And then...

I had this thought even before Princess Lexi was born ... it was more an image than a thought. And it was and is pretty morbid. It came to me, if i recall correctly, late at night while struggling to get to sleep which is when most of my darker thoughts rise to the surface. Anyway, the image was of a baby's life. She is born, and then? What does this life have in store for her? Along the way she is bound to suffer, she will lose, she will grieve, she will get old, and she will die. Told you it was morbid. But if that is all that awaits her, then why bring a child into this world? There must be something more ... some purpose, some vibrancy, some Beauty. We sense this, we know this in our gut. And I am convinced this is true, that Lexi can live a life of purpose, of vibrancy and of Beauty. A life of significance, for what she does in this life - to quote Maximus from 'Gladiator' - can and does echo for eternity.

And beyond a life of significance, this here - this life - is a life of Beauty. Yes, sometimes it is more the silver lining sort ... but Beauty is always there. Most often in relationships. And it is there because God is Beauty, the source of all Beauty, and we as image bearers of God are able to appreciate this Beauty. And I hope and pray that Alexi will be a Beauty Appreciator!

To go to another fount of wisdom: Oprah was interviewing Matthew McConnaghy (sp?) the other day, and apparently his mother used to say to him when he got out of bed in a grumpy mood and came through to the kitchen, 'Get back into bed until you are ready to see the roses in the vase and not the dust on the table!' If God is Beauty - which I earnestly believe He is - then there are always roses in the vase. And then Alexi's life is not about simply being born and then growing old and losing and grieving and mourning. No, it is about purpose, and vibrancy, and Beauty. And so is my life. The little tyke is teaching me grand lessons already!