Thursday, June 17, 2021
FATHER'S DAY - My Dad's Blessing!
6/17/21
For Father's Day, 2021
Hello, Everyone!
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! I am reminded of my own dear ole Dad. Like all of my 7 siblings, I am so fond of that man – even as it is mostly now in remembrance. I remember our last visit together and realize what a happy moment it was.
That visit was at Christmas time in 1965 – just 7 months or so before Dad died the victim of an auto/pedestrian accident the following July – July 7th, 1966 at the age of 59. Dad was the pedestrian and was struck by a pickup whose driver had fallen asleep at the wheel.
Anyway, Dad and I had chatted about a book I had just written I named WISDOM that featured an angel I called “Wisdom” who had come down from Heaven to teach a couple of kids about life being sacred because an Infinite God must be in everyone and everything.
Dad liked my story, but was also bothered by it. He knew I was talking about myself when I referred to an angel of wisdom, so to speak. I was no angel from Heaven, but I did believe as my angel believed since I was Angel’s author – and Dad knew from that little cockeyed story of mine, that my purpose in writing such a story was to try and convince others that all life is grand because an Infinite God must be IN it – not outside of it like I was being taught at St. Thomas Seminary, preparing for the Catholic ministry. I was then in my 5th year of study of an eight year course. Dad wondered how I could be a priest and also not believe in sin in terms of not believing we can be separated from God. That is what sin was in the minds of Dad and me – separation from God.
So Dad was bothered by my story; but before we ended our Christmas visit that year, he told me that he did not think I could change the world to believe what my angel, Wisdom, tried to teach two kids in my story that God was in them because God must be in everyone; but he added that if it meant anything to me at all, I had his blessing to try. And that was my last visit with Dad. He was killed before we could meet again, but his blessing has always stayed with me. He was right, though. I never became ordained as a Catholic priest because my seminary, St. Thomas in Denver, Colorado, decided that my thinking is not that of a Catholic priest. Unfortunately, too, I had only one copy of my book I called WISDOM – and later I would lose that single copy. Still, it was a beginning and I would go on to write a lot about my vision of life.
Well, I am almost 80, Dad, and I am still trying. Last year I tried to make available some of my Divine Naturalist DVDs via an outfit called Media On Demand, but this year Media On Demand halted production due to no market for private DVD albums. Currently, I am trying to put out something on an online device called YouTube, but that is an ongoing effort. I did put out several of my past DVDs on YouTube, but I have yet to be approved by YouTube. Maybe something will be accepted – and maybe not – but I am still trying.
One of the DVD albums I am trying to offer via YouTube is the wedding of Nancy and me on April 28, 2018. I have labeled it CELEBRATING LIFE – WITH A WEDDING THROWN IN. I cannot imagine an objection to such as that, but we live in a crazy world. Nothing is sure. Let’s just say I will keep trying.
But even if none of my DVD programs ever see the light, I have provided 10 books via an online outlet called Amazon. Anyone can check out one of those by ordering via Amazon and simply putting in my name, Francis Bessler, in a search bar. And if I do succeed to offer something like our wedding via YouTube, one need only check for availability by putting my name in a YouTube search bar.
Wishing us all well around this Father's Day, we - my supportive wife, Nancy and I - say Goodbye. Come and see us when you can. OK?
Oh, by the way, Pastor Nathan Keith of The Trinity Lutheran Church of Laramie allowed me to sing a few songs of mine at our wedding and the first song of mine I featured at our wedding was one called I’m Wondering. At our wedding, I sang only the 1st verse. So, let me feature the whole song below. Again, Enjoy as you can! And once again, to all the fathers out there, HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
Thanks! Be in touch!
Gently,
Francis William Bessler & Nancy Shaw
willieb@wyoming.com
una-bella-vita.com
francisbessler.com
I’M WONDERING
By
Francis William Bessler
Laramie, Wyoming
5/13/2006
REFRAIN:
I’m wondering about the world.
I’m wondering about time.
I’m wondering about God –
how It makes us all Divine.
I’m wondering about life.
I’m caught up in its mystery.
I’m wondering about myself –
and little ole thee.
I want to be small –
not have to reach so high.
I believe I’m in God –
in the middle of the Divine.
I think we’re all the same.
We’re all swimming in Divinity.
Let us all be bold –
embrace our wonderful mystery.
Refrain.
No one is alone –
because we’re all one in God.
Let us celebrate –
our mystery with our applause.
It’s fine to wonder –
but let’s not stop believing
that all life is grand –
worthy of embracing.
Refrain.
So, come, my friend –
and realize your worth.
Let’s share what’s Divine –
on this great planet, Earth.
Yes, I want to be small –
not have to reach so high.
I believe I’m in God –
in the middle of the Divine.
Refrain. (several times)