebrate – celebrate Lorne’s life and celebrate that Lorne knew in his heart that this is not the end of his life, really. He believed that there was a heaven, and he’s there right now. He never really talked about it, but in his own introverted way he made his peace with his God. He just didn’t want people to know till after he died – you know he had a tough guy flannel image to protect. And that’s good news. We mourn, but Lorne doesn’t. Right now he’s up in heaven freaking the crap out of the angels with his wit and sarcasm. And the best legacy we can give back to Lorne is to love each other deeply, and tell each other we love them. It’s too late when we die to say the things you really want to say today. We have just a moment on this earth, let’s not waste it.

// posted by Annette @ 10:28 p.m.