When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“The fruit of the Spirit is not only love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness etc., but also a beautiful family.”

Derek Maul

This sad but historic weekend was a whirlwind, followed by a sudden calm. In short, just throwing in a few of the key words, the past few days have been:

• blessed
• overwhelming,
• filled with love,
• fast,
• full,
• exhausting,
• important,
• poignant,
• beautiful,
• memorable,
• and triumphant.

You can’t live 94 years like my dad, bring an amazing family together, and have a memorial service at a vibrant church like WFPC without adding a boatload of rich new memories to an already full-of-wonder journey through this good life.

So here are some of the best pictures, perfectly representative of what it means to be part of a loving family rooted in the firm foundation of God’s love and providence.

I might add then, to my remarks at the service, that the fruit of the Spirit is not only “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” but also “the fruit of the Spirit is a beautiful family,” a family where stories are not only told but lived.

So, yes, this time together has also been an important journey in the ongoing series of Great Adventures I love to talk about so much.

Godspeed in all your adventures – DEREK