Life Keeps Happening

Although for the Thompson's in the Desert life seems to have come to an sudden halt, life still happens. The world keeps spinning, the clock keeps ticking, and things outside of room 7122 and especially PHX Children's still goes on. Here are a few things that have reminded me of that.

Last night around 7 pm or so, when the sun had finally set, the boy in the room next to us and his family were all walking out to the lobby together with a few other people. I noticed that they were all wearing skullcaps. I followed from a distance. I didn't want to look crazy or weird, but when they got to the lobby, they sat down together at a table and ate their Jewish Seder together. What an amazing sign of remembrance that the people of God were slaves in Egypt, but God delivered them. And sure enough, there was a little boy with no hair and skullcap on at the table. This was a great reminder that even though we are here, we must do everything we can to make life normal for Caleb. So, tomorrow, there will be an Easter Celebration like never before in room 7122!

Also, out side of this hospital in GA, my grandpa passed away on Thursday morning. It was not a sudden death, but death non-the-less.

So, even though our normal has changed, life still happens. Sometimes as much as we would like everything else to stop so we can focus on what we need to focus on, it just doesn't seem to work that way. My grandpa was a great man who loved his family more than anything. i have so many great memories with and of him that I will cherish for the rest of my life!

So, how does one live from day to day when it seems that there can potentially be so many things happening that you cannot control? How can someone potentially navigate this crazy life with all of the twists and turn, bumps and road blocks that you will encounter along the way? How does one not loose their ever loving mind in the midst of whatever life may bring?

The theological word that comes to my mind is Incarnation. Basically, this is a theological word that means Christ came to earth and is present with us now. Because Christ walked our earth, took on flesh, as Eugene Peterson says, "Moved into the neighborhood", we are assured that no matter what we go through He will be present. Because he suffered and went through pain, trial, temptation, hurt, anguish, loss, betrayal, and basically anything life can throw at you, we know that when we experience all of those things, He will be present as well. His name is Emmanuel, God with us!

I in no way believe God caused this to happen, but I know that He is and will journey with us through it. I in no way believe that God is up in heaven happy that my son has cancer, but I believe that He has been present in room 7122. He was present before we got here, is present now and will be as long as we are here. I truly believe that whatever our next step is, whatever the road before us brings, whatever (and this is hard to say or type I guess) may happen with Caleb from this point forward, God will be with us and will give us the grace we need to encounter whatever comes. Does that mean that I will not have doubts, that my faith will not be challenged in big ways? Of course not, but doubt doesn't mean God's presence leaves. In fact, it may mean that somehow He could be present even more.

We do not serve a God that is far off, but a God who is present! And today, know that we have felt God's presence through family, friends, church community, school community, and through many other ways as well! Jesus may be in the grave today, but even death doesn't have the final word! Sunday's coming!