SkyWatch Friday: The power of standing still

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A u t u m n   S u n r i s e

McDonough, Georgia

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No speed of wind or water rushing by

But you have speed far greater. You can climb

Back up a stream of radiance to the sky,

And back through history up the stream of time.

And you were given this swiftness, not for haste

Nor chiefly that you may go where you will, 

But in the rush of everything to waste,

That you may have the power of standing still --

Off any still or moving thing you say.

Two such as you with such a master speed

Cannot be parted nor be swept away

From one another once you are agreed

That life is only life forevermore

Together wing to wing and oar to oar.

= Robert Frost =

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Happy Friday ~ Happy Fourth

Dagny in the fold

Last Sunday, Dagny went to church for the first time.

In all the excitement, I forgot my camera at home. My iPhone had to suffice.

Apologies. I don't even like to talk on the blasted thing, much less take pictures with it. That's what Nikons are for.

Mostly I use my phone (which, don't get me wrong, I do dearly love) for timing things, like hardboiled eggs or coloring my hair, or short healthy walks, or waking me up in time to get ready for Sunday School.

And of course texting, which I've taken to like shrimp to grits.

At any rate, we made do.

Dagny wore frilly white (a dress I bought for her) for the first part of church (when she was in the nursery), then changed to frilly pink (a dress bought for her by my dear friend Joyce) for the invitation time.

See my pitty dwess y'all?

That's when she accompanied TG and me and Aunt Erica and her mommy down to the front so that her mother could seek membership in our congregation.

And that is when our wonderful pastor in his godly wisdom and compassion explained the situation to the church, and exhorted all and sundry to love and pray for Audrey.

Whereupon our beloved (and very brave) daughter was enthusiastically voted into membership, after which so many people queued up to greet and encourage her, and to meet Dagny, that it took at least a half hour for the apres-service festivities to conclude.

We are independent fundamental Baptists. The religious right, as it were. I will not apologize for that and if it offends you in the slightest, I lovingly but firmly invite you to click right on out.

But as such we often get called stuff like mean, judgmental, legalistic, self-righteous, hateful, close-minded, puritanical, out of touch, and pathetically behind the times. Ignorant rednecks. Zombie-like sycophants. Shallow purveyors of easy-believism. Those who, having barely acquired head knowledge, lack the spiritual wherewithal to obtain true heart knowledge and thereby access the "deeper things of God."

We have been accused of thinking we have arrived, that we are the only ones going to heaven, that everyone not doing everything exactly like us is at best misguided and at worst bound for hottest hell.

And I have no doubt that, since we are all sinners (as is every other sort of person, no matter what church affiliation they do or do not embrace), some of those characteristics exist in each of us from time to time and to varying degrees.

Much to our shame and, I hope, to our Holy Spirit conviction and heartfelt repentance whenever carnal arrogance may occur.

But I would like to state that, from the first time I was required to share the details of this situation with family members (yes; all professing and practicing Christians), until Sunday and even into this current week, when I have received loving emails from old friends just learning of Dagny's birth, I have encountered nothing remotely resembling an attitude of self-righteous condemnation.

Quite and completely the opposite.

The same goes for my lovely daughter.

And I can assure you that during the past seven months, I have had the conversation many, many times. Many times. Many more times than I would have liked.

I don't know what I expected, because as you know, I never expected anything like this to happen in the first place. It wasn't that I thought my children were/are above sin. I just didn't expect it. If that causes you to think less of me, so be it.

I think it is safe to assume that when it did happen, I subsequently either still did not know what to expect, or I expected -- I don't know. Nothing? I really can't say.

Maybe that's why it has been overwhelmingly positive to learn firsthand, in a crisis, of just how loving, just how forgiving, just how generous, just how non-judgmental true Christians actually are.

Something I knew intuitively, but which -- again -- I'd never had occasion to experience in this particular way.

And that unconditional love, that spirit of forgiveness, that unstinting generosity, that non-judgmental mentality has been fervently and consistently demonstrated by those of the far-right stripe -- who as often as not get the raspberries for being so rigid, so unyielding, so narrow-minded, so full of condemnation -- throughout these months.

And it continues to be demonstrated. Daily.

Sorry to burst your bubble, folks, but that all-Christians-are-holier-than-thou nonsense is a myth. It isn't true. In these days of come-as-you-are, leave-as-you-were, feel-good, anti-religion religion, those are the very people you want in your corner when the chips are down, way down.

Trust me.

However I would also like to acknowledge that many people who know and love Audrey -- some for years and a number who have met her only in recent months -- who do not necessarily identify with any faith or denomination, least of all ours -- have also been incredibly kind, loving, helpful, understanding, and generous.

I could tell you the stories, one after the other, but it would take too long and you would become bored and hungry and go in search of cookies or a sandwich and maybe even end up watching daytime TV, and we wouldn't want that.

But I mean, when you receive bountiful gorgeous gifts from blogging buddies? Who in some cases have only seen pictures of my family, and read about them? It sets one back. It is humbling and life-affirming. It contains a lesson of how we all should be if we are not already, and how we all should be more if we already are.

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We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

= I John 3:14 =

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Audrey's heart has been blessed again and again by the thoughtfulness of singular ladies who, to her, are virtual strangers. Names she has heard, but faces she would not necessarily recognize. They owe me nothing and her nothing, but they don't see it that way. They give because that's what they are: givers.

Then there are the gifts given and prayers promised by lovely and kind Christians from the congregation of our eldest daughter and her husband, our son-in-law who serves as pastor of a Baptist church in North Carolina. Gifts so personal and bespoke as to be heirloom quality, things that Dagny will use and enjoy for her entire life, and pass down to her own children.

Again: Thank you.

I guess I'll leave it at this: I think what we have here is simply a matter of, there are a lot of very gracious individuals that the Weber clan are privileged to know. We are extremely grateful to each and every one, be they family, friend, or acquaintance, Christians or no, people who do not claim to be perfect by any stretch, but who universally have an uncanny knack for making the perfect gesture.

Each gift, each card, each email, each hug, each prayer, each tear, each visit, each meal, each wish of happiness will be remembered and savored. And I for one feel most undeserving.

As for my darling Dagny, who lay in my arms and looked directly into my eyes throughout the entire invitation time and its aftermath, and never cried once, not even a peep, she is worth anything and everything we might have been or may be called upon to face or endure, even if it were to be the polar opposite of what has hitherto been our most fortunate lot.

God be praised for His gift of this beautiful child, and of precious friends to help us teach her love.

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Out of a fall, love makes a steppingstone

And quite reverses all the foe has done.

= Amy Carmichael =

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Happy Wednesday