Eulogy for Dad

My Dad’s funeral was on Monday.

I woke up Monday morning in a cloud of sadness. It was definitely the hardest day I’ve had in a long time. I got up extra early to go to a solitary place to clear my mind and finish writing what I would say to honor Dad.

I drove to the Texan. It’s always been one of my favorite places in Midland for breakfast, and Dad always liked it too. On the way I thought it would be good to listen to some music. I needed something. So I put in Bleach. Their music always seems appropriate to me, but I had never listened to them in the face of death.

But even in that place of sadness and loss, their music lifted my heart toward God.

After singing in my car at the top of my lungs with vocal chords cracking and tears flowing…

I went in the restaurant and got some eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, toast, and a Pepsi…

And wrote Dad’s eulogy.

Eulogy for Dad

Dad was a teacher…

But you don’t become a good teacher without first being a good student.

Dad loved to learn new things.

Actually…

I’ve never known anyone who was as excited about learning as my Dad was. The world was like a giant museum to him.

Whenever the car broke down (which was quite often), Dad asked the mechanics so many questions that the mechanics needed to fear Dad might replace them if they answered them all.

When we got our first computer…

Dad got sucked into cyberspace like Tron. Sometimes we feared he would never escape.

And I bet you can guess his favorite Star Trek character…

Spock.

I mean, he had the Vulcan Death Pinch. It’s only logical. And Dad was fascinated… “Boldy going where no man had gone before.”

But what fascinated Dad the most…

Was the love that Jesus Christ had for him.

The grace of Jesus brought my Dad to his knees in awe and wonder.

My Dad got up early in the morning and stayed up late at night to learn more about his Creator and King through Bible study and prayer.

And it was here that Dad learned to be a friend.

Because you don’t become a good friend without first having a good friend.

Broken people cannot unbreak themselves.

And lost people need someone to find them.

And a dead person needs Someone to resurrect them…

That Friend was Jesus.

Jesus was that friend…

is that friend…

and will forever be…

that Friend.

Jesus saved Dad.

I can’t imagine how excited Dad must be today. I picture him like a kid on an eternal Christmas morning…

Never-ending opening of presents in wide-eyed wonder. And after each gift he runs to his Father God and hugs him. Never-ending “Wows” of amazement.

He is standing in the presence of His Creator, Savior, Lord, and King…

Free from all pain and suffering.

Being taught in Person by the One who knows all things.

And embraced forever by the Friend who loved my Dad, and you, and me so much to die in our place to save us for Himself.

Dad’s life on earth was just the “cover and title page.”

Last Friday, Dad began, “chapter one of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read, which goes on Forever, in which every chapter is better than the one before.”