Defining Moments

My eyes focused on the California plates of my uncle's white ford mustang as my cousins drove off.  TTG414.  It was a defining moment in our family history.  We spent summer vacations visiting dad's twin brother in San Diego and my cousins visited us in Phoenix at Thanksgiving.  This would be the last vacation we spent together in our Sunnyslope home in north Phoenix where I grew up.  I know and my cousins know the pain of divorce.  This morning I will be lighting a candle in our house of worship to celebrate the life of my dad's twin brother, Mike Mulligan.   

My uncle Mike is responsible for one of the greatest defining moments in our family history and I'm deeply thankful for what he did behind the scenes twenty-two years ago to bring his twin brother home.  There was quite a bit of chatter between the twins, Pat and Mike, when my dad revealed he had a spot on his lung.  Uncle Mike convinced my dad to return home after a long absence from his family.  Dad was living deep in the heart of Mexico at the time.  Uncle Mike persuaded his twin that the best option for treatment was the VA hospital in San Diego.  He helped dad get his military papers in order so he could get treatment.  Sadly, when dad came home it was too late as the cancer had spread to all of his vital organs.  Our defining moment lasted 35 days.  We were fortunate that the twins spent time together on the front porch of my sister's home where dad and his wife, Molly, stayed.  A twin rose showed up near the spot where the twins reclined during dad's final days.  We spotted it after dad passed.  It was a gift from heaven letting us know dad was home safe.  Now his twin is with him and all but two siblings who are still working on their own defining moments with their families.

My dad was very private about his faith.  Something happens when one realizes death is knocking on the door.  It's a "come to Jesus moment" that removes the filters we use to protect ourselves from our fears about what others think about our actions.  In the end, all of us want to belong.  These twins are now reunited after a long time apart.  I will never forget how these two could harmonize when they sang together.  These twins kept the faith.  They finished the race.  That's why I'm lighting a candle today.  I'm remembering the defining moments.  If you could please join me in a prayer for my cousins, their spouses, and their children, that is much appreciated.  Have a great day.