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This article is from Today's Native Father, issue #139, July/August, 2005. Related articles from this issue:
I Will Trust and Not Be Afraid
Developing Trust in Young Children
Rainbows in My Kitchen

With Father’s Day coming up, a son recalls the snowmobile adventure with his dad that taught him about trust.“

My siblings and I grew up in an alcoholic environment. I remember many days of despair. But I also have some very fond memories, family memories, times when we would all head out to our fishing camp for the entire summer.

One of those memories that I hold close is of the time dad and I went to check his traps way out at Kukukus Lake. It was in the early spring when the ice was beginning to melt. We had to snowmobile a few miles along a bush road and then take the lake and drive precariously along the shore, on the edge of the hang-ing ice. I remember the ice breaking off behind us! When you are a small guy, this is incredibly unsettling. I hardly had time to worry about how in the world we would get back, because I was hanging on for my very life.

After traversing this terrain for some time, we entered the bush where the snow machine had to be lifted and thrown over windfalls that seemed to be at least five feet high. You need to remember I was not even five feet tall. Dad’s strength was awesome as he grabbed the big machine and practic-ally threw it over windfall after windfall. I could only marvel and wonder why I was brought along. Once we got onto the open ice of Kukukus I thought I would feel better. I guess I would have if the ice had not been transparent. We could see right through this ice. If that were not enough, wouldn’t you guess, we couldn’t get off the ice because it had melted off from the shore!

Dad would just circle around and around till he spotted an area where we could get to the shore so he could check his traps. He did this again and again, seemly oblivious to the danger. He seemed to be in control of the situation as he focused on his mission. As we went from one site to another I realized I was totally at his mercy. There was no way I could expect to make it home without him, that is if we could ever get home! You could say I had no choice but to trust him.

Eventually we finished checking all the traps that were scattered around the lakeshore. Then we had only a few left on the island where our cabin was located. We already had a few beaver carcasses, and the odd marten. When we landed on our island, we found two foxes in his traps. I remember that at least one was still alive. Dad skillfully dispatched him.

By this time it was mid-afternoon and I was beginning to get caught up in the excitement of it all, even though it was still very chilly being outdoors all day long. Dad eventually decided it was time to break for lunch. He made a fire and heated up our sandwiches as he poured us some hot tea. It was then that I realized that I was really safe as long as he was in control, which he certainly was. The funny thing is I can only vaguely remember our trip home and it was this same trip that I was dreading for most of the day!

As I reflect back on that day, I cannot help but see my Heavenly Father in my dad. You see, he was never in doubt because he knew exactly what to do and how to do it. I just had to learn to trust him. Psalm 23 says, “I shall not want.” When we were together that day there really was nothing that I truly needed except to believe. He didn’t just “lead me beside still water;” we traveled on top of it. And I’m here to testify that the trail we took certainly qualified as a “valley of the shadow of death” for someone who didn’t know what he was doing.

Before it was all over, Dad and I had a great lunch prepared at his hand. I think that was probably the best lunch I ever had. At the beginning, I felt so small and helpless but when I was with him on that day I began to feel secure and even fruitful! The fur we gathered together that day represented that fruitfulness.

The scriptures plainly reveal that our earthly fathers have a tremendous influence on whether we will be able to trust the living God or not. The evidence has been in for a long time supporting the fact that a father’s relationship with his children will either benefit them in believing the truth or rejecting it, regardless if the father is a believer or not.

I have a good friend who never had a real relationship with his father. His family grew up in fear of dad who was not allowed on their property. He recalls how his dad would come up the yard in a drunken state attempting to kick the door down, while his older brother was hiding just inside the door with a loaded rifle, ready to gun down dad if he got through. No doubt these early memories have left a deep scar on my friend as it relates to his ability to trust God.

One thing that is irrefutable is the fact that every father provides his children with an indelible imprint of what the heavenly Father is like. That is simply the way God planned it. So when a father rejects his responsibility to model the father heart of God, he is seriously limiting his children’s opportunities to embrace God as their everlasting Father. This responsibility is one that God will not allow any father to be excused from. All fathers, believers or not, will have to answer to Jesus at the day of judgment for how they carried out this all-important duty. It has been said and bears repeating, you cannot take anything with you when you go to heaven except maybe your children.

My dad has not yet given his heart over to our Great Father. Nevertheless, I believe it was his modeling on that day that has helped me to trust in the Most High God when times of trial stretch me beyond human capacity. And it is for this reason that I rejoice and thank God for my dad. I love you, Father.

Walter Lyon is a father who lives in Sioux Lookout, Ontario.

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