My wife and I were helping our oldest son Colin and his love Stef move into their new place. The couch was never going to fit through the doorway. How did I know? Simple. The doorway was 28 inches wide and the couch was 38 inches wide. I measured it. I am after all 52 years old and enjoy the wisdom of many moves. My son shot me the look. You know the one, “Oh yeah old man, watch me!” He and his 6’-9” basketball buddy from England proceeded to prove his old man wrong. The project took almost an hour. They didn’t give up. As I think about Colin’s basketball career, since the the third grade he has been proving adults wrong. He has a constancy of purpose. Drive. Dogged determination. Focus. Grit. The expression on his face was priceless. They did it! He flopped on the couch contented. He looked over at me. I simply said, “You did it! I am proud of you. I love it when you prove me wrong!”
As I watched the sun go down, listening to John Lennon on my iPod, I have always identified with the rebel, the contrarian, the thinkers that said and did things that make you say, “What do you know!” I love the Paradox. According to Webster, Paradox is defined as:
A statement or proposition that, despite apparently sound reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seem senseless, self-contradictory may prove to be true. A thing that combines contradictory features or qualities.
In my first book, Freedom from Fear I wrote Add years to your life and life to your years. Well, here are a few more from a grateful Dad:
Learn to laugh. Laugh to learn.
Regarding my children, love them simply and simply love them.
No God, no love. Know God, know love.
I used to live to eat. Now I eat to live.
Love the sinner, hate the sin.
Word hard, then hardly work.
I never believed in following the rules or ruling the followers.
A passion for reason, a reason for passion.
Be a child to your friend and a friend to your child.
Work at play and play at work.
Surrender to win. Win to surrender.
Love what you do and do what you love.
What comes from the heart, goes to the heart.
I embrace the wisdom of uncertainty and certainty of wisdom.
My children don’t listen to word I say but they watch every move I make. Socrates said near the end of his life, “I stopped listening to men say and simply watch what they do.” Helping my son move today sent him a message. We spell LOVE a little differently: T.I.M.E.
As we were finishing up putting the entertainment center together, we turned on the television to watch the Lakers play the Jazz. He had a self-satisfied look on his face. He glanced over, smiled and said “I love you Dad.” He meant it. I love it when he proves me wrong. I love it when he is right. It was a good day. As the sun set on the Olympic Mountains, the sky a crimson hue, it hit me. Today “I added life to my years…and years to my life.” Or as John Lennon sings, “Imagine.”
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