Fatherhood is one of the topics that is on my mind a lot this summer. My relationship to fatherhood has been complex at times. Other times my relationship to it was tumultuous. For a few years it was non existent. I became a father for the first time at the age of 31. Years of facing infertility issues finally gave way to a beautiful daughter. Words cannot explain my absolute thrill that August afternoon in Louisiana. She is probably a whole lot better daughter than I am a dad. I am determined to keep trying. Four years later in Texas we were blessed with a boy. Sometime I should relate some of the funny things that went on during that time of labor and birth. I was now 35 and still learning on the job.

Some probably know that three years later my son was diagnosed with autism. Words cannot capture the powerful emotions that go along with that diagnosis. The last nine years are a blend of some great highs as well as some unreal lows. He is still my best bud in the whole world no matter what his "label" says about him. Now I am 47 and still learning on the job. One thing I promised that I would do is to be as good of a father as humanly if not divinely possible. If you cut me, I will bleed dad.

Two recent developments are contributing to this pursuit. We attended our third pro baseball game of the season tonight. It is the second game that both kids went with me. My daughter and I were stunned at how much her brother loves going to the game. He sat in his seat except for cheering and chanting for his team. It was just unbelievable to watch. Later this week he and I will try fishing for the first time. We went to the store last night and bought two poles along with the stuff needed to make them work. This is another thing that is brand new to him and to me.

Now I love fishing and spent hours doing it growing up. It is something my grandparents and I shared down on their dock on late summer evenings. There are few memories better than my beloved grandmother and I watching our lines sink when a perch or bream hit the line. Sometimes I can smell the catfish cooking down in the cook shack. Now I get to hopefully share some similar memories with my special son. I just hope that I do as much catching as casting while with him.

Sharing yourself with your family or friends is always spiritual. Our Lord shared Himself with His disciples. Those disciples shared their experiences with others. We are direct descendents of what began over 2000 years ago. I wonder sometimes what Jesus felt seeing His followers "get it." Perhaps it is something like what I felt tonight at the Ballpark in Arlington seeing my son cheer at homeruns and great catches. It may not sound terribly spiritual but I know I feel a whole lot closer to God now than before the day began. Now if we can do something about him reeling one or two in when we go.

Bro. Trey