Guest Post by My Dad

Thanks Dad, for joining us here! I love you!

Guest Columnist – Steve Swenson, The Man Next Door.

I feel a bit like the character “Wilson” from the Tim Allen Home Improvement show of years gone by and reruns immortal. Not the Tom Hank’s “Wilson” volleyball friend from Castaway but the neighbor who shares a fence with the Taylor family. As I recall he would most often be seen from the nose up with most of his body hidden behind the fence as he discussed serious issues with Tim, Jill or members of their family.

While I would like to think my similarity to the sage is my pithy sayings and timely wisdom – always great stuff for a guest columnist – I see the likeness more in my cloak of near invisibility. Wilson was never clearly seen yet the viewer knew him to some degree. We would only get an occasional blip or video byte of him yet we had a composite image of his life based on our glimpses.

I am the man who shares the fence with the residents of Testosterhome. I am Rachel’s dad, Paul’s father-in-law, Papa to the boys. This morning I was Red’s retriever. You have met me on occasion, a little here, a little there. But my goal here is really not to show my whole face to you…I like the anonymity too much… but to reflect on the neighborhood of bloggers.

Over the years Rachel’s blog has given an occasion glimpse into her life with Karen (Mom) and me and the rest of our family and many of our friends in our faith-based neighborhood. I have read the entries at a distance and tried to imagine the mosaic of her life and ours which you, the readers, have envisioned in those snipets of time. It was often a sweet remembrance of a special time in our life. An introspective retrospective if you will.

At some point I began to realize that the perspective was changing. Rather than looking at my family’s life I was peeking into part of Rachel’s life in bits and pieces. The circle of players was widening. As her blogging gained some degree of permanence, “regulars” in the comboxes were becoming more like “friends” and the depth of sharing became significant.

I recall during what I would call Rachel’s “pregnancy blogs” learning through her blogs and other’s comments, more about certain things than I wanted to know; but from my hidden view behind the computer screen (aka Wilson’s fence) I could ponder not only the content (I am a biology teacher) but also tenderness and candor. At times I would mentally look around to see if I was invading someone’s private space.

I also became aware of a degree of intimacy, support, and care that was so tangible that it drifted into my yard. The power of words and the love that was conveyed illuminated a humanity which surprised me. I was not surprised by the interchange between people – I gratefully experience much of that daily – but that it could be exchanged across an electronic world through metal, wire, and glass was unexpected.

I have wept as many of you have shared miscarriages. On numerous times I have imagined you holding your computer in your arms to embrace a friend grieving the loss of someone dear. I have laughed at your diaper stories, cringed at your dog escapades, sighed as you have been baffled with life’s mysteries, and rejoiced at God’s great graciousness as I stood looking from across the fence at a tiny sliver of light from your collective lives.

I have seen the fruit of your love for my daughter and her family and I thank you. I have also known how edified she has been to know that her life has touched you.

I must say that as wonderful as it has been to experience a piece of Rachel’s TestosterWorld, living next door is far better. It is as fun and full of life as one might imagine. She is that perky blonde girl with the pithy sayings and wise insights who doesn’t hide behind the fence.

We get to visit often in each other’s homes. Those boys are regulars in our yard and tree house and Paul and I regularly share tools. I have watched Rachel and her Mom have cups of coffee and fence talks over the years. I marvel at the passing of wisdom and the formation of communities of people. What a blessing it is to have our freedoms and to form our families as our conscience dictates. How wonderful to be able to grow in our faith(s) and encourage one another along the way.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen to a proud father try not to beam at his daughter’s accomplishments. Thank you for all you have added to her life and to ours. Please know that even though you may not see or know me fully, as I peek through the fence and see you on the blog the prayers of our family will be offered for your needs. After all, we are neighbors.