Down the Fathering Road

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

Cormac McCarthy's The Road is probably one of the top twenty books I've read in the past few years. It's a powerful story of a Father and his Son and their struggle for survival in a post-apocalyptic world. They have no names; they're known simply throughout their journey as "the man" and "the boy". We recently watched the movie adaptation and I was equally moved by the relationship of the Father to his Son as I was in the book. It's a powerful portrayal of a Father's love for his child and sacrificial devotion that looks to the interests of others. It's the kind of Dad that I want to be to my boys.

I was reminded of The Road this past Father's Day as I thought about my own Dad and my Grandfathers that I've had the honor to know over the years. My Dad has taught me about work. He's a hard-worker and that's an understatement! He's also a man that lives out James 1:27--he truly cares for those who have nothing and are unnoticed by the world. He's a good man and I'm proud to call him my Father.

My Grandfather on my Dad's side passed away many years ago, but one thing I remember about him is his deep booming laugh. It would shake the dishes and the table. I remember always wanting to be around him. He was kind and would always chuckle at my habit of running into another room when we were watching a basketball game together that was coming down to the wire. I couldn't take the tension!

My Grandfather on my Mother's side has taught me so much. He helped me learn how to drive a clutch smoothly and how to change my own oil. He showed me how to make sausage gravy and has let me borrow his truck countless times over the years! But most of all, he's modeled for me how a man is to love his family and his God.

As I walk down my own road as a Father I want to leave a legacy for my children. I know Rich Mullins once said, "If you have ambition to leave a legacy, you'll leave nothing but a legacy of ambition", but the legacy I'm talking about is one of faith. I want my boys to see my love for Christ reflected in everything I do. I want them to know that I love their mother faithfully. And I want them to know that I will always be their Dad. Hopefully, none of that will be lived out in a post-apocalyptic world like in The Road (!), but that's my heart's desire, and if you're a Dad I pray that it is yours as well.