They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
~Mark 8.22-25
Charlie, my boy, when you were born I felt like the blind man in this story. I felt like I had been walking around in darkness for so long that when I finally (and miraculously) began to see again, I didn’t know what I was looking at. I didn’t know what I was feeling. It took some time for me to realize: oh, this is what it is like when sunlight bursts into the darkest places of my being; this is what it is like when love banishes old wounds that had clung to me like parasites; this is water on parched soil; this is stars falling like fire from heaven.
And so, Charlie my boy, I will try, to the best of my abilities, to ever only give you good gifts — for you are a miracle and a gift from God. Never believe those who will tell you that you were born a sinner; when you were born you were beautiful, and breathtaking, and pure… and good gifts are all that you deserve to receive.
I love you, I love you, I love you.
Well, exactly.
I’ve never known “balance” more than when my son came into this world.
Isn’t it amazing how children become a way into becoming a new humanity ourselves?
Amen … and again I say amen.