Each one of us gathered here today comes bearing the echoes of great people in our lives. Each one of us bears the mark of someone who touched us in a powerful way. It might be a mother or father, a grandparent, or an aunt or uncle. It could be a neighbor who took you under his or her wing, or a teacher, or even, dare I say, a pastor. If you're really blessed, you might even receive more than one such fellow traveler. The blessings of such people walking with us on our journey cannot be underestimated.

Such people come as mentors and partners. They come willing to give of themselves, and they come eager for you to grow into who you are meant to become. For me there were many such blessings, but one in particular was my father. As a pastor himself, he was key in my accepting the call to o…