Archive for August, 2009

Aug

2009

Baby, Fairness, and Leaving a Corner…

He’s changing, morphing, becoming…

On Monday night my men’s small group watched a NOOMA DVD called Corner. It was only 11 minutes long, but it had a great message packed into it. Essentially, it opened up the discussion of what it means to “leave a corner”.

Imagine a large piece of farming equipment is making passes in a field full of crops. As this piece of equipment makes the turn, it can’t quite cut in close enough to the squared property line and in doing so, leaves a corner of crops. The farmer must come back to collect the crops that were missed when making the turn.

A book called Deuteronomy in the Old Testament of the bible says this:

When you harvest the grapes of your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. – Deuteronomy 24:21

What this is saying is…leave a corner. Leave a corner for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. Leave a corner because you don’t need all of those crops. Leave a corner because you can survive without that last little bit. Leave a corner and you might just save someone’s life.

This quickly introduces the argument of fairness. It’s my field. I’ve worked hard for MY crops. It’s my food. It’s my profit. It’s not fair to just let someone come in and take the things I’ve worked for…for free. It’s not fair.

Exactly.

And that’s what this NOOMA DVD was arguing.

Because being rescued from your slavery wasn’t fair.

Liberation isn’t fair.

Redemption isn’t fair.

Grace isn’t fair.

God isn’t fair.

And this brings me back to my boy.

How is it fair that so many people have NOT been given the gifts that I have been given? How is it fair that I have been born into this rich country? How is it fair that I take so many things for granted that so many others are desperately longing for?

It’s not.

And this brings me back to the corner.

I need to leave a corner because helping someone else…someone who doesn’t deserve it…will protect me from indifference, and inaction, and unsatisfying consumption, and from taking what I have for granted. It helps me to realize that I didn’t deserve any of it either and that is a picture of grace.

Now I’ve just got to figure out what my corner is.

Posted in Uncategorized | 46 Comments »

Aug

2009

She likes him…

We’ve been spending lots of good quality time with Ava this week to show her that we’re not forgetting about her. It’s also been a point to affirm her as the BIG SISTER and give her a sense of responsibility. For the first several days with Finley, she’s was pretty cold overall. It’s gotta be rough going from all that attention to sharing.

The most common question Ava has received over the last week has been, “So do you like having a little brother?” To which Ava would respond with no response whatsoever. It was as if she was saying, “Mom told me if I didn’t have anything nice to say…”

We’re not exactly sure what happened, but without any real prompting she’s decided to get more and more curious about her new little brother. Eventually, she decided that she liked him. Prepare to melt.

But really…what’s not to like? I mean come on.

Ava even wants to help with the cool stuff like bath time. Such a good big sister.

That doesn’t make Finn like it any more though.

Poor little guy.

Posted in Ava Beans!, Finley! | 60 Comments »

Aug

2009

Thoughts on having a boy…

I really thought he was going to be a girl. I’m not sure why though. I guess I just had this feeling that I was going to end up being one of those dads with nothing but womenfolk all around me. This is a new realm of possibilities. I have to start saving immediately for a dirtbike.

Babies have a way of making everything and everyone slow down for a little while. The speed of my world has dropped off immensely. Things that seemed important…aren’t as important. And things that seemed unimportant have been given greater meaning. I have kissed this little boy no less than 77,000 times since yesterday.

I can’t wait to be this boys hero. I can’t wait to share extravagant love and affection with him throughout his life. I can’t wait teach him how to shave. I can’t wait to instill a sense of what it means to be a man in him. I can’t wait to go shoot a bow and arrow with him. I can’t wait to wrestle with him and let him beat me. I can’t wait to cut the grass with him on my lap.

He is a fantastic creation. To think that all of those vital organs, muscles, and bones are all wrapped up into that little body is fascinating. He is and will become even more of a force to be reckoned with.

I love that he looks like me. I love it.

A few of my immediate thoughts:

* Boy diapers are way harder to change and deal with than girl diapers. He’s got a frank and he’s got beans. These are serious obstacles when it comes to sanitation in the nether-regions. He also pees out of his diaper far more often than Ava did. I guess that happens when you’ve got a little watergun tucked in your pants.

* He didn’t even cry when he was circumsized two days ago. This proves that he is tougher than me.

* He’s loud. Allison and I can remember distinctly joking about Ava’s weak, little cry when she was first born. We would say, “Aww…is that all you’ve got?” Finn is different though. This boy can roar. I’m suspecting it’s due to the fact that he’s part lion.

* I am determined to protect him fiercely, so that I can introduce him to adventure and chaos myself.

* He will have the best dad ever. Promise.

Posted in Finley! | 116 Comments »