Former NFL coach Bill Parcells has been known to say that a football player’s best ability is his availability. What he means is that it doesn't matter how talented you are - you can't make a real impact unless you show up ready to play, every game, every day.
My dad has made a tremendous impact on me. He is undeniably one of the most important people in my life. And it started with his commitment to showing up. When I was 6 my parents got a divorce. And for the next 6 years my dad showed up every other Friday to pick us up for the weekend. He drove 5 to 10 hours every other weekend to be there for Shane and me. There were times when he drove that far on Friday and then again on Sunday to make it happen, to show up for us.
Over the years Dad showed up for all the basketball games and the football games. Dad showed up when I totaled my first car on 1-5 at the age of 16. He showed up for the highs and the lows. Dad showed up for me and Julie on the day we got engaged, and on the day we got married (he married us). Dad showed up for our twins. Right up to the end.
And I know it's the same for many of you. He showed up as a teacher and as a coach. He showed up as a pastor, as a mentor. He showed up as a friend. He showed up as a sibling and an uncle. As a dad. As a papa. And as a husband. One of dad's greatest abilities was his availability to the people in his life.
But that was only half of it. The impact that dad made in my life and in the lives of so many of you didn't happen by accident. Dad didn't merely show up. Dad showed up with purpose. He taught with purpose. He coached with purpose. He preached with purpose. He fathered with purpose. He played with purpose - both in sports and when he wrestled with his grandkids too. Dad served with purpose. Dad loved with purpose. Dad even died with purpose.
As many of you know, dad was a runner. And dad was a relay runner. Well, he's now finished his leg of the relay. His race is now done. He has handed off the baton and now it's our race to run. I personally intend to run with purpose just like he challenged us all to do. I hope that each of you will join me. I hope that his race (his example) will inspire all of us to show up. And to show up with purpose. Thank you.
