Bart's dad, Arthur Millard, passed away after a battle with cancer. His death followed a significant period of reconciliation with his son, Bart, transforming their previously strained and abusive relationship into a loving bond.
The Journey to Reconciliation
Arthur Millard's relationship with his son, Bart, was initially marked by severe abuse, leaving Bart with deep-seated unforgiveness, even as he believed in God's capacity to forgive anyone. The turning point in their turbulent dynamic came when Bart, intending to leave once more, discovered his father's grave cancer diagnosis.
The sequence of events leading to Arthur's passing and their reconciliation unfolded as follows:
- A Strained Relationship: Bart endured a life of abuse from his father, Arthur, making forgiveness a significant personal struggle for him, despite his faith.
- Impending Departure: Bart had made plans to leave, seeking to escape the difficult relationship.
- Cancer Diagnosis: Bart discovered that Arthur had been diagnosed with cancer, which prompted him to stay and confront their issues.
- Reconciliation: This diagnosis served as a catalyst for Bart and Arthur to begin the process of mending their broken relationship.
- A Loving Bond: Through this period, they managed to forge a loving and reconciled bond, a stark contrast to their past.
- Arthur's Passing: Eventually, Arthur Millard succumbed to his illness and passed away, but not before achieving peace and connection with his son.
This profound transformation and subsequent loss were pivotal in Bart's life and heavily influenced the creation of the famous song "I Can Only Imagine."
