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Last week, for the second straight Monday, Michelle and I attended a funeral.  I think that this is something that you don’t realize will become a more regular part of your life, the older that you get.  This funeral was of a man that I respect very deeply named Bob Kinnie.

I got to know Mr Kinnie growing up in Calgary, AB.  I had two really close friends – Jeff Penner (Dutton) and Brad Kinnie,  Mr Kinnie was Brad’s dad and many of my days growing up was spent at Brad’s house in Lake Bonavista.

Quickly, Mr Kinnie earned my respect – maybe because of his position that he held at church or maybe it was the position that he held in his work.  Mr Kinnie was one of those natural, powerful and contagious leaders.  (It took me a while to understand that Mr Kinnie was the CEO of Safeway)  In the 80’s and 90’s, the big push in leadership was to lead out of position but Mr Kinnie lead out of influence and relationship.  It was so evident in all that he did and in the decisions that he made.

Mr Kinnie was trained to be a pastor and his heart was one that truly was a pastor’s heart.  He made sure that his family was cared for and made sure that they felt like they were the most important thing.  Mr Kinnie took Jeff in as a son because Jeff didn’t have that father figure in his life.  I was always welcome in his home, his food was my food and I was one of the family.

I don’t know how many sleep-overs I had during my high school years at Brad’s house where Mr Kinnie would be up late with us guys giving us tidbits of knowledge to make it in life.  Bob loved God, his family and his church and then came work.  It was a real testimony to a young kid the importance of having right priorities in your life.

I could go on and on about who Bob was and what Bob taught me but one of the most important things that Bob taught me in life was this.  There are lots of people who talk about the importance of values and what they value — Bob was someone who put those values into action.  He just didn’t talk the talk, he lived what he believed until his life was done.

I know that God the Father is saying, “Well done, you good and faithful servant.  Come and share in your Master’s happiness.”