God's Politics - Jim Wallis blog, faith blog, religion, christian, christianity, politics, values

As our baby's due date approaches, the Mercedes Sosa song, "Todo Cambia" ("Everything Changes") has found an echo deep within me. Click here to listen to the song.

I am great with child—and the changes in my body are unmistakable. Nature is taking its course to bring this little human through me. Today I felt like myself, with a bounce in my step and ability to concentrate at work. There are other days, however, when the energy and creative power I once managed are directly channeled to the life within, and I find myself sitting breathless and fatigued before a blank computer screen. At these moments I rub my taut belly and remind myself to marvel: I am the vessel for a child of God.

At one such moment I reviewed the story of a woman who went into labor as she fled an armed attack on her village. She became a mother with the help of her uprooted neighbors en route to anywhere safe. I remind myself, I am a privileged vessel as I move into the stream of mothers who carry children in this land of turmoil and uncertainly.

Colombians don't allow tears to steal their laughter or trials to crowd out a celebration, and our little child "made in Colombia" (a maternity shirt received from a friend) seems to be staking claim to this part of her identity. About a month ago, I woke up at 3:30 a.m. to loud bongo drum and Andean flute music filling our bedroom from the college party held on the patio several floors down and my baby's wildly lively movements against all walls of her snug home. Sleep wasn't coming, so after watching my jumping stomach for a few minutes I decided to join her. Somehow her daddy slept soundly throughout.

An analyst friend connected my reflections on this phase of transition with the Colombian social and political landscape. Might Colombia also be on the precipice of change? Numerous mass marches organized by politically diverse groups, respectable gains by a political opposition party, economic and political changes in the U.S., and a fresh outpouring of weariness of war from civilians and inklings from the guerrilla groups may suggest as much. The critical tensions in relationships between Colombia and Ecuador further heighten the volatile dynamism of these times. Will I stay tuned into these developments after becoming a mom?

The change is in progress, and with it new challenges to rest with mystery and trust the God of life and great unknowns. At play with these feelings is the raw, fierce love that I have for our daughter and our eagerness to know her this side of the womb. Anticipation outweighs anxiety.

Baby girl - our catalyst of radical change - we are excited to receive you!

Janna Hunter-Bowman works for Mennonite Central Committee in Bogotá, Colombia, as the coordinator of the Documentation and Advocacy Program for Justapaz, the peace and justice ministry of the Colombian Mennonite Church.

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I am reading - not commenting at this time. Just got back to work after emergency surgery on a hernia that wanted to get fix sooner rather than later. Actually - the Dr. repaired 11 hernias - not just one. Handling half days at work and then I sleep.

Comments might be coming later -

Blessings to all!
.

Posted by: Moderatelad | March 5, 2008 11:17 AM

Moderatelad,

nice to see you brother. Will be praying for your swift and full healing.

11 hernias? Truly a thorn in the flesh. :)

Posted by: carl copas | March 5, 2008 11:25 AM

Guess you got another job and health insurance!

Some of us are still struggling along with our infirmities, but hoping some day to have coverage again to get them treated!

Glad to hear things are working out for you.

Most births are trouble-free, but it's also a concern for those who aren't poor enough to have the government pay for their expensive care and yet don't have employer-provided care for self, wife or family and can't afford the direct costs, either.

Posted by: N.M. Rod | March 5, 2008 12:04 PM

My wife and I are in a very similar circumstance. It truly will mean a radical change for our lives.

I hope there isn't radical change in the area of the world in which Janna lives. Sudden, society-wide radical change is rarely good. If that's what is wished on the people of Columbia and other countries in South America, we only have to look at Venezuela to see potential results. Ugh.

Posted by: Eric | March 5, 2008 12:18 PM

Eric:

Venezuela has been breathing down Columbia's neck during the last week or so. That's not a healthy indicator of the kinds of changes Janna is hoping for, is it?

Posted by: Don | March 5, 2008 12:25 PM

Moderatelad,
Glad to see you back, and I pray for a speedy recovery. Glad also to hear you apparently found employment since you were last here!

Blessings

Posted by: squeaky | March 5, 2008 12:39 PM

Not at all Don. That's my point. Radical society-wide change, such as that experienced in Venezuela, is rarely good. It's usually very destabilizing.

Posted by: Eric | March 5, 2008 12:40 PM

I thought I was agreeing with you.

:-)

Posted by: Don | March 5, 2008 12:43 PM

Dios te bendiga, Janna. We just ushered into the world our little "radical catalyst of change" six months ago. Born in Puebla, Mexico, with dual citizenship with the US and already quite bi-cultural. Todo cambia pero para lo mejor!

Posted by: Dan | March 5, 2008 2:38 PM

Don,
Yes, I thought you were agreeing. I apologize if my response didn't seem like an echo of your agreement. Sometimes it's hard to communicate on these comment boards without facial expressions and gestures and tone of voice.

Eric

Posted by: Eric | March 5, 2008 3:03 PM

Thank you Janna. With the pregnancy of our youngest girl I too experienced the Spirit using it as somewhat of a 'prophetic voice' for broader things God was doing. And you know what--the changes and newness of life I thought it represented; died a few years later. Shortly after my wife died from a pregnancy triggered disease. (And this only registered with me because of your post).

But there has been a rebirth of something completely new I did not expect; and I have a wonderful 5-yr-old, Christiana, "God's Anointed"

God's paths were far different than we expected. Full of trials and blessings beyond what I had previously experienced.

Don't doubt the presence, activity, goodness, care, protection, and creativity through this blessed time of your lives!

God is with us.

Posted by: letjusticerolldown | March 5, 2008 5:48 PM

Hope all is well Janna !

This last Grand Child I was introduced to Dora and company . I am a Fantistic Four Type of Grand Pa , but am willing to bend .

Hope you have others around you helping !

Posted by: Mick | March 6, 2008 4:06 AM

Janna,

Blessings from the wetlands of Katrina land. May you know the nearness of God keeping and sustaining you.
You are in my prayers.

Bob

Posted by: Robert Zehr | March 6, 2008 3:08 PM

Todo Cambia (Everything Changes) (by Janna Hunter-Bowman)

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