Yesterday at Rob Hess’ funeral his daughters gave beautiful testimony to his life. They said he gave them “roots and wings.” The roots were all of the unspoken messages that enabled them to understand the values of a life spent for others. He never merely preached the values of community and service, he lived them, and so they saw and understood what he stood for and believed. The wings were in  the endless acts of encouragement that unconditionally enabled them to become the persons that were imbued with their own worthiness and value. They knew always that he loved and supported them. What a wonderful testimony to a life well lived that he gave them roots and wings. I hope that we understand the treasure involved in giving others “roots and wings”.