Old Life and New Life

Over the past few days I have had the distinct honor of witnessing a new life, my grandson. What a marvel God has given us in new life! It is indeed the greatest wonder of our world. There is a certain perfection in the tiny faces, the tiny fingers, the tiny toes, all fresh and new. We usually find a crowd around the nursery viewing window with a chorus of "He's so cute!" or "She's beautiful and so petite!" or "Look how tiny he is" remarks. We often take for granted the introduction of new life into our world. We see it as the natural progression of love and marriage to reproduce offspring that looks like one of us. It is indeed the preservation of the species but it is a marvelous event that eclipses what we may consider as "way cool" things in our lives. When you first hold that squirming tiny person in your arms you MUST be awestruck. The fresh innocence of a newborn is incredibly emotional. Seeing the ultimate results of love and marriage that we call a baby is a precious gift from God that warms the heart. In the midst of turmoil and tribulation a baby brings new hope and a renewal of the spirit. As that tiny face looks up at you seeking a fulfillment of his needs you see why the adage, "it takes a village", has a significance that perhaps you haven't considered. Those little eyes can't focus on who it is providing his needs so you must be prepared to do whatever it takes to satisfy him. When he cries out for sustenance he has little regard from whence it comes. When he is uncomfortable, he has little regard for whose arms hold him just that his expectations of relief are met. The urgency of his needs are accompanied by a tiny voice expressed as a whimper or a bellow but always audible and heart wrenching. We cannot choose to ignore it as he will persist until his needs are met. His facial features can go from angelic to downright mad in an instant. The attitude of "perhaps you didn't hear me" couldn't be plainer. Now comes the delicate balance that precludes all knowledge, what exactly is his need, it becomes a perplexing dilemma for new parents. Thousand of clean diapers and half empty bottles are thrown out. No matter how adept we are at satisfying the needs of those in the workplace or society at large, we are reduced to ineptitude by the cry of a baby. Suddenly our relative self importance becomes secondary to the needs of the baby. That cry for help becomes primary and all important. Suddenly the person who can handle anything becomes putty in a baby's hands. A tiny voice, a pitiful cry, your world has changed, a new purpose for your life is mirrored in that tiny face.

At the same time we were witnessing new life we were simultaneously addressing the needs of an old life. An elderly parent recovering from surgery that left her a bit helpless had needs that must be met as well. The old life has many years of communication so that the helplessness is not so pronounced in terms of defining the need but it is often just as urgent. It is usually not punctuated with loud crying but the look of responsibility and the air of need is certainly not diminished. There is a sharp focus on the face that seemingly MUST address the need and there is usually no mistake to whom the need is addressed. Food and creature comforts are much the same in the old life as it is in the new life but with a defined preference. Fortunately, with reasonableness, the urgency can be abated for a short time. The urgency of the needs of the new life isn't negotiable. Interestingly, there seems to be pacifiers for both and to date neither new nor old has refused.

We wish to see the first smile in the new life and wish to see a smile again in the old life. The new life has a peaceful countenance when satisfied, the face of the old life has a face of discontent that has become somewhat permanent. Take time to notice old faces, where has their joy gone? At the same time make an effort to observe as many new faces as you can. There is a joy for you in this observation in case you have forgotten. New faces make old faces smile. Be grateful for old faces and new faces. Find joy in them both. Know that God has provided this joy for you and have a grateful heart. Love old and new faces. Most of all, Love God.