Our daughter Ariana is on the National Tour of The Sound of Music. What joy for our family! We saw her perform at The Kennedy Center and my mom sobbed as she read Ari’s tribute to my dad in the show’s playbill.

Loss is doubly difficult during events like these. Wishing the person were there but also grieving over missing out on how much the person would have loved this moment. 

Does my dad know Ari is singing in one of his favorite musicals at one of America’s greatest stages? I would like to believe he knows and he is rejoicing. Hebrews talks about a cloud of witnesses cheering us on. This reference to “cloud” of people not only means a huge group of people but also a heavenly group who are spiritually engaged and participating not just observing. 

I like to imagine my dad actively participating in cheering me and my daughters forward in our daily endeavors. 

I like to imagine Dad seated in The Kennedy Center Opera House clapping and beaming with joy. 

I know Ariana envisioned him in the audience as she performed.

I like to imagine him cheering on my daughters, not only in their life success but their love for God and their devotion to run worthy of the race set before them. 

In basketball, it is always special knowing beloved people are watching us, and that gives that extra energy to play our best. I see Dad as a part of this beautiful eternal community cheering for you and for me.