Lessons I Learned From Dad

With today being Father’s Day, I thought I would share some of the lessons I
learned from my father. Dean Dickinson passed away about four years ago. I think
about him often. I learned so many things from him. Some of those life lessons
include:
First, following Jesus Christ is what is most important. He was a Christian who took his faith seriously. Even his career choice reflected his faith. He was a minister on the staff of multiple churches over his long career. He had a strong desire to help people know Christ and he did what he could to share the good news with people.
Second, he believed in always learning. He had an undergraduate and masters degree but he never stopped reading and learning. He would share items that he uncovered in his reading that he thought I would be interested in. He was an avid student of the Bible his entire life. Even if he had read a passage many times he still  approached it with a posture of expectation that God would teach him something new.
Third, he believed in the power of encouragement. If he read about someone he knew he always cut the article out of the newspaper and sent it to that individual with a personal note of congratulations and affirmation. He also came alongside people in their time of loss. When someone at the church he served lost a loved one, he would try to capture the information about that loved one and then check in on them later. He wanted to see how they were doing. He made a point to send anniversary letters to the person he knew to mark the loss of that loved one year after year. Over the years I have had so many people tell me how when it felt like everyone else had forgotten about their loved one Dad would send a letter or make a phone call checking in on them in their journey of grief. He had a true compassion for people and always tried to encourage them.
Fourth, he taught me to expect challenges, especially as a leader. He was a leader in a large church, therefore, he received his share of criticism over the years. He always handled it with grace. I will never forget after one of my first sermons as a senior minister at a church in Indianapolis a man came and chewed me out about what I’d said. I called my dad who I expected to give me a sympathetic ear. He was sympathetic but his main response was “welcome to the ministry.” That was his way of saying criticism is just part of the price you pay when you lead people.
Finally, he taught me the importance of family. He was a busy man who worked long hours. Yet if I wanted to talk to him he put what he was working on aside and gave me his full attention. He genuinely saw me and encouraged me. He even challenged me. My family was not wealthy; sometimes I was not able to do activities that my peers could because there was not enough money. As a teen, occasionally I complained about this. As an adult when I told dad I was going into the ministry he told me “settle the money issue first.” He wanted me to understand that we were rich in the most important things like faith and relationships. If I did not learn contentment then I would struggle.
Dad taught me too many things to remember, let alone mention here, but he was a true source of love and wisdom in my life and I will never forget him. I realize that not everyone has the privilege of having a great father like I did, but if you have a serious father wound I encourage you to go to God, who is a father to the fatherless. He can love and guide you.

Pastor Derek Dickinson
Journey Christian Church