Remembering My Father on Father’s Day…and Happy Father’s Day to all dads!

A main motivation for My 52 Weeks of Worship Project, was remembrance– honoring my father, my hero, Dr. Ephraim Nseabasi Bassey. Indeed even his very name, Nseabasi means “I am looking to God.”

In this journey, I am living a truth that was encompassed in his very name. Searching for God, and looking everywhere, and in the eyes and lives of everyone.

My father inspired me so many ways that I will never forget. In an excerpt from my book, I share:

My father passed away on August 24, 2009. His funeral was on August 29, 2009. One of the hardest things that I have ever had to do is write a eulogy for my father. But, I thought, who else would do it? So, I prepared remarks and spoke at his funeral. As I thought about the things that made my father who he was, and the things that I appreciated about him, I included the following in the words I shared:

“Certainly he was a seeker of wisdom. He was a philosopher, and a healer. His parents were pillars of the Catholic Church in his village in Nigeria, which is where he began his spiritual journey. Throughout his life, he worshipped within a Christian context, but along the way he scoured the earth and studied all manners of faith, religion, and creed to find out the meaning of this life and his place in it. Many shared that they enjoyed having philosophical discussions with my father, and that they learned a great deal from him and how he viewed the world. My sisters can vouch that as we would close a phone conversation he would remind us—don’t forget to pray…make time to meditate. He once told me, “Ekpe, your life should be a prayer—all the choices you make should honor the Creator.” Those are words to live by—words that he lived by. His quest for truth and wisdom was never ending…up until his last day on this earth.”

So, with this project, I wanted to honor him –his search for truth, knowing that he would be with me every step of the way, and he was.  Part of the joy and wonder of this project was the many times I was in a new worship space, and saw, heard or felt a sign from my dad, that he was with me in spirit and in my heart.”

Peace and blessings to all the fathers out there on Father’s Day. The memories you make with your children, and the wisdom you share with them will not soon be forgotten.