If ever a person fit into the mindset of Tom Brokaw’s book, “The Perfect Generation,” it was my dad. Having been born prior to the great depression and living through that time without a dad made him appreciate what he had and care for it with daily expressions of appreciation and gratitude. Living during a time when Emily Post’s writings were the rage, his way of life represented a path of courtesy, respect and adherence to what was right and how that should appear to others.  Surviving a foreign war with a spouse and child barely subsisting and while your friends died around you helped him appreciate what his blessings and a nation trying to right the world’s wrongs. His diligent work ethic caused him to embrace the American dream and communicate it by making his children’s lives better than his. He was shaped for his time and position so he could pass on those traits to us for such a time as this.

My dad was not perfect, any more than anyone else’s earthly dad. However, I never had to question his ethics, motives, or focus in life. There was never reason to question why he did the things he did. He expected us to do “the right thing.” As good as that generation was, they were not great communicators. Much was held inside and “sucked up” so they would not be seen as complainers or unappreciative.  There was a sense of pride in making something out of nothing. Therefore, some of life’s challenges were never dealt with openly. There was also a sense of acceptance from any authority figure, whether it was a politician, doctor or the church pastor. Unfortunately, as time has revealed this trust was abused. Today we see too many of that generation taking too much. That goes for everything from financial allocations, medication and contributions to wolves in sheep’s clothing.

It was Dad’s generation that made our country strong, stable and a nation among nations. Today, we are watching the global prosperity his generation worked so hard to build, unravel. Before dad died, I used to watch him look at the news and try to imagine the context of his feelings about national and world events. At times he would shake his head in silence as tears formed in his eyes. As I age, I see more of his and John (the Apostle’s) paradigm of the need for simplicity, love and commitment to our faith and principles. We live in a world of complexity and systems which many believe will protect us (and therefore our economy), yet the reality is they are destroying us quietly, a little bit at a time. In 1^st Corinthians 14:33 we find that: “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace,” and that Satan will deceive the world (Revelation 12:9) through what appears to be right, but is wrong (2 Corinthians 11:14). Our technological advancement has deluded us from seeing the infrastructure crumbling.

Most friends or family members will remember dad based on how his diabetes impacted his moods and emotions during his last decade or more. When I hear those comments about him, I remember Shakespeare’s quote: “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.” My dad was an integral part of the perfect generation, asking for little but giving a lot. I think that is what God asks of us, is it not?

Love Dad