Richard Allen Denny

About Dad

Some words trying to capture this moment, and also a lifetime.

We did not expect his departure to sneak up on us.

We imagined this day could come sooner than later, but we were still caught by it.

Since mom passed, he has not been the same. She completed him as he did her.

His last years were very unlike all the others.

Why would God allow his body to break down so dramatically?

The amazing flight hours logged did not match this condition. He was suddenly dependent on us.

Yet perhaps, one reason could be that his last mission was to his children…

Could we get his memories, his learned lessons, his passions? Could we be captured by God’s canny love?

From dad’s one life so much is to be gleaned.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” Mt. 12:24

We cannot hold all the planted memories of his life. They grow beyond us.

Luckily, some seeds are rooted in us.

A glimpse of dad’s life.

Brothers and sisters, alfalfa and cotton, rattlesnakes and sand dunes, life lessons came early and directly.

Imagination may grasp this full sun-drenched youth.

His family migrated where better fortunes promised but they always brought their way of life and defended good virtue.

By Holy design, people, influence, and a Movement met an uncluttered and passionate soul.

Exposed to the purity of God’s love and call he surrendered.

He made himself available.

Adherence to early-won principles ensured a steady upward course of service.

His default response was “sure”. The kind of “sure” that gave someone permission or indicated his availability to join them.

He could not resist her. Mom was: the excitement of what lay ahead, the warmth of companionship, and the tireless collaborator he so needed…”Sure!”

Salt of the earth pioneers with heartland values formed and maintained his outlook on life. He was one of them.

His hesitations usually came from good reason.

Plain trust in the Divine provided a shortcut to deep understanding others too easily dismissed.

Being available propelled him to unforeseen destinations over the horizon.

After one-on-one conversations with people of every kind they came away feeling heard and uplifted. His respect for them meant their situation mattered. It did matter and God blessed.

Dad was a Pioneer. Like a pioneer he, caught a vision, traveled into the unknown, brought passion, built, and defended.

He heard distant calls.

He carefully stopped what he was doing and went.

Wherever he landed he built facilities for others to be served in.

After he built, he then defended the missions faithfully.

Rather than resist the uncanny hand of God he flew further into God’s promises than he could’ve designed.

He was available to the end.

Now we have this treasure planted in us.

We may not do justice to dad’s memory but God will bear fruit in spite of us as we make ourselves available.

“He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” Mt. 12:25

Rich Denny