Lent: Renewal

I feel a small hand on my arm and a light kiss on my cheek. "Good morning!" A soft voice. And then, a loud, excited one jarring me fully out of sleep. "Arentcha gonna wake up?! We gotta go to church!" Well, how can I say no to that? I stretch under the covers, bracing for the cold, and I rise. The rest of the morning is a blur of movements: breakfast, washing up, teeth, hair, clothes, a snack for the drive.

There is also a LOT of talking. Not from me; I am not a morning person.

"I need money for the offering!"
"Let's have waffles!"
"Can I watch TV?"
"I'm not buckled up!"

"Are you gonna take the highway or the back roads?"

"Why aren't you answering?!"

Through the drive, there is a constant stream of questions, suggestions, and singing from the back seat. We pull into the big church on the corner and I let out a long breath. I'm still trying to catch up to the morning.

We walk up the stairs and through the doors. We are now quiet. We recognize the holiness of this space. We know it's special.

In spite of being in this wilderness time, I come here. I don't always understand it all and I have too many questions. Then I see the cross and the font.

And they are more than enough to remind me of whose child I am.
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Almost every Sunday and Wednesday we spend time with my parents - after worship on Sundays and before the evening programs on Wednesdays. It's a new ritual and I'm blessed by it. As a child, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, and it's a privilege to offer the same to the next generation. The hugs, kisses, games, and conversations over meals are priceless.

Most days, these visits include just my parents. Other times, we are surprised by other family members - my aunts and uncles, cousins, their children. My mother cooks, we eat, we linger around the table. The children play. The rest of us talk. We talk a lot. About everything. Sometimes all at once.

What was the sermon about today?
What's your latest project about?
I had an interesting conversation with someone from Camp Unity this evening.
We should plan a family trip to New York this summer!
What's this Bible study about?
Hey, did he test into the highly capable program?
Who's hosting the barbecue this July?

It's chaotic and fun and perfect. This is our family and each of us knows we belong here. There are at least a handful of people who have a story for each of our important life events, including baptisms. We don't always share these stories, but I know that the promises that were made at each of our baptisms have been kept and will be kept.

Every time we gather around the table, every time we pray, sing, laugh, and cry together, I am reminded of whose child I am.