These days, it feels like nearly every headline brings news of another tragic upheaval—from the outbreak of war in the Middle East to the killing of public servant Melissa Hartmann, a sobering reminder of the political violence emerging in our dangerously polarized landscape here in the U.S.
Amidst this backdrop, on Father’s Day, I’ve been reflecting on the quiet, essential power of care—how support, safety, and strength can take many forms. The capacity to protect and guide lives within each of us. This poem is an offering to the father figures in our lives, and the fathering presence we each carry.
To the Fathers Within
Today I honor protective presence.
As the world burns and factions chant,
As leaders auction our future,
As family members are stolen and shipped abroad—
I offer respect to the healthy father figure within each of us.
I honor support, integrity, and wisdom—
which have no gender.
Whether you’ve seeded a family of your own,
fostered growth, or offered refuge
in the landscape of others’ lives,
I bow to the strength beneath your care.
I honor all who have made
of themselves a steady ground for others to stand upon—
who have let their hearts break
and discovered the fabric of love that holds us all.
Who labor to turn pain into connection,
channel anger into service,
and grief into beauty.
I still feel the warmth of my father’s big hands,
the deep resonance of his voice,
and the steadiness of his presence
echoing through my life.
Remembering him, I feel the lineage of countless others
who father in spirit
by the way they hold, protect, and guide.
Thank you for being a bedrock of gentle strength,
for shielding those more vulnerable,
and for tending the terrain of kindness
that lets all of us bloom more fully.
May we each offer our presence today
as the shelter of a great tree
where young hearts can rest.
Inspired by and based upon a blessing offered by Rachel Shiyah-Satullo
Like what you've read?
Subscribe and get seven guided meditations plus an eBook.