Baby Steps

(A baby I met my first trip to Vietnam!)

My congregation is having a baby boom much to the delight of our minister, David Yasko. You have to love the miracle of birth! The littlest ones make us rethink many things we habitually do. This is from ten years ago, December 19, 2005.

There is contained in the Scriptures what is referred to as the 'unpardonable sin.' I live in an apartment complex and although not QUITE as eternal in consequences, we have our own unpardonable offense- NEVER PARK IN SOMEONE ELSE'S ASSIGNED SPOT! Those spaces are sacred to apartment dwellers. There is a lady in our complex who writes down license numbers of offenders and turns them in to the office. I have been in the same apartment for eight years and I don't mean to gloat but I have a perfect place for my Toyota to reside while I sleep. It's under a carport and right next to my entrance to the stairs. Last Friday afternoon, I came home from work exhausted after having arrived at school at 4:30 a.m. It was the last regular day of the semester- we began finals this morning-and I couldn't wait to unwind. As I rounded the corner, I couldn't believe my eyes- SOMEONE WAS IN MY SPOT! Pulling my car across the drive into the guest spaces, I stomped across the extra 30 feet I had to walk to see who could have trampled on my rights so blatantly. There they were- a mother and her little, little baby sitting in the back seat. Someone had obviously run inside and took the nearest spot so the baby wouldn't have to be out long- did I mention it was very cold Friday? My anger abated and my old familiar shame for once again acting like one of our elementary students bubbled to the surface.

There's something disarming about babies. Tough men melt in the presence of the tiniest ones. We are having a baby boom at Westbury Christian. Four teachers and our athletic department assistant are in the family way. (Family story. Mom was expecting on a trip to her home in Arkansas when she used the term 'pregnant' at the dinner table with my dad sitting there. My Grandmother Chesshir, a very genteel Southern lady, pulled my mother-to-be aside and told her, "Nelda, you shouldn't say pregnant in front of Roger!") I have attended two baby showers in the last three days, definitely estrogen-driven affairs. I have a rule: make sure I have an escape route! I love the food and the perspective parents but guys are uncomfortable at passing baby stuff around and commenting. My standard gift is foolproof; a Wal-Mart gift card accompanied by a touching handwritten note in a homemade envelope. It's easier being a guy. Nobody thinks anything if you leave early. Everybody is shocked you came in the first place! Josh Bontrager, one of our Bible teachers, got on me for leaving without grabbing him. I didn't think he could exit with his wife in attendance! But it all goes back to babies. One of my best memories is holding my nephew Nathan on the day of his his birth. To me, that is one of the miracles of this Christmas season-God in such a little package. I wonder if those Bethlehem shepherds asked to hold the Lamb of God in their dirty, chapped hands. I would guess there were no pre-birth showers for the Prince of Peace but what a great one when those fellows from the East showed up. No diapers or bibs or formula or Wal-Mart gift cards. They brought GOLD! What a fitting tribute for the King of Israel, the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God. He started just like these babies being born into our school family, just like you and me. The odds are I will never see that parking space baby again but isn't it amazing how an infant can shake an adult out of his immaturity and soften the harshness I let dominate my consciousness? I guess the Lord had a pretty good idea two thousand years ago- and he still does today.

Applicable quote of the day:
"A baby is God's opinion that life should go on."
Carl Sandburg

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
http://www.stevehawley.blogspot.com/
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com