Faith & Insight: Thank Heavenly Father first this Father's Day

Happy Father's Day! Father's Day, as we know it, had what one would consider a very rough start. It was so much easier getting Mother's Day on the calendar. As a matter of fact, it almost ran the risk of disappearing from the calendar altogether.

It gathered attention slowly, but it was all for the wrong reasons. According to Wikipedia, it was the target of much satire, parody, and derision, including jokes from local newspapers. Many people saw it as just the first step of filling up the calendar with mindless promotions. Which, by the way, the calendar has filled up with, so whoever said that was correct. We have: National Hot Tea Month, Oatmeal Month, Potato Lovers Month, Noodle Month, and the list can go on and on. For fun you can look in a book entitled "The Book of Days."

But, despite all of its difficulties, we have an annual Father's Day.

Maybe something that you hadn't thought of, is the spelling and punctuation. Although it is understood to be a plural possessive it is actually spelled singular possessive. Which, I think, is very appropriate. Even though I am a father of three, out of a family of six, I still consider the day as a singular possessive. Though it might include me after that first thought.

Consider the following Scripture, wherein Paul was speaking as a prisoner of the Lord, beseeching the follower's of Jesus to walk in a manner worth of the calling, in lowliness, gentleness, long-suffering, bearing with one another, and endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. He stated:

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Ephesians 4:1-6

So, in a world, that is endeavoring to have an all-inclusive, opened armed embracing of all faiths, the Holy Scriptures make it clear that there is one Father, one Lord, one Way, one Truth and one Life.

So I appreciate so much today, as we prepare to celebrate tomorrow, Father's Day. We can do so starting out the day with a singular-possessive, focused prayer to our gracious Heavenly Father. And then embrace the dads, pluralistically, throughout the lands, encouraging them to the same kind of selfless loving kindness that our Heavenly Father has shown us through His incarnation Jesus Christ, the salvation of all those who believe.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. Happy Father's Day!

• Patrick Propster is the pastor at Calvary Chapel Church.