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Michael Fox CPCC,
founder of m�agine!,
is a professional
coach and trainer,
author and creative artist, whose work has been featured throughout
the world.
Michael is a
Certified Practitioner
of the
Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator.�
Do you know someone
who might benefit
from our weekly email?
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The care and provision
of a father...
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In the early eighties, when I was in my early twenties, I was struggling to overcome the consequences of some poor choices.
No, wait...A poor choice was when the operators of the Titanic, confident their vessel was indestructible, ditched many of the lifeboats to make additional room for shuffleboard courts...A poor choice was when Dick Rowe of Decca Records, in early 1962, rejected the Beatles' audition tape saying, "Guitar groups are on their way out."...The poor choices I made nearly resulted in my own self-destruction. Really, I don't mean to be self-absorbed, but my choices were dreadful choices.
But, back to my point...
One autumn evening in those distant days, I was despondent. I made the short walk through the gathering gloam to my parents' home. My hope was to find some comfort, some hope, from my lovely, supportive father. As I turned up the walk to their home, my father was, ironically, carrying a bag of trash out to the street. As we met, without pausing for an answer, he absently said, "How're you doing?"
In my self-absorption, not realizing his question was rhetorical, I responded, "I'm about as low as I've ever been." My father continued on, bearing his garbage, and replied with resignation, "Well, that's life. Get used to it." Not what I was looking for.
I'm guessing my father was having a bad day as well.
Upon reflection today, I count myself blessed that I was in my twenties before I realized that there were provisions my father could not fill, battles my father could not fight, wounds my father could not heal. But that autumn evening was somewhat devastating. It was the evening I first sensed that my father shared my own vulnerabilities; and yet, thankfully, it was that very evening, much later that night I might add, that I first came to appreciate Jesus' commendation of our God as our heavenly Father:
If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God the Father who conceived you in love will be even better? (Matthew 7:9-11, The Message).
It was that evening that my loving and supportive--albeit vulnerable--father inadvertently handed me over to the care and provision of my heavenly Father.
Thanks, dad.
Was there a time in your life when you initially sensed the vulnerability of your own father? What remains of that initial realization?
What would you like to say about your own father? Go ahead, be it good or ill; what is there to acknowledge or to forgive?
What are your thoughts around the care and provision of God, your merciful and gracious Father? Have you made the "hand-off"?
Fathers, what are you communicating to your young children about the care and provision of a father? How are you preparing them for the day when they must transfer their trust to the heavenly Father?
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Michael Fox
m�agine!
530/613.2774
P.O. Box 9144
Auburn, CA, USA 95604
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In addition to personal and professional coaching,
m�agine! specializes in spiritual transformation coaching,
employing its proprietary models
--Values, Vision, Voice and Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength--
as well as
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator� curriculum
published by CPP, the People Development People.
Michael's books include
Complete in Christ,
Complete in Christ Spiritual Transformation Workbook,
and Biblio�files.
Coaching fees are based upon a sliding scale. Contact us for details.
Limited scholarships are available for spiritual transformation coaching.
On the flip side, if you are able, please inquire about opportunities
to fund scholarships for those who cannot afford coaching fees.
View our archives!
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