Waiting for baby

It is Wednesday night and as I sit in my house writing this, Anna and Kevin are in there house. I am waiting for the call that they are on the way to the hospital. They are waiting for the time to go. Anna has definitely begun labor.

When I was at the church a couple of hours ago, I had the pleasure of updating three teenage girls who were VERY curious about how Anna was. Practically everybody I have encountered today has asked for an Anna update. Yesterday someone who I think may have never met Anna dropped off something from the Goldmine for Anna's baby. The absolute joy of birth is something that must be shared in a community.

At the same time, I am aware that today Lynn and Claire Bailey are returning from Dallas where they buried Lynn's son Gordon. If people around town haven't asked me about Anna, they have asked me about the Baileys. I have received calls from people I have never met wanting to know how to help. Sadness this deep can only be borne in community.

This week, as a church, we are touched by life and death, inexpressible joy and heartbreaking sadness. It is so terrible and so beautiful and I can't bear any of it by myself. I thank God for God and for this remarkable community.

-Brian