PASS IT ON

My father passed away of a sudden heart attack while he was at work. I was 15 and a freshman in high school. My father had served in the Army during World War II, coming home when I was seven. Thus, I never knew him as well as my own children know me.

My mother came from a family of five girls. Only two, my mother and one of her sisters, ever had any children. In fact, two of her sisters never married. So I lived in a family largely made up of women. In fact, when I introduced my future wife to my family, she wondered where the men were. The fact was, there weren't many. They, while all of good heart and intentions, were unable to answer the questions and provide guidance to the life situations faced by every teenage boy.

I was fortunate in that I had a scoutmaster who, whether knowingly or not, recognized the problem and stepped in. I was invited to spend weekends at the lake where he had a home; he was always available if I had a question or a problem to discuss. I suspect that the reason he recognized my situation so well was that his father had passed away during the 1919 flu epidemic. He had, in fact, ended up running away from home. He instinctively knew the problems I faced. He never "preached" to me; he just set an example that I could follow or not.

It was years later that I realized what he had done for me. I asked him once what I could do to repay him for all he had done for me. He replied simply, "pass it on."

Over the years I have tried to follow this advice. I have served as a scout leader, youth athletic coach and numerous other activities in an effort to "pass it on." I am happy to see that my son is "passing it on" in various activities in his community.

I believe that this is part of the message of Christ. We can't pay Him back for what He has done for us, but we can "pass it on."

— Ken Hill

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist