A Father's Heart

Life is short. It’s longer for some, shorter for others.

Even to live to be 120, in the grand scheme of things – specifically, in view of eternity – life is still short. Which is probably why Moses prayed, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” None of us knows how long we have to live. Moses knew that making the most of our moments on earth comes from gaining God’s perspective on what’s really important.

I don’t know about you, but far too often I find myself allowing the business and busyness of life to cloud my priorities. Toss in the endless list of worthy activities, the steady stream of entertainment vying for my attention, and the bottomless needs on my “to do” list, and it’s easy to lose perspective on what ought to take precedence.

Charles Hummel penned one of the most important little books on this tension called the Tyranny of the Urgent. Hummel argues that far too often we allow the urgent things in life – such as a demanding boss, a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity, or persistent people clamoring for a piece of our schedule – to run roughshod over the important things.

Unlike the boisterous tyranny of the urgent, the important things – getting proper rest, eating healthy, reading the Bible, or spending time lingering with our spouse and children – never yell for our attention. These important things, Hummel says, wait patiently for us to get around to doing them. That is, until the day when we suffer from the consequences of neglecting them.

Like a much needed wheel alignment, two weeks ago I was reminded about the brevity of life and the need to focus on what is truly important. Here’s what got my attention.

Although I’ve never met Rick Burgess, co-host of the Rick & Bubba Show, my heart went out to him. You see, Rick was speaking at a youth event several hours from home when he received a phone call that rocked his world: his youngest child, , age 2, accidentally drowned in the family’s swimming pool.

As a father of two boys, I cannot fathom Rick’s loss.

Even though he has the number one syndicated radio show in the southeastern region, Rick knows there’s nothing more important than his faith in God and the love he shares with his wife Sherri and their five children. Always the family man, Rick spent his free time loving on his clan. Not only did his faith and that bond at home make him a better communicator on air, it also sustained him during this incredible loss.

How do I know?

Just listen to the message Rick delivered at the memorial service about his faith, his priorities, and the death of his son Bronner. See if this father’s heart doesn’t touch your heart and, in the end, lead you to the heart of the Father in a new way.