Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
I remember watching the Superfriends on Saturday mornings - back when Saturday mornings were good TV. Aquaman was always my favorite... still is... here is our own Aquaman, Matt:
I’m a 34-year old corporate lawyer, married to my college sweetheart (an amazing woman) and the proud father of two beautiful children-- a 5-year old girl and a 2-year old boy.My parents, both Catholic, gave me a strong upbringing in the faith, but I was one of those people who (to paraphrase Lenny Bruce) had to leave the church to go back to God. I’m grateful God led me to that realization eight years ago; some people spend their entire lives letting the flaws of human institutions stand between them and Jesus. Thankfully, I have since been led to a vibrant, Protestant church community that embraces my family and nourishes my faith.
I don’t care for labels, but the label “progressive Christian” fits me as well as any. I believe Jesus was God Incarnate, died for my sins, and rose on the third day. I accept the authority of the Bible. I look forward to Christ’s triumphant return, when he will place the powers of this world under his feet. I’m also a registered Democrat who falls somewhere between Ted Kennedy and Noam Chomsky on the political spectrum. I’m bemused that so many people see a contradiction here; it seems so natural to me.
My faith was greatly tested 3 years ago when my daughter was diagnosed with a rare, degenerative disease. The typical life expectancy for a child with her illness is 10-12 years. We’re optimistic she’ll do better than that, thanks to some innovative treatments, but assuming I’m blessed with decent health and luck, I know I’ll bury her someday.
Soon after my daughter’s diagnosis, I realized that nurturing my anger toward God was a luxury I couldn’t afford-- as angry as I was, I needed God more than ever. That’s not to say my faith is the same; like every other part of my life, it has changed.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously wrote that “when Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” I’m slowly grasping the truth of those words. I used to think walking with Jesus was something like a leisurely walk along the beach with a dear friend. That’s part of it, but walking with Jesus also means walking alongside him as he carries the Cross to Calvary.
I’m drawn to this blog because I sense that David’s understanding of “J-Walking” is very similar to mine. Compared to that common ground, our political differences are trivial (though they make for lively discussion).
Subscribe
Comments
Aquaman, do you mind me asking what your daughter's diagnosis is? I'm attempting to support a couple in our congregation whose daughter has Rhett's Syndrome (I believe it's called). Any words of wisdom would be great - what TO say, what NOT to say, etc.
good words, Donny; is that really you? I'll take Thinker's word for it b/c she's a Cubs' fan and the 6 of us need to hang together.
"...I think even Canucklehead might be moved with kindness... well, ok, perhaps that is a bit too much to ask for... I think he is now on a 30-day FAST..." DK
holee-molee, see if I ever disclose my wounded inner child online anymore; it's gonna take me a month of John Hagee programs to recover from the shots I'm taking here
Posted by: canucklehead | May 14, 2008 1:20 AM
A sword has two sides but one grip. Jesus said we must become like little children for a reason. At one point Jesus is so loving, and then we see another reality as well. I'm not going any further than that in this blog. All I know is to follow the fruit to the vine, and to follow the vine to the roots. That is why I take the stand I do on the issues I comment on.
Posted by: Donny | May 14, 2008 6:51 AM
Aquaman, I wish your daughter a full life of any length. Your post and Bonhoffer's quote remind me of the hymn They Cast Their Nets- the peace of God is no peace at all.
Posted by: Doug | May 14, 2008 9:16 AM
I fell asleep watching my beloved Red Sox, and woke up this morning to see so many kind words addressed to me! I don't know where to begin.
Thinker, I'll hold your son in my prayers.
Donny, thanks for your kind and insightful words. I appreciate your insight that time is God's creation, which God is not bound by and which we are bound by only in this life. A friend of mine who is a skeptic played a key role in leading me to that realization. That realization, in turn, has given me a different perspective on God and prayer. I don't expect God to be invested in my plans, because God already holds the future. If I hear belatedly that someone is in crisis, I pray for that person, even if I know the crisis has passed-- the temporal distinction means much more to us than it does to God. And yes, it does provide a different perspective to suffering and grief, though of course it does not eliminate such things (and you don't suggest that it does).
Canucklehead, my daughter has MPS, which is a lysosomal storage disorder. I just read a little about Rett's Syndrome online; there are similarities and differences between Rett's and MPS. The best advice on what to say (and not to say) is to understand that there's nothing you really can say. Be present to the parents. Love the child, as well as her (presumably non-affected) siblings. The best things you can do are the most obvious things.
Our pastors have been wonderful to our family. My daughter absolutely adores one of them, who makes a point to find her before or after worship and give her a big hug. My daughter loves to chew on this pastor's stole, which is multi-colored (almost like a rainbow) and beautifully knit. When I tried to stop her from chewing, I got scolded! Our other pastor remarked that the stole is a symbol of servanthood; therefore, he could think of no more appropriate use of a stole than for my daughter to chew on it! Like I said, we belong to a wonderful church. I can't say enough about the love and care that all four of us experience there.
David, Cubs fans appear to be drawn to your website. I wonder what that means?? As a Sox fan, I feel as though I speak to Cubs fans from the other side of the eschaton. I lived through 1986, but I never bought into curses-- I figured a big-market team like the Sox had to win the World Series eventually. It was only after they won in 2004 that I realized I had been fully prepared to die as an old man without ever seeing the Sox win the big one. Take heart, Cubs fans. It's not nirvana here on the other side, but it's nice being just another fan whose hometown team has won a World Series recently.
Peace.
Posted by: aquaman | May 14, 2008 10:50 AM
Aquaman, I would bet my life that the truth in the testimony of the New Testament witness is solid. But, in all honesty, I don't really know what I would do if I had to "put it," in that way. I do know what it is like to watch a child suffer and wish I could sub in or change the reality of the situation. No matter where that tok me. (But man, I got lots of work to do "as" a Christian.)
Thinker, thanks. I will not reply the way you know I want to, here in this blog. Suffice it to say, there is only "ONE" faith delivered "only once" to the saints. In context, that would mean the Apostles that watched Jesus go up were the saints that got the original blueprints. Please note that Paul only affirms them and is used by Christ "through the Holy Spirit and experience and education, to show them what was up "theologically" and, in common sense ways. Of course that is what the Holy Spirit does and a person that "sees the light." Points everything TO Jesus. I believe in loving as I truly desire to be loved. I don't like being told lies or deceived. And I certainly do not want to be the bearer of deception. It's a Gospel thing. And I stick to it. I just need a lot of work in the non-anger department. (But it's tough dealing with bullies.) If a cop yells at you for running a stop sign and gives you a ticket, you still deserve a ticket for running a stop sign.
Posted by: Donny | May 15, 2008 8:40 AM
Post a Comment
Are you aware of our Rules of Conduct?