Something Like That

Two Sundays ago at church I was pulled out during the last song to speak with a man looking for money. It was told to me he was a "regular," someone who comes by our church and others when they need some extra help. He asked if we could talk in private, and of course we could, and he proceeded to tell me about the financial trouble he and his three kids were in, how he just needed a little bit to buy pampers and some food, etc. Typically our church has gift cards to grocery stores or gas stations to help in cases like this, but our office staff and pastor were away that week. So as I sat there listening to this guy in trouble, with his disheveled appearance and story to match, I couldn't just turn him away. I gave him twenty bucks (though he said ten more would really do it : ), prayed over him, the money and his kids, he said "thank you" and walked out the door.

And then that was it. He was gone, to the store or where ever, with some money in hand and I went back into church to pick up my bulletin, get Hugh to the nursery and the other things more typical of a Sunday morning. Something felt odd though, like the whole situation wasn't according to the script. Not that there is a standard way things must be done (this isn't my large mega-company following some nit-picky corporate process), but was there something more I should have done? Was there something different he should have done? Why were there these feelings of discontent when the guy left with (a portion of) what he came in for?

I think in the end this whole episode was a small glimmer of something much greater. Here was a guy coming to a church in look for financial help, and he should have found it. He did find it! But the whole reason he comes into a church building in the first place is because of Who a church follows, and how they choose to make that known. Thankfully in this case our reputation proceeded us. And I feel bad for this guy, like I should give him some money. I did give him some money! But that would last him for a short amount of time and as a church person I know there are more sustaining things than cash, at least when looking from a different angle. Handing over some paper felt somewhat hollow. The two of us acted out a scene that was pretty good, but it was only like a reflection in a dim mirror, when what we really needed was to see without a mirror at all. Or something like that : )

First Words

I do not recall my first words, though to be fair I don't recall much before the age of eight. I will have to ask my parents, there's a chance they would still remember, or maybe have written it down. My brother-in-law is a pilot and travels quite a bit, so when one of my nephews was starting to talk his first word was Mexico ("meh-he-ko") because that's where dad was. Pretty unique first word!

Hugh is a week over thirteen months and is starting to say a few things. Not just gibberish, though there is still a lot of that too, but certain items or sounds get his attention and he makes the same sound each time. Top five time! I have been claiming "da-da" for a couple months now, and while the window, blue car, other men and the TV sometimes get a "da-da" too, I'm pretty sure a majority are for me : ) "Ma-ma" is coming out quite often now too, much to Jess' liking.

"Woof-woof" is declared when he sees a dog (or stuffed animal that's nearly his size) or hears a dog barking, which is just about every day from our back yard. Melvin the Foxhound's toenails clickity-clacking on the floors also elicit "woof-woof." There is a wall decoration shaped like a lion in his room that he's taken to roaring at, our trained response to the question, "O que o leao fala?" (Portuguese -->English: "What does the lion say?"). Though the growling has also been an expression used at the dinner table (even on non-antelope nights) and to greet company. I think by far his favorite sound is made to round-shaped objects to which he exclaims "baaah" (Hugh --> English: "ball"). Definitely toy balls of any shape (like the oblong america football) or size (including my bowling ball that weighs 3/5 of him), but even the moon got a "baaah" tonight. Who knows, he might be able to play with that one during his lifetime! (If he learns a few more words first . . .  : )