Speaking in the Light -Turn! Turn! Turn! – 6-23

To everything, turn, turn, turn. There is a season, turn, turn, turn. And there is a time to every purpose under heaven. These familiar words were actually penned by King Solomon in the biblical book of Ecclesiastes. But as many of you know, Pete Seeger got a hold of them and with a clever hook here and some infectious music there, he molded it into a number one song for the band, The Byrds, in the 1960’s.
I share these precious lyrics with you today because come this Saturday, my oldest son Rudy is getting married. Yes, my first born son and namesake is actually leaving the den of his parents in order that he may cleave to and be with his beautiful new wife Lindsey and together begin an exciting adventure all their own. And I think it is just hitting me now that this new season of life will be birthed in just a matter of a few days.
Where is that little boy I carried? Wasn’t it just yesterday he made his grand entrance into this world? I can recall with a vivid accuracy how proud I was when I was able to proclaim to the inquisitive nurse that his name will be Rudolph Peter Sheptock, the third.
We were seeing another Rudy make his debut, and just like my Dad and me before him, he too would learn how to laugh off the “reindeer” jokes the rest of his days. And to this little boy who was hardly of any size, who definitely inherited his father’s eyes, I loved him immensely even though I hardly knew him yet.
I remember how scared I was when we actually had to take Rudy home with us from the hospital. He seemed so safe and protected in the nursery at Morristown Memorial. I surely didn’t want to mess him up in any way by making any kind of mistake. But in the days that followed, Terri and I got more and more at ease and comfortable with our pride and joy, new baby boy.
As a matter of fact, I kept him awake more than he ever did to me. Maybe that is why he is still such a night owl to this day. I would welcome feeding him in the middle of the night shift and the two of us together would marvel at the genius of Dr. Ben Casey, since Channel 4 out of New York would play endless reruns of that classic medical show through the wee small hours of the morning.
I recall how I couldn’t wait to get home from work just so I could be with him and drink in deeply of the amazing way that that God used Terri and me to create this awesome miracle kid.
And through the years I experienced all the joys with Rudy that a father and son should share together. He grew up to become quite the man right by my side and much of it occurred right before my eyes. I have a wonderful treasured memento on my bedroom wall at home that in so many ways will forever freeze in time and remind me not only of my son, Rudy, with me, but “me Rudy” with my “Dad Rudy.”
Back in 1994, Rudy and I ventured to the opening day of the baseball season in Kansas City, Missouri to see the Royals play the Cleveland Indians. While we were walking together hand in hand up the tunnel to our seats, a photographer took our picture. We actually made it the next day on the front page of the Topeka, Kansas newspaper. The amazing reality is that what you see is actually a shadowed silhouette of the two of us together.
While I know it is Rudy and me, it could have easily been a shot of my Dad and me too. I will never forget the joy I experienced the first time my Pop took me up the tunnel at Shea Stadium to see the Mets. Through all the times and changing years, there is still nothing like a father and son enjoying life and making lasting memories together.
And this Saturday, rather than he walking by my side, going on one of my adventures, I will be following him as he embarks upon his journey. I will have the honored privilege of officiating one of his most important decisions he will ever make, as he chooses before God and family and friends to vow to love and cherish Lindsey for the rest of his life.
I know that this time I will only be allowed to go so far before I must let go and pass the baton of blessing on to him. But this much I know, Rudy has brought so much joy to me and I am so very proud of him, as much any father could be.
So as there was a time to be born and a time to grow, it is now Rudy’s time to wed and as he turns to kiss his new bride, this father will turn to His Heavenly Father and with tears in his eyes, whisper a silent prayer of gratitude for having had the times
that he had with his son, and hoping and praying that in the next chapter, the best will still be yet to come.
I love you Rudy! And I welcome you into the family Lindsey! And may the cycle circle into many more days to embrace and love in the years to come.
Write Pastor Rudy pastorrudytlc@comcast.net
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