Somewhere Out There

Last night, Gideon displayed his full range of vocal acrobatics - the high staccato shrieks, the impressive display of syllables such as "bababa" and "gagaga"; also, the closed mouth humming that escalates into something louder and more insistant than a hum - maybe a growl? Whatever the case, he was in his full glory, responding to every facial expression, delighting in every elicited response. And we enjoyed him just as much as we did here, when I wrote - shortly after he was born - about how ecstatic we were just to watch him move his head a few inches at a time. Little did we know what great things awaited us.

However, then, just as now, I found that even when I am completely absorbed by how wonderful this little person is, there is still sometimes a bittersweet element for me. You know, some children out there are lonely.

Where does that thought come from, right? Shake it off! Enjoy your family! When I realize that somewhere mixed in with all the wonderful joy is that bit of heaviness, I often feel a bit guilty, like I'm failing to enjoy the really good gifts God the Father has given to me.

Lately, however, I am seeing the experience in a new light - not as something I am generating and then unable to shake off, but as a holy burden, a sign of the Spirit of the Lord at work in me to be making me over, conforming my heart and mind more and more to the likeness of Christ.

"Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation" (Psalm 68:5)

"Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children"(Eph 5:1).

What does it mean to be an imitator of God, but that we begin to love the things he loves, hate the things he hates? And such I think is the case here - while I have had tenderness in my heart for many years for orphans, the Lord does not just think about them kindly, he LOVES them. And he doesn't love his people in a "Oh, I brought you some lovely flowers," kind of way; he loves us in a, "You are completely screwed up, and at the cost of my own life I will bear the burden of your sin and instead give you my righteousness, for eternity" kind of way. Big difference. Thus far, I would say my love has been, sadly, more the flowers type.

So, having been brought to this point where I am now mourning with the many orphans who lack homes, what next? Pray for them. REALLY, really pray for them.

Really? Prayer? What about...putting this social work training to some good use, or maybe feeling the Lord prompt us that this is the moment to start down the adoption road?

Ah, the point of it all. I found, when I gave it a good, hard look, I don't want to be "relegated" to praying. Even though I have witnessed how powerful and effective it can be to be praying in concert with the will of the Lord, my view of prayer has somewhere along the way been transformed into a weak, lifeless thing compared to what prayer REALLY is, how powerful and effective the prayers of the righteous are. This is a serious problem, as my view of prayer turns out to have drifted far, far away from the Biblical view of prayer. Think about this response to Daniel's prayers...or this response to Elijah's prayers. At least, I need to think about them. God is accomplishing his purposes through the prayers of his people! That is no small thing. And while thinking about them, I think I should be praying...