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« The South Shall Rise Again? | Main | Traveling through time. »

April 27, 2012

Facing Eternity. Facing my Father.

Facing Eternity. Facing my Father.

This week my father, Bill Mansfield, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Liver Cancer (small cell carcinoma). Dad's 84 years of age.

My brother Ken, my sister Joyce and I decided to take time and visit him at his home in Florida. I post this blog while Ken and I travel down US Frwy 49 at zero-dark-thirty in the morning of the 27th of April. Joyce drives down from her home in Georgia on Saturday

The Louisiana thick morning darkness surprisingly masks the spring heat, providing an illusion of some type of cold morning (that's not real).

I couldn't help but see the application of such an illusion to what so many of us live day to day. We see life and we think it is one way, when in reality it is completely counter to our belief.

Thinking our life goes on untouched by the fall of man is like that. We smile at the future, yet the only true future to smile back is the eternal one.

Dad's invincible spirit will serve him well because he knows where he will be going due to the cancer. I do not know what the future holds for my Dad on earth - but Ken, Joyce and I (along with our other 4 birth-siblings plus step sisters) know WHO holds the future for eternity. It is truth wrapped tightly in the near-death fact that "God is". He simply IS.

The mystery of that hidden reality is kinda cool to experience.

I think Dad understands this as well. I look forward to saying "hello" knowing I may also be saying "good bye" for the final time.

And it's ok. I'm at peace, as are my 6 siblings, our spouses and the many children we all gave birth to, because Dad (and Mom) gave birth to us.

Den



01:54 AM |

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Meg

Love you, Daddy. I'm so glad you get to say good-bye to grandpa, and I'm so sad that good-byes have to happen. Please give him an extra big hug from us.
Love you!

Posted by: Meg | April 27, 2012 at 12:36 PM

Ted Mangini

Dennis, I spend many years as a Hospice chaplain, some of the best time in ministry in the 40 years of service. This will, no doubt, be a hard emotional time, but it will be great...what a blessing. If I can be of any help my #is 615-399-6894.
Ted Mangini <><

Posted by: Ted Mangini | April 27, 2012 at 04:50 AM

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