We had a 10-day-old
baby name Tobias spend the night with us last night. My 19 year old twin sons
are home and Tobias’s parents slept on the couch so they could get a break, while
my wife tended. We all held Tobias. I told the Mom as I watched everyone coo and
play,
“Thank you for
bringing us this gift.”
“Babies bring happiness, don’t they?” she replied.
We were all more
animated than we’ve been for years. Of course my wife and I began to tell story
after funny story of our boys when they were little so there was much laughter.
I was up a couple
hours later than usual. I was not tired after a long day as I am prone to be. I had been fascinated
by the tiny fingers gripping my hand … the quick breaths … the wriggling as his tiny face revealed every bubble and feeling.
I touched
his glowing skin and hair and could not feel it unless I pressed a little
harder. He finally opened his dark eyes and when he looked at me I felt
special.
As I entered my
meditation space I was mindful that the house was full of love.
Sometimes I forget.
I performed my
preparation and sat beginning the slow breath … waiting for Christ … waiting
for Father, Son and Holy Spirit … sitting … and then he cried out from
downstairs and before I knew it, for the first time in a year, I broke
meditation, stood up and hurried downstairs.
I needed to comfort
him, to know what was wrong. I lay my hand in full upon his torso and tried to
intone a sort of “OM” hoping the vibration might still him. It seemed to help just
a bit but he was hungry.
I retired with
a soft heart.
This morning I rose
and entered the space again to sit with God. Same preparation, prayer … “ Come
to me, Father … Come to me now. “
As I settled into
the breath, space and time expanding … gazing into the light, Tobias cried out.
He’s so small, the sound like a baby lamb … “help me … help me”, he seemed to plead … my heart soared as tears rose and the light grew and I knew that God had
spoken.
Recently a teacher
for whom I hold much respect gave us a story:
“ A couple I ministered had a baby and harbored much concern
over how their precocious and active 4 year old might react. Would she be jealous? Would
she hurt the baby? As we will do with our newborns, they watched and tried to
always be present when their 4 year old was near.
Then one night they
heard a noise in the nursery. The mother tiptoed down the hall and as she came
upon the door heard whispering. Something told her to wait so she stopped to
peek through the crack of the parted door. Standing by the crib the four year
old held the slats with her face in between and whispered to her baby brother,
“Tell me about God. You were just there but I’m forgetting
already.”
We strive each day
to provide, maintain our health, serve others. We work and play and move
through the reality we are familiar with. It is so easy to forget. Hours pass
with little thought of the beauty, power and grace.
So I share this with you in the hopes that, for these few
moments, you might be mindful. If you ever find that the spirit seems distant. If
you are ever lonely and your heart is heavy … find a baby.
“They were just
there," and can help us remember.
Amen
