Insights From The Rocking Chair

I am having another time of writer's block and find myself short on ideas and words, so this may be a jumbled mess of nothing to do with anything. Last Sunday Last Sunday I got to do something I don't get to do often. Because a severe storm blew through the area last week, the church I serve as music director didn't have power and we didn't have services and my wife and I went to an early service at another church and got home early and were able to relax. Grandchildren I was told before my grandson was born that grandchildren were wonderful. Guess what? They are. Because my son-in-law is overseas this past year, I have had a lot of time with my grandson. As I sit with him and listen to him talk about things and watch him grow and play and figure stuff out, I think back to my own children and try to remember, only to remember that I was too busy making a living to listen and watch. He spent the night with us last night. One thing I have learned about him, if he is quie...

Last week I received a copy of an email sent by one of my good friend's daughter. In that email she was updating friends and relatives on her sister's unborn child's condition. At the beginning she cut straight to the chase. Their unborn child had been diagnosed with Trisomy 18 . Maybe you are like me and had no clue what this was. Her description was clear and to the point. 50% of all diagnosed children never make it full term. Of the 50% that do, only 50% of them live longer than 2 months. Of the children that live that long, only 2-5% live to their first birthday. Secular wisdom would tell them that it wouldn't be fair to go through the entire pregnancy. Secular wisdom would say that you don't really want to subject the child to the pain it will feel after being born, or subject yourselves to the feelings of hopelessness after it is born. Secular wisdom could not be more wrong. Oh, I would consider their view although I could never follow their guidance. I have ...