Father Spirit: the Messenger

Dear Ones,

I want to share my place and progress with reference to a Goal I have for Dad and myself. As you probably had some idea, I’m trying to take Pops to India and make a documentary film. The following conversation details an experience I hope to reckon by.

I wrote this to Bikku a.k.a. Vikram and his wife Sabine. I met Bikku this past trip to India and he is Vikrant’s brother. Bikku and Sabine have been making documentaries for the past 6 years and they encouraged me to come work with them on a project. We have been determining what that project might look like and It is my sincere desire to take Dad with me when I go back to work with them in the fall.

Dear Bikku and Sabine,

I wanted to let you both know that I took my Dad camping Sunday night and he had a great time! This is really encouraging sign. At one point I asked: “you doing good Pop,” when we were around the campfire after dinner, and he responded: “I’m doing very, very good!” He kept emphasizing how pretty everything was and it seemed he was not at all discombobulated by being in a different environment. If anything he was doing better then normal with the new stimulation. Dad wasn’t nearly as upbeat when we were heading back to the nursing home Monday as compared with his demeanor as we were driving out into the mountains.

This experience with Pops leads me to believe that getting him out of the nursing home he is living in, and into bigger more engaging contexts is still something that is good for him. Additionally he took all the obstacles we faced in stride. First I couldn’t find the campsite a friend had told me about. Because we couldn’t find the one we were looking for we drove around for a while and ended up carrying all the gear a half mile or so. Additionally it rained and we had to pack everything up in the rain. Neither the search, the walk, nor the rain fazed him. Dad kept thanking me for bringing him out and saying he had a good son which was quite touching.

I’m going to take dad out on a longer trip soon. I’ve tried to make the connection in his mind between these trips and “The Project.” As I’ve mentioned I believe these trips are the only way to really determine weather he if fully on board for the India trip. Either he is still hungry for adventure or it is too late for this kind of thing, but I can’t really explain what the Indian experience will entail by just talking to him. His success living out the recent journey is certainly a good index that he is still hungry for adventure. Of course there is a big difference between a night out and an epic journey to the other side of the planet ; ) yet it means a lot that he took this small step with confidence and was delighted to do so.

His Peace and Lavish Blessing,
-Jonathan

So that is the latest. There are certainly mountains yet to move but I’ve it on good authority they can be thrown into the sea : ) I pray you are all well, and I want you to know how encouraging it is to have you in my corner!

-Jonathan

On Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 11:33 AM, Jonathan Dickinson wrote:

Dear Sabine,

Thank you so much for writing this. It impacted me on a vary deep level reading your words. It is incredible knowing how you feel and truly has given me a new portion of strength that has come at the right time. I cannot fully respond this moment but know that your enthusiasm has accomplished something in the heavenly realm.

There are many Obstacles that remain but they are all in way opportunities I pray. I’m going to take my Dad camping Sunday if the weather is good and hope to better understand how hungry he still is for adventure. I believe that his heart and spirit are as strong as ever but, it will be in action that he will come to understand what the India possibility really consists of. Only in this way can I determine weather he is fully on board. I can’t do it with words alone. It is so encouraging to know how fully your are in our corner rooting for us!

His Peace,
-Jonathan

On Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 10:54 AM, Sabine Bhandari wrote:

Hi Jonathan,

this morning I dropped Bikku to the train station. He caught the train to Frankfurt, from there he’ll be flying to Calcutta (probably still on the plane right now). He has a shoot for the next couple of days.

Why I’m writing…I’m trying to put together all the conversations that we’ve had till now (or rather you and Bikku) on OUR PROJECT. We wanna make a folder with emails, information etc. to really get into the topic now. While doing this, I came across your email that you wrote a couple of months ago about the Iron Man and Team Hoyt. I WAS SO INSPIRED. But truly, I have been and AM so excited about you and your dad coming to India, I can’t tell you how much. I wish and pray that this can work out!! And honestly, the first day I heard about your idea of bringing him to India (I believe it was a skype conversation between you and Bikku and I overheard), I knew that I wanted to be a part of this. I am well aware that this won’t come without challenges, but you know, the more we talk about you guys coming and documenting the whole thing the more we feel it is A GOD THING. Meeting you is not by chance, we truly believe that. And we are not quick in saying “spritual stuff” you know. But we just know that God has a plan and a purpose in all this, and we are SO excited.

This is just to let you know we are thinking of you and your dad. May HE grant us the wisdom and strength to go about things. Especially strength FOR YOU.

So long
Sabine