John Robertson<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
In his prayer, John described Bob as, simply, \u201ca good man.\u201d \u00a0The same phrase was\u00a0repeated shortly afterward by a daughter. \u00a0And then another daughter \u2014 all eight of Bob and Julia\u2019s children spoke \u2014 described him as \u201cdeeply good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
This struck me. \u00a0When the time came to choose something for my own father\u2019s grave marker, we opted for, simply, \u201cA Good Man.\u201d \u00a0To me, that conveyed very much about him, and about how I myself would like, someday, to be remembered. \u00a0My father was, in some ways, a simple man whom it was virtually impossible to dislike. \u00a0When he was very gravely disabled and nearing death, I borrowed the language of John 1:47 for my dedication of a book to him: \u00a0\u201cAn Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.\u201d \u00a0He protested that characterization, and was, I think, somewhat embarrassed by it. \u00a0He was humble to the point of self-effacement. \u00a0But I meant it. \u00a0And it fit him perfectly.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I can think of no higher tribute to Bob or to anyone else than to call him, at the end of his earthly life, \u201ca good man.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Also in his prayer, John described Bob Blair as a man who saw the world and his work through the lens of the Gospel, and not the Gospel through the lens of the world.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I like that. \u00a0I\u2019m reminded of something that Elder Neal A. Maxwell said in 1976, in remarks given to a symposium on the behavioral sciences that was held that year on the campus of Brigham Young University: \u00a0\u201cThe LDS scholar has his citizenship in the kingdom,\u201d said Elder Maxwell, \u201cbut carries his passport into the professional world\u2014not the other way around.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a high ideal. \u00a0I wonder, sometimes, how well we\u2019re doing in this regard, at BYU and beyond. \u00a0Bob was a model, in that as in other regards.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bob\u2019s bishop spoke, and he cited a little Portuguese verse that an elderly Latter-day Saint had shared with him back during his missionary service in Brazil. \u00a0Loosely translated, it read as follows: \u00a0\u201cWhen I was born, I cried and others laughed. \u00a0When I die, others will cry, but I will laugh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Speaking of laughing, one of Bob\u2019s sons told us that he had visited with his father only a few days before he died. \u00a0\u201cAre you in pain?\u201d he asked his Dad. \u00a0\u201cOnly when I think about Donald Trump,\u201d Bob replied. \u00a0(My general rule is to avoid blogging or worrying about politics on the Sabbath. \u00a0But I couldn\u2019t resist that.)<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The music of the service was well chosen \u2014 meaning that it included two of my very favorite hymns. \u00a0One of them was John Newton\u2019s wonderful autobiographical song\u00a0Amazing Grace<\/em>. \u00a0The other was Be Still, My Soul<\/em> \u2014 quite an appropriate piece because it\u2019s set to music by the great Finnish composer Jan Sibelius. \u00a0(Bob served his first mission in Finland.) \u00a0Here are the lyrics, originally by Katharina von Schlegel (b. 1697) and translated into English by Jane Borthwick (1813-1897):<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;<\/div>\n
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.<\/div>\n
Leave to thy God to order and provide;<\/div>\n
In ev\u2019ry change he faithful will remain.<\/div>\n
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav\u2019nly Friend<\/div>\n
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake<\/div>\n
To guide the future as he has the past.<\/div>\n
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;<\/div>\n
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.<\/div>\n
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know<\/div>\n
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Be still, my soul: The hour is hast\u2019ning on<\/div>\n
When we shall be forever with the Lord,<\/div>\n
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,<\/div>\n
Sorrow forgot, love\u2019s purest joys restored.<\/div>\n
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,<\/div>\n
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 \u00a0 My wife and I attended a good, satisfying funeral yesterday. \u00a0(Yes, Virginia, there are such things.) \u00a0 It was for our friend Bob Blair. \u00a0He had been on dialysis for ten years, and essentially bedridden for eight years. \u00a0He\u2019s now free, and reunited with the parents he had missed so much for so […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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