Has someone ever touched your life in such a positive & remarkable way that you know you are forever changed from your relationship with them? That no matter how many years go by or how many life changes you experience, that person’s influence is an embedded fingerprint on your life?

During my formative early years as a believer in Christ, I was fortunate to be blessed with multiple mentors who helped teach me and encourage me to be the woman of God I was destined to be. One of those remarkable people was Patrick T. Daley. Although his wife Deirdre was my primary mentor, Patrick was also quite involved in my life. I could not have asked for a more perfect couple to guide me along some fairly rocky roads and show me the way of living for Christ. From them, I learned more than I could have every imagined. I learned through their example what a life of discipleship really means, and for that alone, I will always be grateful.

In so many ways, I consider Patrick my spiritual father. Spiritual fatherhood is not a widely understood practice in the traditional Protestant-type church. Many of us know what discipleship means, but spiritual fatherhood is much more personal and much deeper. One’s spiritual father truly gets into your life and helps guide you along in your faith.

There is so much to be said about spiritual fatherhood and the importance of it, but now is not the time or place. This is my brief moment to share with you all about the tremendous impact Patrick had on my life.

On September 29, 2006, Patrick departed from this earthly life to the glorious one awaiting him in heaven. His body succumbed to the ravages of an adult form of leukemia (I do not recall the exact type that he had) and all the secondary conditions that arise from having a diminished immune system. We learned of his emergency admission to the hospital while our friends Jeremy & Becky were visiting, and within 2 weeks, Patrick was gone… Jon & I have not visited Pensacola or seen Patrick since April 2002. We already made plans to meet with him & Deirdre during our trip in early November for the wedding of one of my closest friends, Jodi. So to hear that we weren’t even going to be able to get caught up with how our lives have been during the past 4 years or how our future plans are changing was an incredible loss for me. I didn’t get to say goodbye in person. and I didn’t get to tell Patrick face-to-face how much I loved him and how I valued his input and influence in my life. As I have gotten older, and gained a little more wisdom, I have realized the genuine impact such a life as Patrick’s has had on me personally. and I really wanted to hug him and tell him THANK YOU.

In retrospect, I know that Patrick knew how much I appreciated what he did for me and for Jon. I was even able to send out a brief email to him shortly before his hospital admission saying such. But it’s not quite the same as hearing it or saying it in person.

What do I do now with my life, after knowing that I have a responsibility of carrying on the torch? I live passionately for Christ and I help others find who they are designed to be by God. I live my life according to the truth I know and the examples that have been set for me. and I pray diligently for those who do not follow Christ, so that they can also be transformed into His image and impact their communities.
Thank you JESUS for divinely appointing Patrick as my spiritual father and for allowing me to learn from the feet of one of Your own.

Many of you know that I am not a camper (sometimes not even a happy camper – hahaha). That outdoorsy kinds of activities are just not my thing. Give me a plush hotel any day and I am quite agreeable. But camping? overnight? for a full weekend? How was I ever going to manage?

A few months ago, Jon got it into his head that since I went to Mozambique in the spring and handled that well, that I should (’should’ being the relative word here) be able to handle camping in the US. So he suggested it strongly to our friends in lifeSOURCE, and maybe I was just feeling sweet, I don’t know, somehow I said that I would go willingly and much to the surprise of many. All summer long we planned to go on a weekend outing, but it never really worked with schedules. Finally we saw an opportunity to do this camping thing the weekend of September 22nd-24th and we planned our getaway trip to Pokagon State Park.

Here’s a quick rundown of my experience: IT RAINED!!!! and there was lightning and thunderstorms throughout the weekend!!!! Did I mention, IT RAINED!!!! Actually it was mostly light rain in the daytime and the heavier stuff at night, so that was bearable. Though I’m sure I would have enjoyed it even more without the RAIN.

I don’t need to go into the details of what we did out in the woods of Pokagon, since most people know what goes on and doesn’t go on during camping. For the most part, we ate, we sat around, we ate some more, we sat around again, and we ate even more. For 2 nights we slept in semi-leaky tents (no serious puddles or waterfalls thankfully).

I have to confess though, Jon & I slept in the Explorer the first night since the leaks our tent was experiencing needed more time and daylight to address. But I was ever so thankful for our Explorer and our queen-size air mattress the following night.

Will I ever go again? I will not say “No.” But it’s highly unlikely that I would go again anytime soon. or that Jon & I would go alone. It’s just too much work to camp. Or so it seemed anyway.