"Nobody worships the cows," he made clear, with a tone that was almost apologetic, seemingly aware of the tradition's potential to cause controversy. "These cows keep on roaming around, but no one puts any money into their bags."

In my forty years of ministry, the day never became a day to recognize all those who were dads and to have them stand and be recognized. I have never heard any young man complain about being left out or ignored on Father's Day because they have not become a father.

I missed the experience of the sacred. I missed the sense of communicating with a higher power. I missed the experience of the divine, the thing larger and greater than we are.