030208 Lenten born

The baby was born at 2 pounds, 2 ounces. Life impossible. Yet the baby pulls through minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. The parents are young. Terrified. Their first-born son comes with unimaginable challenges, should he survive. Should he survive?

The prognosis seems better with each difficult day. Today the doctor says the child will have cerebral palsy. Something about lack of oxygen to the brain, underdeveloped brain function. Cerebral palsy.

Word spreads. One friend tells me about a family member with cerebral palsy because of extreme premature birth who just completed college, lives on his own, has a good job. Is a sweet and caring young man. What more?

I had a student years ago with cerebral palsy who has many friends, and whose family seems well adjusted—her accommodations are in place, but she is not pampered, she is extremely independent and strong-willed. She’s also an average but hard-working, good student. A delightful human being with a great sense of humor.

Lent is a difficult time for some of us who come face to face with our greatest fears. We come face to face with our deepest needs. We come face to face with the depravity that causes us grief and pain. We come face to face with God who is so bright that our shadows are ever darker and colder. Then we get to choose what we do next, who we want to be.

And notice, in saying "we," I remember that it is about community and sharing as well as reflecting who we are and who we want to be. We are not alone. We are each of us walking a precarious path of discovering self and others.

Today, this baby’s story reminds me that I have in me and innate intention to live—even against certain odds. There is a life-force beyond any obstacle I might fear. There is a reason to try again today to chip away at accomplishing those tasks and dreams with which I’ve been entrusted. There is a great deal of power and force at work to live. To live beyond.

There is always hope...that something beyond ourselves is happening and increasing power for each and all of us. I resolve to face my fears and my shortcomings with courage; perhaps this baby will draw strength from the Whole of us. In turn, I am deeply grateful for his life, having already gleaned vicariously, a bit of his life’s courageous power to survive against the odds, in the face of obstacles, in light of Grace.

John 9:2 And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?"

3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him."