I once saw a 69 year old Barry Eveland zip line 200 yards down a steep hill, over a creek, and safely stop at the bottom. I was standing only feet from him as he jumped off the wooden child's seat, held on to a rope attached to the seat, and set his feet firmly on the ground... kinda firmly... at least the first foot was

firm... not so much the second foot. Because the second foot took a step backwards down a hill toward the creek he just crossed. Of course the initial foot had to then catch up with the misstep, but then that foot went further down the hill as Barry began walking then running uncontrollably backwards while still

holding on to the rope. That rope in his hands only created a slow motion effect as it gave little support while it too traveled backwards along the zip line with him. This slow motion, now flailing, dismount culminated with him disappearing into a ditch and then with a splash. There was silence as a large part of his family (including 5 children) wondered how many bones had been broken and what had happened when he reached the creek bottom. The silence in the air was broken by laughter when Barry stood up in the creek, with a big smile on his face, only to reveal that the left half of his body was covered in mud and creek water while the other half was still pristine. I still get a laugh thinking about seeing one lens of

his glasses covered in mud, with water dripping from his left ear, while his once clean golf shirt, and khaki shorts now had a perfect dirty and clean line down the middle. I am sure there is some dirty/cleanBarry symbolism there, but I won't speak to that now.

 

Although some of the laughter I had at that moment came from relief, most of it came from the oddityof the situation; I had never seen Barry out of control, and I rarely saw him failing at anything. He will humbly tell you that he has made plenty of mistakes at things, but in my life with him, they have all been

minor things... like zip lining, golf, and an occasional choice in sweaters. In what I believe to be the most important thing in life, glorifying God and His son, Barry has been the example and the family leader that I and all men were created for.

 

I watch him as he faithfully ingests God's word to learn how to apply himself in life, and then pass that wisdom on to others. He prays for the individual members of his family every day, and his passion for us all to be with him one day worshipping God and loving each other in perfection is his greatest desire. He

is a leader in the church and commands the respect of his peers since they all know where he gets his strength. In my mind, as well as that of many others, we will always label Barry as a man of God first;  the source of which all of his other great qualities flow.

 

My father passed away many years ago. When Barry married my mother, I knew I would be getting a step dad, but I did not fully realize until years later, that the phrase he explained to me as "step-in dad" was much more appropriate. He has been a spiritual and worldly sounding board for me and I value his

opinions as much as any man I have known.

 

I look forward to spending an eternity with him.

 

Question for Barry: Was I supposed to catch you at the bottom of the zip line?