Super Dad

When I was just a kid, about seven or eight years old as I recall, my parents decided to take the whole family on a vacation out to the Wild West. My Mom and Dad sat down with a brand new Rand McNally road map of the entire United States and a red marker to trace out the adventure of a lifetime. We were going to see Carlsbad Caverns, Brice Canyon, the Painted Desert, the Grand Canyon, the Grand Tetons, the Badlands; and the apex of our trip was to be a week of camping in Yellowstone National Park. 

The only problem was that the old car we had was only fit for four, not five and since Janie, my little sister, was new on the scene Dad had to go off and buy a brand spanking new 1966 Rambler Ambassador station wagon; the first car in my family to have air conditioning. We were a proud lot. Another problem lay in the fact that to make this happen we were going to have to camp, motels were just too expensive. So one sunny Saturday afternoon we all loaded up in the brand new Rambler and headed to Northeast Columbia and the Holiday Camper store. We bought a little pop up camper, with just enough room for five, a few supplies and a whole host of memories. We hitched it up and were ready to go.

I have lots of stories that come from this trip, and I will probably share a few of them  with you in due time, but right now let me tell you about a moment in time when my father and superman were one and the same. 

After a marvelous week of experiencing the awesome beauty of some of natures true wonders, we arrived at Yellowstone National Park. We took a few of the obligatory tours, but my father, being an outdoorsman of sorts, preferred to do his own thing. He brought Mike, my brother, and me along as bait. We saw bears, and moose and elk. We forded streams, climbed trees, fished for trout and cooked them over an open flame. It was truly a little boy’s dream come true.

Well, one night after dark and after Mom had scooted us kids all off to bed, a park ranger came to the campsite and struck up a conversation with my father. Dad was sitting outside of the camper all by himself enjoying a cup of coffee and the quiet of the evening.

Now the walls of the camper were canvas, and since I was practicing my eavesdropping skills, I heard the ranger when he told Dad that it might be a good idea for him to move inside the camper. Naturally Dad, being curious, asked why and the ranger said that there was a grizzly bear roaming the campground; and he was a big one and a little mean, so they were taking some precautions. My Dad being an outdoorsman and a man’s man didn't budge. He wasn't going to let some phantom bear interfere with his quiet time. He was the master of his domain.

Seeing that Dad was going to hold fast to his position, the ranger got up to leave and told him to just keep an eye out and be careful. Dad said he sure would and then he casually asked the ranger where he thought this particular bear might be.

Well, to the best of my recollection the ranger pointed a little to the right of the camper and told Dad that the bear was off in that direction about, oh, fifty feet or so. It was at that moment in time, when my father and superman became one, because without the aid of a jet pack, propeller or even a phone booth my father flew. 

I can still feel the camper quake. I can still hear the crashing sound as my father, a normally sane and measured human being, leapt with the agility of a jungle cat from his chair to the inside of that little camper. It was truly an impressive sight. From a seated position he covered that considerable distance and never once touched the ground.

The ranger stared after him fascinated for a moment, but he eventually came to himself and headed off once again to warn other folks of the imminent danger. His warnings however stood in stark contrast to the somewhat derisive, cackling laughter issuing from our camper and filling the night air.

My mother was beside herself with joy; an uproarious joy that she saved only for special occasions, and my father making a fool of himself was pretty special in her estimation. Prudence dictated that we kids feign sleep, but there were delighted grins all around.

In the end, my father, now deflated and somewhat ashamed, slunk off to bed to dream of slaying dragons and of better days to come. 
 
1 Peter 5:8-9a
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, ….
NIV
           
​But remember to avoid him as much as possible and to never let pride trap you in his grasp. There is a time to run!
 
Love,
Pastor Tony
 
    

---