Thoughts on Boston

This morning as I heard about events in Boston I couldn't help but cry along with the rest of America and runners around the world. I've found myself wondering if I've felt the weight of this heavily more because I've run marathons, or because as a new mom this is the first "I was doing X when it happened" type moment of my baby's life. Regardless, my heart is heavy.

I scrolled through my various social media feeds this morning and came across a friend boldly stating that perhaps her toddler would be her only child because of the current state of the world. I then went out for a run of my own and as I ran this statement seemed to just boil within me.  I came home sure that if nothing else the world needs more children, more babies brought up to be beacons of hope and lovers of justice. I like so many hold my son closer today thanking God for another day to be his mother, but even more so begging the Lord to give me the strength and courage to raise him to be the kind of man our world so desperately needs.

Jesus promises us in Scripture that in this world we will have trouble, but that we are not to be discouraged because He has overcome the world. It seems to me that Jesus would hardly be surprised by the current events of our day, as thousands of years ago he was already giving us words of comfort and peace. What we don't see in Scripture is Jesus giving his followers permission to hide under a rock until he returns, although they certainly asked for such permission before Jesus ascended into heaven. (Building houses on mountaintops anyone?) I fully believe that we need community as believers, but sometimes I wonder if we haven't missed the point. Salt is needed in places that have none, and light is brightest against the darkness. But I have to ask, are our communities of Christ followers perpetuating this idea? Are we walking together into places of darkness and need, or are we too busy building walls to protect and preserve?

I've run two marathons, and have since told friends that it felt like what the church was intended to be. Friends, families and even strangers coming together to cheer one another along towards the goal. To achieve this goal requires time, sacrifice, gut-level commitment, and is inevitably fraught with pain to some degree. But in my experience there is nothing sweeter than the roar of the finish line, and knowing that you DID IT. With the help of every stranger along the course, spouses who rub sore muscles over long months, and volunteers who offer water and encouragement, you were able to push yourself to limits you never imagined.  I am heartbroken that hatred would break into that experience today, but absolutely still see how it parallels the life of the church. So often we too are caught unaware by scandal, doubt, or hurt that accompanies life with other humans, even Christian ones. But what I love that I've seen in the news today, is this picture below. This 78 year old veteran marathoner was blown down by the blast, but got back up and finished. What a beautiful picture, that in light of hatred and destruction, he pressed on undeterred.

This, THIS is the kind of man I pray my son will become. One who isn't afraid to take on hard things, who will not be deterred in light of blinding hate, and one who presses on to finish the task set before him. I believe this is what we are called to be as salt and light in our world . . . not pushed back into fear, doubt, and prejudice, but those who boldly stride towards the finish because we know who ultimately wins, and that it's worth it.

Lord Jesus, give us comfort where there is pain. Give us boldness where there is fear. And above all give us your Spirit of love that presses on unfraid, confident in who You are and the victory you've already won.

Brooks these days

Here's just a few pictures that so accurately describe our little guy lately.

Curious.

On the move. 

 

Investigative.

Expressive. 

 

And pretty much simply delightful. 

Brooks' Baby Dedication

Last month (better late than never to blog about, right?) we held a celebration and baby dedication service here at our house for Brooks. When my bestie Linde in Texas shared of how they recently did a similar thing at their home, I realized there was no reason we couldn't do the same. Chinese culture celebrates the 100th day of a babies life, but even within local fellowships baby dedications aren't practiced. So, we knew we were starting for scratch in helping our friends understand and participate in this kind of event, but we're used to being the weird foreigners by now. : ) We invited friends in our city, our teammates from out of town, and were thrilled when some of our local besties were able to make it from out of town as well. I made invitations and delivered to them to friends, but what we didn't quite expect was the interest our little shin dig would gather. As the day approached several friends called asking if they could bring friends (who we'd never met). Who were we to turn away people from an event focused on testifying to God's goodness? So all in all our little event ended up with 30+! I of course did my best to max out my Pinterest potential with hanging tissue pom poms, cookies iced (in the thematic blue and white scheme of course) with B's and crosses, fruit kabobs, and white flowers wrapped in baby blue ribbons. Although I act like it's stressful and exhausting (because let's be honest, it is), I truly love stuff like this, and making my home look as special as the event is.

In keeping with our stealing of ideas (thanks Linde ; ), we put together a slideshow of Brooks' first six months to start our time together. I had watched it no less than 30 times, and still got misty eyed at seeing how this gift or ours has grown from that first flicker on the ultrasound screen. We sang together songs that are meaningful to us; "10,000 Reasons" by Matt Redman because it was on my heart and mind throughout my pregnancy, "How Great is Our God" because I would sing it to Brooks in the wee hours of them morning hoping to coax him to sleep, and "How Great Thou Art" largely because that was one of few we had in Chinese. Because this is the kind of event that if it weren't for oceans, visas and annoyingly expensive airplane tickets our friends and family from the other side of the world would have been at with bells on, we asked our parents and a few close friends to record prayers for Brooks to be played at the dedication. It meant so much to see people their faces and to hear their words of blessing for Brooks' life, and to know that despite distance they are very much a part of his life and ours. We then shared five family values that we pray for our son, and asked that as we raise him those present would keep us accountable to these commitments. We did this by reading (and translating for clarity's sake) a parent and community covenant in which we confessed that our child and our family first belongs to God, that in response to this gift we will raise him according to God's truth, and will depend on the community Christ has given us. My heart was full as we closed in prayer, and as I looked around the very full room I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude at all Christ has done for us. To me, that was the ultimate reason in having this baby dedication, was to publicly profess God's goodness and praise him for the blessing of our son. We felt so loved by all those who came and so enthusiastically participated, and will always remember this special day.