Taking a stand at the pole

My youngest, the most shy of the four, makes up for it with a contagious sweetness.  She wanted to be at school really early this morning, so I agreed to drive her.  “See You at the Pole” Day for Christian high school kids. 

Hannah invited a friend and was confident she wouldn’t be by herself.  Even so, as she got out of the car, I encouraged her that if she was the only one there, she wouldn’t be alone.  Thousands of kids would be meeting at similar school flagpoles across the country to pray.  “Allie will be there,” she said, matter-of-factly.

As a dad, I couldn’t be more proud of her for taking such a stand.  All four have made it habitual to do so, usually taking stands that go against the common grain.  Which, I guess, is what a “stand” is.  Just like their mother’s favorite Far Side shot of a sea of penguins and one shouting, “I just gotta be me!”

Robert serves in Afghanistan, and while even those who oppose the war tend to be supportive of individual soldiers, his work is certainly not public front and center – or crowded with joiners.  He chose this war over the other one, he said, because he believed in it.  And so he stands guard or goes out on missions in a remote, dusty place called Kandahar because he believes it is the right thing to do.

Stephen and Hope, the two middle kids, are perhaps the most vocal about taking stands, not the least of which was not saying one word for a whole day, as when they observed the Day of Silence as high school students.  Such a stand wasn’t all that popular with their fellow classmates and certainly not with their church friends.  But they remained silent in the face of criticism and misunderstanding.  As Hope said, “No one deserves to be bullied, Dad.”  For whatever reason.

As parents we like to take credit for what our offspring achieve.  But mostly it’s about giving them roots and then letting them fly.  Allowing them to fly means just that – releasing them to live out their roots as best they know how.  The roots their mother and I gave them were the core of our faith – love God with your whole being and love your neighbor as yourself.  They’ve been flying ever since.

No, Hannah, you won’t be alone at the flagpole today.  Allie will come, and even if she doesn’t make it, your Maker will be there with you - and your dear old earthly dad will be proud of you.