TeamDavis

Much has been said and written in the last few days about the devastation in Haiti. My heart has been deeply moved by the horrific pictures and stories coming out. What are we to think about these things?

The best response I have seen is an article which was originally written in response to the tsunami in Thailand several years ago. The entire article in helpful and well-written. Here’s the conclusion at the end, but you really should read the whole thing.

Tsunmi and Theodicy
David B. Hart
First Things, March 2005

I do not believe we Christians are obliged—or even allowed—to look upon the devastation visited upon the coasts of the Indian Ocean and to console ourselves with vacuous cant about the mysterious course taken by God’s goodness in this world, or to assure others that some ultimate meaning or purpose resides in so much misery. Ours is, after all, a religion of salvation; our faith is in a God who has come to rescue His creation from the absurdity of sin and the emptiness of death, and so we are permitted to hate these things with a perfect hatred. For while Christ takes the suffering of his creatures up into his own, it is not because he or they had need of suffering, but because he would not abandon his creatures to the grave. And while we know that the victory over evil and death has been won, we know also that it is a victory yet to come, and that creation therefore, as Paul says, groans in expectation of the glory that will one day be revealed. Until then, the world remains a place of struggle between light and darkness, truth and falsehood, life and death; and, in such a world, our portion is charity.

As for comfort, when we seek it, I can imagine none greater than the happy knowledge that when I see the death of a child I do not see the face of God, but the face of His enemy. It is not a faith that would necessarily satisfy Ivan Karamazov, but neither is it one that his arguments can defeat: for it has set us free from optimism, and taught us hope instead. We can rejoice that we are saved not through the immanent mechanisms of history and nature, but by grace; that God will not unite all of history’s many strands in one great synthesis, but will judge much of history false and damnable; that He will not simply reveal the sublime logic of fallen nature, but will strike off the fetters in which creation languishes; and that, rather than showing us how the tears of a small girl suffering in the dark were necessary for the building of the Kingdom, He will instead raise her up and wipe away all tears from her eyes—and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor any more pain, for the former things will have passed away, and He that sits upon the throne will say, “Behold, I make all things new.”

Read the whole thing…

I began to write this post in the early days with Josiah when we were dealing with hours of crying and spending much time soothing him to sleep.  I never finished, so here it is. These were two songs I found precious and dear to me as I connected with my child.  I definitely found myself a weepy sentimental parent all of a sudden…

“In my arms” by plumb

Your baby blues
So full of wonder
Your curley cues
Your contageous smile
And as i watch
You start to grow up
All I can do is hold you tight

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As a follow up to my previous posts (cloth diapering #1, #2) I wanted to add that my last batch of cloth diapers that I made so far are my favorite [photos to come].  I improvised my pattern/design with two major changes. I’m including information about that and then some other general info and tips from my experience.  The opinions expressed here are my own unless otherwise stated, and everyone has their own opinion on everything baby related, so I am in no way the final expert on this stufff. ha!!

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Coming and Going: Dolphin & Pelican

This week was the first time we recognized Josiah really seeing wildlife as dozens of birds flew all around us out on the beach.  We’ve had the wonderful blessing of getting to stay extra days after a staff retreat to enjoy the beach here. It is a gorgeous gulf-coast beach in Florida and we’re really enjoying the time.

The other night, we walked out a pier to a restaurant at the end, and the fishermen were out, and so were the fisher-birds! The pelicans and gulls and herons were all over, and Josiah was beginning to see them and take them in.  When we were out at the beach, he saw the birds there, too, and really watched them fly by and such. Of course his vision of them is still somewhat limited by their movements and distance, but its’ so neat to see him SEE kind of a new “level” of things; a new development.

We got to see dolphins, too, but he didn’t get that yet!

5 month birthday in exersaucer

It just astounds me how far Josiah has come in learning and development at the milestones we’ve passed already. I feel like he is a completely different child from the one who wriggled and barely opened his eyes the first couple weeks of life (and cried a LOT).  He’s settled down so much in some ways — more content and happy, playful and exuberant.  Now he’s more active in many other ways than just crying; which is a relief. We were in North Carolina for two weeks visiting family, and before I left to when we came back, I noticed substantial change.  But I really noticed it when we came back and I tried to do things the way I had before we left; and found they now do not work.  For example, I have a bumbo chair and don’t tell anyone, but I had it up on the counter in teh kitchen so he could watch me cook or make lunch or whatever I might be doing.  He’d just grab his toy that I’d give him and suck on it for the most part, and maybe drop it and flail his arms around a little.

Contemplating the ocean.

Well, when we came back, his hands are grabbing at EVERYTHING around him, and you all of a sudden realize how close the scissors, the markers, and other non-kid-friendly items are to him, that I didn’t mind before.  If I set him in the bathroom on the counter to watch his reflection, he still loves that, but he’s grabbing for the soap dispenser, the faucet (he loves water and I think he’s getting that the faucet knob controls the flow!), etc.

So it’s just a new challenge.  Changing time has become a beast.  I knew that kids fought the diaper change, but I expected to have a little more time.  Are you stronger than a 5 month old is the game we play.  He wriggles until he’s on his tummy, and then proceeds to try and aim for hurling himself over the side.   I have learned to change him upside down.  That’s a riot.

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One thing I love about Florida is our beautiful skies and frequent rainbows.  Hawaii may have more but we sure have our share. I’ve enjoyed more in the 6 years here than I remember seeing in my lifetime before.  Anyway, yesterday, we went for a nice walk after a dramatic rain storm, and it was before sunset, so the sun still was shining on the clouds and the rain and made a rainbow.  We saw a hint of one the other day, but this we’ll consider baby’s first rainbow!

Oh, the photo left Scott & Josiah a little dark because I haven’t used my fancy camera in a while and forgot how to manipulate when taking to capture this image better.  But, playing with it some in the editing software, I feel like it came out kind of cool, stylized a bit.

We’ll hope this rainbow means promise of new days ahead and maybe a turn from the difficult days we’ve had the past couple of weeks.

In other news, we’re drooling up a storm (well, Josiah is), and as we had some playtime this image was captured and I felt it had to be shown to the world.  And just a cute headshot — this is my favorite Josiah face, his little half-smile. I have a feeling that’s going to get someone into trouble or out of it in the future!

Here are some new pics. I’m a week or so behind, but it’s something!

Josiah’s here: out and about on the town at the Farmer’s Market, with his Uncle Chris and playing and posing.

Josiah says that Dallas Willard’s book The Divine Conspiracy is a refreshing and illuminating look at Jesus and what it means to be his followers as members of the kingdom of God. He suggested that I blog about the book as we read it together. Not a bad idea…

Scott and Josiah reading "The Divine Conspiracy"

In my previous post, I talked briefly about my process of coming to be open to having children, of seeing childbearing as a good (and in a sense necessary) part of marriage.

This is a sensitive topic!

I have many dear friends who are married but unable to bear children for medical reasons. Others who deeply desire children but do not because they are unmarried. And a few close friends who are married but choose not to bear children.

Few topics are more private and sensitive than the choice and ability to bear a child!

I remember reading a helpful book for our premarital counseling class. Overall the material was great, but one paragraph in the introductory chapter set my teeth on edge – it read God’s blessing on Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply as a command. “Who do they think they are, saying that all couples must have children, or at least make the attempt?”

I still don’t read that blessing as a command, but I’ve moved slowly towards the idea that it is God’s intention for marriage that children will normally be a result. Like all else in this world, brokenness and disease and sin hinder God’s design, so that we live as best we can. Many will not bear children. Many cannot bear children. But God’s design for marriage is that it normally will bear children.

In calling Israel to repent of unfaithfulness towards their spouses, the prophet Malachi reveals what God was seeking when he designed the oneness of marriage:

Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. (Malachi 2:14-15)

This is a sensitive topic, so let me be clear what I am not saying: I’m not saying that those who do not marry are somehow less valuable or less fulfilled or less spiritual (remember that Jesus and Paul never married). I’m not saying that those who are married and medically cannot bear children are less in any way than those who can. I’m not saying that those couples who chose not to have children are necessarily disobeying God by their choice (though some might, I know I was!).

I’m simply saying this: despite the fallenness of this world, despite our own limitations, despite the good and godly reasons that some do not bear children, as Christians we must still uphold and celebrate God’s good intention for a man to leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and become one flesh – that they might produce godly offspring for their Lord.

…

I’ve been pondering these thoughts for several days, wondering how to communicate them effectively and graciously. I was finally stirred to write by a wonderful blog post from Dr. Del Tackett, touching on the same subject. I hope that I’ve done a good job and will avoid offending my friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

Our son was born at 2:19am February 25th! He’s 9 pounds and 21 inches (big baby!).

Caryn did awesome, amazing. She gave birth fully natural, without pain relief. Labor was quick – she labored at home most of the day, and we went over to our birth center around 10:30pm. Four hours of active labor and behold, a son! The midwives who helped us were all wonderful and we highly recommend The Birth Place as a wonderful place to give birth.

His name is Josiah Randolph — I’ve been working on a post about his name and will put that up separately.

For now, we’re tired and going to try to get some sleep. Will post pictures when we can.