Dad’s Favorite Number

Dad loved the Trinity. He literally was ecstatic about the community and unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Because of his deep love for this, one of his favorite numbers was three. When he was in Italy at basketball camp there, he LOVED to walk around with the interpreter (most students did not speak English) and stop to say, “Do you know my favorite number?” The student would pause in curiosity. Dad would launch into his three reasons. First, he would say he loved to shoot the three. He loved accurate, pure, beautiful shooting and nothing in basketball is more beautiful than a flawlessly executed three pointer.

Second, he would hold up three fingers which meant in our family, “I love you.” Dad believed love to be the core of everything meaningful in the world. He loved the phrases: I love it, I love you, I love life, I love God. For him, holding up three fingers meant total devotion to love.

Lastly, he always ended by saying how much he loved the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This miracle of God, difficult to understand but full of mystery, power, and unity–Love as the center of all creation.

I don’t know how much the Italian campers and coaches took away from this message, but Dad’s enthusiasm was contagious and admirable. His passion inspired my passion. I love the Trinity as well. This blessed union of God in community, and holy communion. Dad, being a devoted believer in LOVE and the truth that God is Love, has made the pursuit of love my highest endeavor.

*According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: may grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. –*1 Peter 1:2