It doesn’t feel like it, but it’s my happy birthday. Mom died three months ago but sometimes it still feels like yesterday. It’s a year of firsts after the death of a loved one and so this birthday will feel less happy.
And yet I would be stupid not to think why it should be a happy birthday. My 2-year-old son grew one inch in the last three months. My 9-month-old daughter can stand on her own for 2 seconds at a time and is on track to outpace her older brother for walking. I have a wife who has proven to be a rock during hard times. The first draft of my forthcoming memoir is completed. After 12 months of not having one, I will finally have a full-time job next month. Soon, my wife and I will be first-time homeowners. It still ought to be a happy birthday.
Yet the backdrop to my birthday is definitely not happy – a global pandemic that has left 180,000 Americans dead, 30 million Americans unemployed, political uncertainty, and levels of racial unrest not seen since the 1960s.
Even this week a cop shot a black man in the back seven times. The man was found to have a knife in his possession. Unlike George Floyd, not all Americans will have the same view of this case. As a result, we will spiral away further from each other.
It seems to me that in this difficult moment, even during my “happy birthday,” we need a language of healing. Not enough of our leaders have spoken this way. We need language that will speak to the fears of people of color. We need words to bring down the temperature of the rhetoric. The human tongue has the power either to unite or stoke fear and division.
This is not to say things need not change. We’ve got to be praying for our communities and our country and our leaders. We need to be having dialogue with those not within our own echo chambers. Finally, we need to vote our conscious at the ballot box and not give in to despair.
As a private citizen, I want to say this to my family and friends and readers: Let’s seek a language of healing. And on this day, if I can hear words of comfort, I’ll do my best to have a happy birthday.
10 Comments
Andrews,
What a darling photo! Thank you for sharing.
Howard Performing Arts Center has opened after many months of being closed. I will take a photo today to honor your birthday and your contribution and your family’s contribution to the arts in Berrien Springs. May you have a blessed birthday.
Thank you, Dixie. I miss the Howard. We did our Roquiz Trio recording there and Mom and Dad were sponsors.
Bro, we don’t need to vote our conscience. We need to pray for our leaders not vote. Ellen White used to be clear on this subject.
She was pretty clearing about voting against slavery.
I really appreciated this blog. I am sorry you are hurting. Thank you for sharing. Our need for language of healing really spoke to me. Also, congrats on the house and job! Miss you guys. Sending hugs.
Hi Rachel, I was thinking about you and James the other day. How can I hear more about your missionary adventures? Anywho, hope you find yourself well and thank you for sharing specifically how my writing reached you.
Happy happy birthday Andrew. You are so blessed with such a wonderful family. This message comes with love from myself and John.
Thank you, Jan and John. Melanie and I miss North Idaho.
Happy birthday Andrew. The bible tells us to rejoice always & it is a blessing to see that you can appreciate the good things in you life whilst grappling with grief. Stay strong
Thank you for your sentiments Joyce.