Friday, July 25, 2003
Looming on the Horizon…and there ain’t a thing I can do about it.
As many of you already know Sara and I are expecting our first born in less than a month. The prospect of this eminent arrival is dazzling and terrifying all at once. Dazzling for all of the wonder and awe that new life invokes. The “Lewisian” joy that the trauma of labor and the birthing experience taunts us with. To hear his first cry as this bright new world takes him by force. To hold his tender body flailing in my arms. For Sara to suckle him for the first time, his first lesson that no man is an island. Oh and the eighth day when the Fathers come and give spiritual care to all of us, but especially Sara and Basil. I could go on with the Churching of Sara and Basil. Of course Basil’s baptism in the midst of all the faithful. All of this wonder unfolding just in the first few months of his life!
But for all this beauty there are some terrifying prospects and deeply comforting assurances. What I’m addressing as terrible and beautiful is the idea that we do nothing alone. We are born into community; we will live and die in community. From day one we are at the mercy of others, and ultimately at the mercy of God. This idea brings up a whole powder keg of issues. When I hear news reports about a neglected 9 month old little girl dying of starvation because police went to the wrong address to remove the girl, at the least it brings angry tears to my eyes. The “how and why” of suffering is something that will remain unresolved on this side of eternity. And now I will have one of these precious ones dependant upon me being dependant on God’s grace to enlighten my dark and selfish heart. But it doesn’t stop there; he will depend on the whole community of the faithful for good and proper upbringing. Well, I think you see what I’m getting at. An eternal soul is entering our world, and we’re all going to share some responsibility for him. Whether you’re his godparent or dad’s friend from the blogosphere, you also will impact his world.
I’m afraid I’ve hardly scratched the surface. My intention was to share some of the rapid fire thoughts bouncing around in my head. I ask your prayers for the coming days.
May the Church be his true mother, and God be his true Father.
Pray unto God for my son, O Holy Saint Basil, well-pleasing to God: for I turn unto thee, who art the speedy helper and intercessor for his soul.
As many of you already know Sara and I are expecting our first born in less than a month. The prospect of this eminent arrival is dazzling and terrifying all at once. Dazzling for all of the wonder and awe that new life invokes. The “Lewisian” joy that the trauma of labor and the birthing experience taunts us with. To hear his first cry as this bright new world takes him by force. To hold his tender body flailing in my arms. For Sara to suckle him for the first time, his first lesson that no man is an island. Oh and the eighth day when the Fathers come and give spiritual care to all of us, but especially Sara and Basil. I could go on with the Churching of Sara and Basil. Of course Basil’s baptism in the midst of all the faithful. All of this wonder unfolding just in the first few months of his life!
But for all this beauty there are some terrifying prospects and deeply comforting assurances. What I’m addressing as terrible and beautiful is the idea that we do nothing alone. We are born into community; we will live and die in community. From day one we are at the mercy of others, and ultimately at the mercy of God. This idea brings up a whole powder keg of issues. When I hear news reports about a neglected 9 month old little girl dying of starvation because police went to the wrong address to remove the girl, at the least it brings angry tears to my eyes. The “how and why” of suffering is something that will remain unresolved on this side of eternity. And now I will have one of these precious ones dependant upon me being dependant on God’s grace to enlighten my dark and selfish heart. But it doesn’t stop there; he will depend on the whole community of the faithful for good and proper upbringing. Well, I think you see what I’m getting at. An eternal soul is entering our world, and we’re all going to share some responsibility for him. Whether you’re his godparent or dad’s friend from the blogosphere, you also will impact his world.
I’m afraid I’ve hardly scratched the surface. My intention was to share some of the rapid fire thoughts bouncing around in my head. I ask your prayers for the coming days.
May the Church be his true mother, and God be his true Father.
Pray unto God for my son, O Holy Saint Basil, well-pleasing to God: for I turn unto thee, who art the speedy helper and intercessor for his soul.
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