Perspective

I really don't like birthdays.  The whole king/queen for the day makes me nauseous and I can't really pin point why.  Maybe I've just experienced too many obnoxious birthday "celebraters"...  


I know, I know, there are those who aren't like this, but I just had to toss the baby with the bathwater on this one.

 

Well yesterday gave me a new perspective in 

which I can appreciate these celebrations a bit more. 

Our friend Janet, the lady on the far right, came to know Dani (the guy in the middle of the picture with the striped sweater) a while back, and has become really close with him and his family.  Last Sunday Janet pasted the word around that she wanted to throw a real special surprise birthday for him.   He doesn't have a lot of friends and is in a tough spot right now.  


He's had a degenerative disease since he was born and besides the past 7 or so months he's been able to live a typical life, at least out side of the hospital.  In these pasts 7 months the disease has begun to take it's toll.  He's been stuck in the hospital, very susceptible to sicknesses due to his low immune system and was even medically dead for 6 hours at one point.


His story is tragic and yet beautiful.  He's got huge faith and a strong love for the Lord, which is so rare.    


I think it touches me so much because it pricks one of my darkest fears, the loss of physical control.  I still feel immortal or at least believe that I'll live to blaze trails on my bike when I'm 120.  Maybe it's because my frontal lobe hasn't fully matured or maybe because I come from a family that's as healthy as oxen. Yeah we're a bunch of nuts mentally, but physical we've got it all down pat :).  But really, it scares the crap out of me and I don't even like saying it because what if God wants to use...


We got the privilege to not only celebrate his birthday, sing some of his favorite Hillsong tunes, and meet his sweet family, but more than we got to experience him, Dani.  His family says that he's an angel and I couldn't agree more.  Even though we only heard his words passed along through his mom, since his disease has reduced his speech to a mere whisper, they were whispers that spread words of incredible value.  


I'm so glad that Janet invited us into this world that is so often marginalized and forgotten.  I'm even more excited to get involved in this hospital, reading, hanging out, and chatting it up with those who are washed out in the hustle bustle of today, but our the gems within the Kingdom of God.

Proverbs 31:8-9 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, 

for the rights of all who are destitute.

 Speak up and judge fairly; 

defend the rights of the poor and needy.