This is Jim Denison's daily article for Thursday, December 6th, 2018, a 20th century founding father.

George Herbert Walker Bush was America's last great soldier statesman, a 20th century founding father.

He governed with virtues that most closely resemble those of Washington and of Adams, of TR, and of FDR, of Truman and of Eisenhower, of men who believed in causes

larger than themselves.

With these words, biographer John Meacham eulogized President George H.W. Bush at yesterday's

state funeral in Washington, D.C., the service at the National Cathedral was one of the most

moving I have witnessed. Several speakers referred to the late Barbara Bush, the president's amazing wife of 73 years, and to their daughter, Robin, who died of leukemia at the age of three. I was especially touched when President George W. Bush ended his wonderful eulogy in tears, as he said, quote, Dad is hugging Robin and holding Mom's Hand again, end quote. I was reminded of a cartoon published after Mr. Bush died.

It pictures a World War II fighter plane now landed in heaven.

Next to it are the President and Barbara wearing her trademark pearls, holding hands with

little Robin.

His wife says, we waited for you.

The great theologian and spiritual writer Henry Nowan noted, quote, we have to prepare ourselves for our death with the same care and attention as our parents prepared themselves for our births, end quote.

George H.W. Bush was prepared for his death long before it came. His son noted in his eulogy that Mr. Bush nearly died twice, once from a staff infection when he was a teenager, and once when he was shot down in the Pacific in World War II. George W. Bush then said, quote, for dad's part, I think those brushes with death made him cherish the gift of life, and he vowed to live every day to the fullest, end quote. According to Meacham, Mr. Bush thought nearly every day about his brush with death during the war and asked himself, why me? Why was I spared?

Meacham offered this answer, quote,

The workings of Providence are mysterious, but this much is clear,

that George Herbert Walker Bush, who survived that fiery fall into the waters of the Pacific three-quarters of a century ago,

made our lives in the lives of nations freer, better, warmer, and nobler. That was his mission. That was his heartbeat. And if we listen closely enough, we can hear that heartbeat even now, for it's the heartbeat of a lion, a lion who not only led us, but who loved us. That's why him. That's why he was spared, end quote. Now let's turn President Bush's question to ourselves.

Why you? Why me?

In a short history of nearly everything, Bill Bryson describes the improbable circumstances that led to your birth.

Every one of your forebearers on both sides have been attractive enough to find a mate,

healthy enough to reproduce, and sufficiently blessed by fate and circumstances to live

long enough to do so. Not one of your pertinent ancestors was squashed, devoured, starved, stranded,

...