At Least They're Committed

Dear God,

That was quite the lesson.

I haven’t been on here for a while and for good reason. One of the babies, Baby D, well, it’s no exaggeration to say his recovery has been miraculous and that the day of his birth and the subsequent month brought more terror and heartache than I — and many others — had ever, ever experienced. (Happy to report his twin sister and cousin are thriving and he is now, too.) 

Yet, it also brought enlightenment and something I hadn’t felt for a while: Hope. Hope for him, hope for us, hope for humanity.

We don’t know how the next months and years will be for Baby D, but maybe, just maybe he can be a normal little boy from here on out.  I am grateful to the point of tears for Children’s Hospital Colorado and the surgeons, doctors and nurses.

Thank you God, thank you Mother Mary, thank you to our Savior Jesus Christ, thank you all angels and saints, including the Archangel Raphael, the healer, and the Archangel Gabriel, the communicator, and thank you to our ancestors and ‘passed’ friends (Ellen, that’s you!) who were doing all they could for Baby D from the other side. His survival has been an all-worldly experience. 

The power of prayer is an amazing dimension among — and yet beyond — the one we live in. I’ve been witness to the difference it makes throughout my life. That’s not to say that I believe everyone who posts on a prayer chain asking things such as, “Please pray for someone I know’s first cousin,” carries much weight. I feel like there needs to be an emotional investment.

I was thinking about that and pondering how, why and when that emotional investment occurs as I watched Ron Howard’s In the Heart of the Sea. Why was it that I chuckled when the sailors would be slammed into the ocean by the great white whale to meet their doom, yet fast-forwarded through any scenes where the whales were harpooned or generally in peril? Why did I not care the least about the adults on the ship yet gritted my teeth each time the two young men in the movie were in danger?

Innocence, I suppose: Rooting for the creatures who meant no harm or didn’t know better. I’m a big fan of Saint Francis and his dedication to the beasts. Human adults? Meh.

Baby D was born with a herniated diaphragm, which is very bad. Without the barrier, the organs grow into the chest cavity and greatly limit lung capacity and, yeah, the diaphragm needs to be intact for breathing.

No surprise, we and all his family bawled, researched, laid awake for hours, prayed, prayed some more, and rallied on his behalf. A sister-in-law started a Meal Train so Baby D’s parents and siblings didn’t have to worry about food or bills while they went through this. I am eternally grateful to them all and the so, so many people who generously donated!

But it went beyond that. Baby D was on Catholic prayer chains and Mormon prayer chains that stretched across the country — all initiated not by us, but rather by those who knew us. D’s best buddy did a morning prayer reel and did a special dedication to Baby D each day for weeks. People requested updates daily and we were all busy keeping them apprised, feeling grateful for — and in awe of  — their caring. I cried as many tears of gratitude for all of the above as I did of sadness and fear. 

Herein lies the lesson. Obviously, these people are truly good! And yet, many of these people rallied strongly behind a morally reprehensible leader and hold views that are the polar opposite of my beliefs and of Christ’s teaching. Their voting choices would indicate they are drastically skewed toward a monopolizing oligarchy that caters to the wealthy and diminishes the poor. I don’t get it. Until this happened, it was no secret that I was ready to dismiss the likes of them altogether. Yeah, fat, bloated, overentitled Americans. Harpoons at the ready, men! But . . . they’re . . . good . . . people? How can that be?

Although not innocents, perhaps when they cast their ballots, they honestly thought they were doing the right thing. I can’t understand how or why, but maybe I’m not supposed to. I believe this was warned of in the Bible, thus I guess maybe was meant to happen. I defer to God on that one. For the record, I’ve never been unkind to anyone despite their beliefs (unless they were harmful or demeaning toward someone at risk). 

And the prayers from all of these people who made such a phenomenal impact in helping our miracle were absolutely a blessing. I believe it’s because of innocence. Saving the life of a child resonates with all decent human beings, and it is something even people we don’t know — heaven knows I’ve prayed for many children I’ve never met over the years — and/or don’t agree with can get fully behind with meaningful prayer and support. 

And God knows that.

For my part, I have handed any judgment off to God and taken back the conclusions I’d come to in the past. I don’t follow the news at all because it’s all corrupt and littered with selfish intentions. We’re ready for what comes next and don’t dare to hope anything positive is on the near horizon. But I’m OK with that now. I’ll roast marshmallows with my grandchildren — all nine of them — over the fires of the apocalypse and repeat to myself again and again, “Thy will be done!”

And so it is, I stand corrected, Lord. I am enlightened. I’m sorry, I was wrong.