Because You're Daddy

Thirty-two years. That's how long I went before I had to get stitches. Not a bad run, I say. But when you forget you're thirty-two and go diving for a loose basketball, stitches are bound to happen.

I wasn't crazy about the idea of having a small sharp object threaded through my upper lip, but I also didn't want to miss an opportunity to show my girls how one can be brave and at the same time a bit worried when going to get shots and stitches at the doctor. The convo with my second daughter went something like this:

Me: You know, Avers, Daddy's a little afraid about going to the doctor for a shot.

Avery: You can't be afraid.

Me (she had my attention): Oh, why's that?

Avery: Because you're Daddy. (Said with a very matter-of-fact tone.)

I think my heart actually melted in my chest that very moment.

How often have I wanted to say those very same words to my heavenly Daddy but balked in doubt? Not Avery. She said it assuredly. She said it with more faith than I feel I'll ever be able to muster.

I am reminded of the promise of G-d, "...as sure as the sunshine." Can I be that confident in Him? He says I can. Can I trust that He will be my rock when times are rough and fear crouches at the door of my heart? Can I bring my prayers and requests to Him with the same childlike faith that Avery showed me or will I let the circumstances of life dictate my response?

Can I rest on, "Because you're Abba-Daddy"?

What Do Riddles, Dunk Contests, and Cerebral Palsy Have in Common?

My children and I love to play guessing games, and "Solve My Riddle" is one of our favorites. It's a fun game that gets our minds stirred up. Typically, we choose things like animals and give each other three clues in which to guess the answer. "Solve my riddle...what has stripes, looks like a horse, and lions like to eat it?" You get the idea.

I was thinking about this game tonight after reading an article about an ordained minister in Hurst, Texas, Susan Slade, who has cerebral palsy. Ironically, I read the article right after watching the NBA dunk contest. Here are dozens of grown men living it up at All Star Weekend in Houston, dunking basketballs with ease while jumping over random objects and people. All the while, thousands of fans watch from the stands, in awe of not just the physical talents of some of America's best athletes but also of the privileged lifestyles many of them get to lead. At the same time, not more than four hours north of Houston, lies (literally) Susan Slade on a bed in the home of her great grandmother. She types out sermon notes and encouraging e-mails with the only two moving parts on her entire body--the thumb and forefinger on her right hand. The ironic juxtaposition couldn't be ignored.

Whether you're LeBron James or Susan Slade, every person lives their short earthly lives with a burning question. It's birthed as a whisper. As we get older, if we don't find an answer to this question, it will perpetually pull at the corner of our minds. Eventually, it builds into a steady drone. And finally, the closer we come to death, the more it crescendos into a cacophony, until those who have left it unanswered can no longer do so. What is the purpose of your life?

The beautifully-written Susan Slade article went on to illustrate that despite her condition, Susan has found a deep purpose in living her life focused on others. Her godly eternal perspective (i.e. faith) is what fuels her whole existence. And then I thought of a great riddle...

What can never be taken by force or ever forced on another person?

Susan Slade has the answers to both my riddle and this burning question we all share. It resides deep within her heart and is released every day as she blesses others through her unselfishness, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and love.

Here's the article link if you're interested: http://www.arcamax.com/religionandspirituality/religiousnews/s-1265164

And here's a link to a not-as-impressive-but-still-jaw-dropping list of best dunk contest dunks (according to Sports Illustrated): http://nba.si.com/2013/02/14/michael-jordan-nba-slam-dunk-contest-best-vince-carter-dwight-howard/#

Jesus' Greatest Miracle (Mystery)

"Eden, what do you think Jesus' greatest miracle was?" I threw out this random question last week, but my sharp-minded, ever-surprising 4 year old was ready for it. At this point, I'm thinking she'd bust out one of the favorite Gospel stories she was forever requesting at bedtime. Which Jesus would she bring into her answer: Water-walking Jesus? Maybe food-multiplying Jesus? Or surely she'd answer with the gentle healer Jesus!

Her response hit me square in the soul and blew away any answer I had previously formulated in my mind: "Daddy, you know Jesus' greatest miracle was when He was raised from the dead."

Little did she realize that wrapped up in her poignantly simple response is the greatest Mystery of our known universe, and the greatest stumbling block to faith in the G-d we call Abba, Son, and Spirit.

Now, I don't believe my daughter is necessarily some theological prodigy. She's not enrolled in the local Kindergarten Seminary for Bible Geniuses. She's just...a child.

In Matthew 18 Jesus was asked how one is to enter the Kingdom of G-d, and when His answer came I have a feeling those questioning Him had a very similar reaction as the one I had to Eden's statement--surprise mixed with a bit of embarrassment. He said we must change and be like children. I can see why.

Recently, I became like a child as it relates to the mystery of Jesus. I have been struggling for the past 7 years to wrap my mind around who Jesus is. I have been questioning all of the theology I was spoon fed as a Christian my whole life, including all of what I was taught on the way to earning my degree in theology. I toiled in the mire of my limited human-minded analyzation. I finally arrived at the conclusion...if I continue to wait for it all to "make sense," I'll never be able to "become like a child".

I felt like Peter when Jesus said to him, "You didn't get this answer on your own, Peter. My Father gave it to you" (Matthew 16:17).

Salvation is a gift. Coming to a place of accepting the role and nature of who Jesus is is a wonderfully mysterious present given to us by the Father. Accepting without fully understanding. I can't "figure it out on my own".

New questions began to arise within me, "How did G-d break off a piece of Himself, deposit it on earth in the shell of human form, kill it, revive it, reunite it to Himself, and then break off another piece of Himself in the form of a Spirit, separate from the Jesus piece, and then commission the Spirit piece to stay on earth? Furthermore, how did all three of those pieces reside and work together at the start of our human history to breathe life into a dry, dusty, dirt-y clay skeleton called 'Adam' (which means 'man')?" Huh? Can you run that back one more time?

Honestly, I don't know the answer. I'm actually chuckling as I write this because I'm ok with not knowing the answer after 7 years of striving so hard to know the answer. Ironically, all I had to do was ask a 4 year old.

I should have known what her answer would be...

"Daddy, you know it's magic!" (Translation: Mystery)