Wednesday, January 27, 2021
“Seventy years are
given to us! Some even live to eighty...
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” (Psalm 90: 10, 12, New Living Translation)
Today is the celebration of the
ninetieth birthday of the Rev. Dr. Bruce W. Neal, more affectionately and appreciatively
known as Dad to Susan (and to me) or Grandpa to a gaggle of grandchildren and a Great-Grandpa
to a bevy of great grandchildren.
He will be graciously modest to
a fault about his legacy. But he is regarded
as one of the better preachers of his generation, eloquent, thoughtful,
creative, evocative. He has served in some of our principal Baptist churches of
his time as their pastor. He has written several books, the latest a collection
of sorts of some of his pastoral thinking. He played a key role in the founding
of the Canadian Food Grains Bank programme. He has been a leader in our Baptist
Convention and the Canadian Baptist Federation (now Canadian Baptist
International Ministries) in so many ways for so many years.
I may be biased but I consider him
among the remaining few of our true, elder Baptist statesmen. He has been a mentor and teacher to many a
pastor, myself included. He is deeply respected and esteemed by those of us who
are old enough to know and have experienced his work and leadership. With his
beloved partner, Barbara Neal, by him all the time, he has left an indelible
mark on Baptist life. The shrill, young pastoral turks who are out, these days,
trying to make a name for themselves, could learn a thing or two from this gracious,
wise and level-headed Christian.
I have known Bruce even before I married his oldest daughter. Then, he officiated at our wedding, after walking Susan down the aisle first. So, I have had an extra, personal glimpse into
the person and character of the man. I have seen him unshaven and wearing his old
work clothes while chopping wood at their cottage. I have seen him nestle and snuggle
with grandchildren. I have seen him in his bathrobe and slippers. I have watched sports with the man and I can’t
really fault him for being a Maple Leafs’ fan. (Nobody is perfect.) I have never seen him overtly angry, although
he does have clear opinions about many issues. He has listened patiently and probably
bemusedly to some of my many rants and postulations over the years.
It is hard to grow in wisdom as the Psalmist has prayed in Psalm 90. The Psalm is a hard look at the realties of
life, recognizing that no one lives forever and no one lives a trouble-free
life. But if one lives with integrity, has a love of God, shows a passion for the
things of God, then there is the beauty of waking up each and every morning with
the prayer, “Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our
lives.” (Ps.90: 14)
We rejoice that Dad Bruce is in pretty good health for an ol’ guy. We
pray that he will be around for some time yet. But he is a gentle reminder that
a life lived well is a key to the
joys of living long.
“Fill up each hour with what will last; Buy up the moments as they go;
The life above, when this is past, is the ripe fruit of life below.”
Happy Birthday, Dad!
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