My Little Girl

Today is my daughter Anisa's 2nd birthday...






We took these pictures recently right after we came home from church and had taken her hair down. As you can see, she's quite a character.

You probably also picked up the lack of family resemblance if you were paying close attention.

That's because she's adopted.

We picked her up from the agency on May 31, 2006 when she was only two days old. Her birth mom was a college student in Indiana who could not adequately care for her and loved her enough to seek something better for her.

She is absolutely beautiful. She takes my breath away when I look at her. She is every bit as wild as her pictures suggest, and I dream about what could be if all that personality and energy could be someday released for the Kingdom of God and the cause of Christ.

Many years ago, I decided that if I was really Pro Life, that had to translate into some form of tangible action beyond praying at abortion clinics. I believed and was convicted that I needed to adopt. By the grace of God, I married a woman who felt the same way. The good people at adoption agencies always warn against thinking of adoption in terms of "rescuing" a child, and in one sense I agree because that can become so patronizing.

But there is a real sense in which adopting is an act of giving of one's self for the sake of someone in need. Is that so bad? I don't think so. Was not God's adoption of me through Jesus a rescue?

Not that we're some kind of heroes, mind you. Anisa is more of a blessing to us than we are to her, I think. It's hard ot outgive God, and this little person is certainly a gift from God.

You probably noticed that she's Black.

We get questioned about this a lot. I wonder what the questions behind the questions are sometimes. I wonder what people really think, while not necessarily wanting to care too much what people think.

We enrolled in the Transracial adoption program deliberately, and were open to just about any baby placed with us. We specifically wanted a minority baby, despite all the complications that can cause down the road, because it seems minority babies are simply harder to place.

There are plenty of people who want to adopt, but many of them are white people who want a baby that looks like them and so will wait and pay. Or people who want a baby from China, which is cool. There are many minority couples and individuals who are very committed to adopting minority children. I have met some amazing people in this adoption journey.

There are also a few minority people who are (understandably) concerned about the cultural impact that transracial adoption might have, but seem unwilling to step up and adopt themselves. And of course there are many more who for whatever reason, good or bad, do not adopt at all.

What I'm not saying is that you don't love Jesus if you don't adopt or anything like that! There are a zillion causes to give one's life (or at least one's attention) to, and the only one that really counts for Christians is the cause of Christ: The Cross. Subordinate causes are a matter of gifting and conviction and the leading of the Spirit. Not everyone can devote their lives to fight AIDS or hunger or poverty. Not everyone is called to the city. Not everyone can be in full-time vocational ministry. Not everyone is called to adopt. The body analogy exists for a reason. So I'm not trying to pontificate or be sanctimonious.

I would challenge everyone with the life of this beautiful little girl, however: Think about adopting. I like what my friend Chris said about being pro life - it necessarily has to involve all of life, not just life before birth and after death.

So what do you think about adoption? And more specifically, what do you think about transracial adoption?

Quote of the Day

"What are you afraid of? Of leaving that which will soon leave you?"

Fenelon

Summer's Comin!

A little review of last summer's antics...

The Streets I Feared to See

I referred to this poem on Chris' Blog, so I thought it would be good to post the whole thing.

It illustrates the general attitude Christians have held for some time regarding the cities. However, it also illustrates hope; In the end, God prevails.

The Streets I Feared to See

I said: "Let me walk in the field;"
God said: "Nay, walk in the town;"
I said: "There are no flowers there;"
He said: "No flowers, but a crown."

I said: "But the sky is black,
There is nothing but noise and din;"
But He wept as He sent me back,
"There is more," He said, "There is sin."

I said: "But the air is thick,
And fogs are veiling the sun."
He answered: "Yet souls are sick,
And souls in the dark undone."

I said: "I shall miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say,"
He answered me, "Choose tonight,
If I am to miss you, or they."

I pleaded for time to be given;
He said: "Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem hard in heaven
To have followed the steps of your Guide."

I cast one look at the fields,
Then set my face to the town;
He said: "My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?"

Then into His hand went mine
And into my heart cam He;
And I walk in a light Divine,
The streets I had feared to see.

George MacDonald (1824-1905)

The Real Planned Parenthood Agenda

The Peril of the Perfunctory

This is a poignant quote from A.W. Tozer’s Seven Perils of the Preacher:

“Another danger is that he may develop a perfunctory spirit in the performance of the work of the Lord. Familiarity may breed contempt even at the very altar of God. How frightful a thing it is for the preacher when he becomes accustomed to his work, when the sense of wonder departs, when he gets used to the unusual, when he loses his solemn fear in the presence of the High and Holy one; when, to put it bluntly, he gets a little bored with God and heavenly things.”

Brothers and Sisters, may we never lose the wonder.