Words of Hope: Lean Back
A song comforting me during this painful loss of my Dad has been “Lean Back,” written by Tony Brown, Chris Mcclarney, Nate Moore, and Amanda Lindsay Cook. The lyrics say, “I will lean back in the loving arms of a beautiful Father. Breathe deep and know that He is good He’s a love like no other.” I listen to this song often and remember leaning into my Dad as he died. I picture now my earthly father with my heavenly Father holding and comforting me.
It’s fascinating that one of the writers of this song was Amanda Cook. December 31, 2021, our dear friend and artist Mako Fujimura surprised my Dad with a gift. Mako had an art exhibit that Shann worked hard to bring to Spokane at the Gonzaga Jundt Museum. One night, Mako arrived from New York and also flew up Amanda Cook from California. He arranged for a grand piano in the gallery for a private concert with just my Dad and our family. Dad loved surprises with all his heart. This one felt especially holy, surrounded by paintings like the “Tears of Christ” and listening to Amanda Cook sing. Everyone there cried. The evening was closure on life before Covid and a prelude to learning to lean back into the arms of a beautiful Father.
My first tendency when life is difficult is to run forward and try and figure everything out. Instead, I know that my Father God, who is in heaven, and my earthly father, who is now eternally alive, invite me to breathe deep and know that God is good. He’s a love like no other.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen.” – I Peter 5:10-11
