Ten years ago he passed away, and my life changed. The lives of many changed, but it is my life that I know and not others, and thus my reflections come birthed from there. I wore a new white shirt and green tie to his graveside service, held the same weekend I was inducted into the National Honor Society. He meant so much to me, influenced my life in many ways.
As I struggled with my faith, he believed in me, quietly nudged me back to church. Asking me to read scripture, etc in a worship service. Supporting me in various church youth activities from taking me on home visits to helping to ensure I could get past barriers that might have prevented me in participating. We went to Reunion (week long family church camp) together, somewhere I still have the red sign with white lettering that hung on our cabin door indicating it was the cabin of Lyle and Lyle and we were part of the red home group from one such Reunion. His tie tack of church seal,of lion lamb and child, brings memories back as well. Then there at my home, in space set aside for focus, reflection, prayer meditation and more sit a set of his scriptures with his name upon them. Glancing through them I find small insights from him by passages stared or underlined. I wonder what caught his interest, how the spirit spoke to him through those words at various times and places, and wonder what I can gain from them as well. So in ways as I continue to seek out who it is I am called to be, as I try to live out what it means to be me, his presence is there providing bits of insight for me.
I remember the days of being “little Lyle” even once I was taller than grandpa. I remember people asking my dad if he was Lyle’s son, and others if he was Lyle’s dad. Today however, as I glance back at the past ten years, I am unsure if anyone has called me little Lyle since that passing. People sometimes have pondered and asked me why I rarely sign or 
write my name without the suffix, I do so to honor and respect the one whose name I carry. I hope in my stumbles and bumbles on the path of life I have not brought harm to that name, a name that to me represents a loving caring man who blessed my life in so many ways. Today ten years since his departing, I wish to pause, to reflect and honor him once more and thank the Holy giving one for letting me know the man I fondly call grandpa, and whose name I carry.
Peace be with you all and have a blessed Holy Week;
— Lyle II