Life and Legacy: Service for the King

 

Remembering Papa: Life and Legacy

The memorial service in Branson was a joy.

 It’s a funny phrase to say that about such a solemn occasion but there it is. This weekend an extended group of family gathered for a remembrance of Robert (Bob) Marsden our grandpa. Known affectionately as Papa, he lived to 90 years old and passed on a legacy of Christian service and eternal trust in God’s plan. The last part I don’t say lightly. His career as a preacher taught him the value of applying the scripture to daily life and watching God move. He wrote a book (When God Speaks, Listen!) a few years ago as a recap to his life, something for the family to gain an appreciation of his life.

He put his family first and listened to the voice of God for wisdom as a pastor, and for comfort when life didn’t make sense.

My memories of Papa usually involve him loading a U-Haul truck for another move, or standing behind the pulpit at church teaching from the New Testament. Him and my grandmother moved a lot, taking positions with various churches around the country. He did the marriage ceremony for a couple of my cousins as well as my brother. Other than the weddings I never saw a lot of his actual teaching. He had congregations in Ohio, New York, and Florida to name just a few states. From what others have told me, he was most comfortable behind the pulpit and studying the scriptures.

Never the warm fuzzy type, he was serious by default and always focused on the hard realities of any situation. Where my grandmother was warm and easy, he was serious and tough. But as a pastor he learned how to be gentle and helpful to his flock. He wasn’t without a sense of humor either. The first time I watched Tim Conway’s novocain bit from the Carol Burnett show was at his house. He loved Conway’s deadpan physical comedy. It’s ironic that he looked a little like him too.  

From his book, I got a sense of how difficult it was to be his family’s provider at the age of 10. His father’s passing forced a realignment of values, he suddenly became provider for his mother and sisters. Government help wasn’t consistent in the 1940s and people were too proud to take it in a lot of cases anyway. It might have been tough for a young boy to start working at such an early age, but it wasn’t unusual. Life took on a very serious tone during those years and he never got back the innocence of youth.

He famously hated board games. Not only did he hate board games, but he never really learned how to play most games. I’m sure it’s a result of being responsible for so much at such a formidable age. He wasn’t shy about sharing his opinions either. But he was an amazing resource for advice on relationships, politics and Christian living. In the years right after grandma passed away, he used to visit my mom for a few days in the summer.

She stayed in Broken Arrow in apartments that looked out over a pool. I spent a few days with him at the pool, he loved the heat and sun. In those few days he told me various stories about churches he pastored and cities he and my grandmother lived in. I stayed with him at his apartment in Branson one night. A few of us (including him) were traveling to Illinois the next day to celebrate my aunt’s birthday. He told me about his prayer list, a nightly ritual of names that he’d been compiling for years. It’s a great practice that I’ve used myself in certain seasons of life. We never know how much the prayer from another person is working on our behalf.

I think the word that best defines Papa is “Servant”. He gave his life to Christ early in his marriage and began a life of service in the pulpit. His daughters learned the importance of the Bible in family life and taught it to their children as well. Life was tough for most of his years, money was always tight and moving put an extra strain on the finances. But the most important value he taught was to turn to Jesus in times of trouble. It’s a process that’s learned through trying times and harsh circumstances. It tests our faith and gives us enough patience to weather the storms of life. It’s the most important skill that one person can give to another, and it’s rooted in prayer.

Thanks for being our example Papa, and thanks for the legacy.