Just Like Papa...

The biggest, most shaping and long lasting influences on our lives and the things we learn along the way more often than not are the result of something we see, observe, reflect on, experience and engage.

We learn by watching, trying, mimicking... doing. It is in this doing, often merely experimental, that we experience the process of transformation and becoming...


This week our family has been on vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. My father drove in from North Carolina and joined us for the last couple of days. Micah, my five-year-old son has been eagerly anticipating his arrival ever since he learned of the news of "Papa Jobe" meeting us in the mountains. It's amazing to see how little boys attach themselves to fathers and grandfathers, even those they only see once or twice a year... He simply loves his Papa's...

Papa arrived yesterday afternoon. Hours earlier Micah had grabbed his ball cap and put it on. Interestingly, he hasn't worn the hat once in the six days we've been here, but he knows Papa always has a hat on, and it seems in preparation for seeing Papa, he puts his hat on as well.

Shortly after his arrival we all loaded up and were in route to find somewhere to eat. No sooner than out the door and towards the van and Micah had rubbed up against Papa and grabbed his hand with a proud smile ringing from one ear to the other.

We arrived at the Old Mill restaurant, Micah, right next to Papa - hand in hand... and for the rest of the night never left his side. I sat across from the huge round table fixated just across from the open windows overlooking the river. Several times I smiled, as I glanced across the table only to observe Micah looking at Papa out of the corner of his eye, intently watching, observing and even mimicking Papa's every move. He re-positioned his had just to be exactly like his Papa's... Re-maneuvered and postured himself just to sit like Papa... Each time with that same proud little subtle-silent-loving smile on his face.

He's learning... He's growing... He's watching... He's becoming...

And, so we all are...

The question is, I suppose, what/who is it that we're spending most of our time looking at...?

For knowingly or unknowingly, intentionally or unintentionally, we are well on our way to becoming the very essence of what our eyes, minds and hearts have become fixated upon...