Transformation

In some ways, this past week feels like it has flown by (mainly at home), and in other ways it seems like nothing has happened (mainly at work). I suppose those ideas are not mutually exclusive, so for now, that's the best I can think of to describe it.

Allie has been doing better in the last few days. She's still a bit tired, but has (generally) been feeling better. She had an appointment last Friday and everything still looks good. We're only at week 11, but our little one is now the size of a large lime and apparently danced and wiggled through the entire appointment. Allie can't feel it just yet, but Sam put on quite a show during the ultrasound. Personally, I'm hoping that this means we have a drummer on the way. We tried to get a good ultrasound picture, but Sam just wouldn't hold still.

I wrote a few weeks ago that I wanted to explore the parallels between spiritual and physical life. I still intend to do that, although much has happened to distract me since then.

I guess for starters, we find at least one place in scripture where Jesus talks about spiritual life in Him as being "born again," so for practical purposes, I will use birth as a major milestone in both realms. I am quickly learning that there is a LOT that happens in the physical world before birth. Seeds are planted. Those seeds have to unite with a willing and fertile recipient. That in itself is a miracle. There is tremendous and continuous growth from something that barely resembles a person (as one book put it, if you saw it coming at you in a dark alley, you'd high-tail it in the other direction) into something that is already becoming beautiful. Even at this early stage, Sam has a good heart, a brain, hands and feet. Although our little one has not yet been born, Allie and I have the responsibility (privilege!) to nurture them, protect them, and make sure they are able to grow throughout this process and long afterward.

We find almost the same things occurring during the early stages before someone is born again spiritually. Seeds are planted, and one of them lands on a heart and a mind that God has opened. That in itself is a miracle. From there, the person begins a period of growth, asking questions, looking for evidence, thinking about God perhaps for the first time, or beginning to finally understand Him for who He is. At this point, the person may not resemble a "Christian" in any way that we would be able to identify, but God is moving them towards beautiful redemption. Their heart and mind are changing and preparing to be renewed. The part of the Christian or discipler is to nurture them and help them grow throughout this process in anticipation of what is to come. The transformation has not yet occurred, but they are on their way.