Soon after I fed the birds this morning, the phone rang. Roman Manuel has arrived, our 8th great-grand! 7 lbs plus with a head of long black hair. He has all his fingers and toes, as his proud grandmother announced, and what more could we ask for but a healthy baby? But 8 great-grandchildren? How did that happen? When did I grow old enough to have grandchildren, let alone great-grands? Yet here I am, feeling a bit sad that my husband isn’t here to share the joy.
Life has this way of flowing along. Taking us with it, ready or not. One of the sunflowers the birds planted is showing its golden face, and the birds themselves are chattering away, perhaps passing on the news. It’s a boy. Roman Manuel. Isn’t that a nice name? So sweet, yet so masculine.
It is so easy to become obsessed with everything that’s wrong with the world that we too often forget to be happy and grateful. Time, life, and relationships are so precious that I wonder why we get so caught up in holding grudges, being resentful, angry, jealous, the list goes on, especially when there are so many positive feelings waiting to fill those empty spaces inside. How does clinging to anger and resentment help us, for instance, when we could be filled with happiness and inner peace? Isn’t that the sacrifice of praise we sing about at church? Being willing to give up our negativity for something of greater value? Happiness. Joy, Gratitude. How can all the power in the world even begin to replace that deep sense of contentment that is waiting in the wings to flood our souls and awaken us to the beauty that is all around us?
Yes, there is much ugliness in the world. Every day, I pray that Trump and his followers may find the joy they are looking for – a joy that has nothing to do with winning, political power, or international prowess. Why is it so important that we become a “ privileged white Christian nation?” Aren’t all God’s children equally valued in the eyes of our maker? Aren’t all believers equal in the eyes of God? Yes, there are still times when I am angry, such as when the Supreme Court decided the president is above the law, but then I also feel grief for all those who are so led by fear and dread, imagining the worst, believing lies that our Christian faith is somehow being threatened by the state, twisting the gospel of love, when they could be basking in the sunshine of friendliness and kindness of God’s grace.
Roman Manuel. This tiny boy enters a world riddled with apprehension and fear, and yet… And yet, like most babies that enter the world he brings with him so much promise, so much joy. He’s arrived a wanted baby, a longed for baby, a desired baby, something that makes him one of the lucky ones, truly blessed.
Last evening, our son called, and I could hear the joy in his voice. The pastor isn’t a great preacher, but “he’s solid and challenging” was the way our son described him. He was telling us about a poor black church in Texas that decided God was calling them to adopt the unwanted kids in their neighborhood. Not the beautiful, talented kids but the ones with disabilities, special challenges, broken hearts, and damaged souls. None of these families had a bean to their name, but they knew beyond any doubt that God was calling them to give a loving home to these very special children. Some families took one, some took two, and some took more, not knowing how in the world they could possibly afford to care for them, but they had faith that somehow, someway, God would provide. And they kept adopting and adopting until their local agency said there were no more.
No matter what our faith or lack thereof, we are called to be God’s hands and feet. We get so caught up in catering to our individual wants that we forget about our deep soul’s need to be part of the beloved community, the kingdom of God here on earth. Of course, not all of us are called to adopt a child, but we are all called to make this a better world, not by threatening others by amassing vast gun collections or passing draconian laws that exclude all but the privileged few, but by being caring individuals who are willing to give of our much or our little in varied and unique ways that others might know they are loved and treasured, worthwhile, important.
As we face another election with all of the angst and anger involved, we all need to vote, of course, but more importantly, we need to remember that as believers in something greater than ourselves, we live our lives in two worlds at the same time. We are in this world without any doubt, but we are also citizens of another world, a world of love and caring, kindness and forgiveness, a world that is not about winning but one in which we truly want the unwanted, give homes to the homeless, care for the mentally ill, reach out to the addicted…if for no other reason that it is by loving that we are loved, it is by caring that we are cared for, and it is by giving that we receive.
“Aren’t all God’s children equally valued in the eyes of our maker?” and “We are in this world without any doubt, but we are also citizens of another world, a world of love and caring, kindness and forgiveness, a world that is not about winning but one in which we truly want the unwanted, give homes to the homeless, care for the mentally ill, reach out to the addicted…if for no other reason that it is by loving that we are loved, it is by caring that we are cared for, and it is by giving that we receive.” Amen –… Read more »