..Father's day and the men in my life.....

Some time ago I had the chance to read "Wild at Heart" and thus started the process of understanding who I was as a man and who God created me to be. I am a husband, I am a father. I am a son, I am man. I am a professional, I am a dreamer. In all these things I have discovered who I am and in which place God would have me serve. I thought it only appropriate to write about the men who helped me find my place and who shaped me into the man I am today.

Guillermo Avila Sr.

My father was born in Mexico. He was a soft spoken man who held an incredible work ethic. Since the first day I held memories i always remembered how he worked two jobs. His work ethic was unmatched. He always felt that working the amount of hours he did was his way of letting the family know he cared. He was not an affectionate man but yet I found the love he had for me in the words other would speak when he would talk of me. He was a man of few words yet his actions were often enough for me to understand what he didn't speak. When i was in middle school I remember a time when i was "jumped" by an older boy. He stole my money and bruised me physically and mentally. When I went home my father was there. He asked what happened and I told him, he said nothing more. He picked up his keys and walked out the door. He arrived an hour later and laid some money on the table. "This is yours" he said...and he walked away.

Lance Rubringer

Every boy needs to know that they have the ability to become a man. The "right of passage" is something lost in our culture. Something attributed to remote villages who have not understood the western way of thinking. Teenagers today find their own way. Their own methods of testing their manhood.
I was fortunate to have a mentor, a friend, and a man who gave of his time and family to lead me into that transition. If our discussions could be put on paper the books would take months to read. When I met Lance I was at church on a Wednesday night. Depressed and discouraged I asked God to send someone my way. As the choir dismissed Lance made his way out and saw me. "Looks like you need someone to talk to" he said. From that day on his mentorship started. I attribute the man I am today because of him..he would tell you he merely guided me along the way and God did all the work. I covet his email sent soon after my father died and we adopted my two nieces. It simply read "I am so proud of you." A great void was filled....He is a good man and his church is fortunate to have him as a pastor.

Jerry Ramos

To understand the man you have to understand the path he's walked. As a former Navy SEAL in Vietnam his stern voice and his presence is enough to intimidate most men. I always kept a "healthy" fear of him growing up. He words held meaning and his actions we always consistent to his convictions. In these past few years I've come to lean on him as I understand my role as a father to 6 children. Discouraged he'll hear my voice. Discouraged he'll encourage me. And discouraged he'll help me back up. I shall never..never...never...forget the phone call I received from him as I dealt with the financial burdens after my sister's funeral. "I'm proud of the man you've become." Those words are written in my mind.

From the boy who I was...to the man I am now. This is my story. But the story isn't finished. As Lance passed his gift to me I have continued to mentor young men. And so the process goes. Happy Father's Day to all of you...