What a legend!

This post is dedicated to the best dad in the whole world. I am not just saying that because it was father's day yesterday, my dad is seriously a righteous dude.

Apart from being an absolute hoot to imitate, 'chiefdad' (seven years later he is still in denial about his grampa-status) is a very inspirational man. The world could do with a few more dozen 'Graham Stamford's (as long as no one allowed them to congregate into a choir- the noise would be AGONIZING, ahhh!!!!! Even imagining it has sent shudders down the spine)

Anyway, without getting all cheesy on you, descending into 'i wuv my daddy-ness', I will mention two things that I learned from my dad; two gems of wisdom have stuck with me.

1) Never give a flying monkey what anyone thinks. Although I have blushed many at time at the way he wears dress shoes with a tracksuit, falls asleep at every church service he doesn't preach at or sings (badly) in the street, I greatly admire his freedom in himself. Being constantly self-conscious stifles all sorts of things from sharing your faith, to having fun.

2) 'Trust in the Lord and do good'. My dad would say this to me every morning before school. Although I was not entirely 'good' at school, I gradually began to realize that I need to trust in the Lord's strength in my search for meaning, and in my choices that effect both my happiness and that of people in my life. I guess my dad demonstrated through his life that if you say you're a Christian then it is pretty lame to not be authentic(not to letting your relationship with God encompass your whole life); but the only way to be 'real' is to trust that he can make our selfish ambitions into compassion.