There are several helpful steps we can take to heal and invoke the father:
- Praying to God as father. By this I don’t mean talking to some anthropomorphic male God in the sky who is bearded and Caucasian. But rather, reflecting upon the active, dynamic spirit or life force which is everywhere present in the universe and in each one of us.
- Softening our father image and our ideas about authority, especially if our father God is stern, judgmental, or punishing.
- Healing our relationship with our own father. This can be done on our own even without his physical presence.
- Writing a letter to him telling him how much we care whether he is living or has passed on.
- Becoming conscious of our relationships with our own children if we have them, or other children of the world, and seeing where we have become our own father. I’ll see that with my sons. I will say something and then think, “Oh, this is my dad speaking through me.”
I like this sweet story called “Good Vibrations” by Nancy Perkins from St. Johns, Michigan:
My dad died unexpectedly at age 78, leaving our family heartbroken. During the funeral mass, my sister felt her phone vibrate in her purse. She was a little surprised that someone would be calling her, knowing she was at dad’s funeral mass. Afterward, she found there was a message: “Hi, this is your dad,” said the male voice. “I wanted to let you know I made it home.” The caller obviously had the wrong number, but the message was clear. My dad had completed his journey…and wanted us to know. Thanks, Dad—until we meet again.
This Fathers’ Day, let us honor Father God, the Father within, and our own earthly father.
Happy Fathers’ Day!
Love & blessings,
Rev. Kathy