Author: Wick

Mommy is out with a friend. I’m on the couch, enjoying the silence a few moments longer.

Sophie drools down her chin, down her shirt, onto the already soaked spot on my chest. She’s awake for the first time in 20 minutes or so. She looks up at me, and I have no idea what is going through her mind. Probably something profound like “I recognize this face. How long before it gives me food?”. She smiles at me because she knows it makes me smile back. I wipe the drool off her face with the back of my hand, something I would have cringed at watching someone else do years ago.

From the farthest bedroom I hear her older sister begin to chime in to the action with a silent wail. “Mommmmmyyy???” “Dadddddyyyy????” “Geeeetttt uuuppppp?????” Holding her younger sister I yell softly down the hallway, “come here Addie!!”. A soft thud, and a patter of footsteps on the wooden floor, she enters the room. Pony tail slightly undone, and diaper is sagging a bit inside those 2T jeans, but she looks at me and yells, “daddy!!!” The drooly one, the full diapered one, and I, hug briefly, before the chaos begins.

A bottle, some chocolate, and an episode of Dora later, we play. Play dough, dancing, and acting like dogs for a bit. Later we’ll eat vegetables, cottage cheese, and maybe even a cut up hot dog. Bath time, some more playing, and eventually bed. (before daddy’s 8pm show starts, hehe)

Outside of these moments, chaos in the world. Many are suffering. Many are alone. Economy threatens. Hope is offered in a million different vessels. Christmas stresses already rear their head. Extended family continues to extend, while attempting to maintain it’s bonds.

But here…here is an entire world. I love being a father. Thanks God.

A recent article in the Washington State Journal talked about the movement (in advertising at least) of atheists who are making public statements. If you’ve watched the news much lately, you’ve probably seen these signs. Things like “Why believe in God? Be good for GOODNESS sake”, or “Beware of Dogma”, etc.

I can understand why the atheist community would want to say things like this. Advertising has always been a way for a misunderstood group, or company who feels they have something to offer, to make a statement about themselves publicly. I know some Christians are getting very upset, saying how offended they are, even accusing atheists of hate speech, etc. I think Christ would model a different response, than protesting that our “rights” have somehow been trampled on, and fighting to remove such ads.

I’m personally not offended, even though I disagree with most of what they’re saying. The same way I disagree when certain restaurants tell me they’re the best in the Midwest. But I didn’t want to talk about advertising.

A quote from the article, “Still, leading activists say nonbelievers tend to be just as wary of organized atheism as they are of organized religion — making it tough to pull together a cohesive movement. “A pastor can say to his flock, ‘All rise,’ and everyone rises. But try that in an atheist meeting,” said Marvin Straus, co-founder of an atheist group in Boulder, Colo. “A third of the people will rise. A third will tell you to go to hell. And a third will start arguing….That’s why it’s hard to say where we’re going as a movement.“

I would offer the church as a model for atheists who are looking for a positive, community building way to organize. Not the church as seen in popular movies, or even news sources. Not the church as seen on any TV programs or commercials. Not even the church as seen in many major cities today.

But the church as seen in scripture, and breaking through in small/mighty ways around the globe today. Each one giving as there was need. Being examples of love, and grace, and forgiveness in a selfish world. A supporting community that anticipates what lies ahead, while existing in an incomplete today.

Heck, you may even want to join a church, and help them move that direction. Many of us could use a reminder.

On Sunday nights, we’ve begun something with a small group of our teens. We make a meal, and eat together. It began as a “leadership” group, and continues to be a core group of the youth from our church. The goal as it began was to invest in relationship-building for many of our younger teens, in hopes that they will become more confident/present as leaders in our other times together.

It’s working. More is happening that I’d originally hoped.

I’m reminded of the beginning celebrations of the Eucharist Meal(communion, literally “giving thanks”). How special it is as sacrament and as worship, but also as a statement of the Kingdom of God in today’s economics.

“At the Lord’s Table, those who have bread bring it, and all are fed; that is the model for the Christian social vision in all times and places” – Yoder

It’s something that happens in our youth on Sunday nights. Anyone who can bring food does, many come, and everyone eats. Our church acts similarly on other special events (annual BBQ, Sunday Evening Snacks, etc.). Anytime we have food together as a church, they tell certain people to bring certain things, but truth is, even if you show up with nothing, you’re invited to eat just as much as the 70 year lady who cooked all afternoon to prepare.

Easy to do it, and just enjoy it. But may we be reminded of the model it gives us for life as the church throughout our weeks as well. As those who are living new creations within a new creation, may we bring what we have to others in need.

May we invite others “to our table”, without taking into account what they might bring to it.

May we give thanks…