For those that follow this corner of the internet, theMangoTimes has been a little slow lately. This follows a regular trend around here.
Life has been busy. Kendra and I are now podcasting one show each week. The new production schedule adds another dimension to an already busy life of 8 kids, a dental practice, and a love for serving at Redeemer.
Life has also been stressful. Balancing some newer issues with my health and a longer than normal bout with melancholy have pushed me to develop a few new behaviors. I find myself meditating more often, take longer walks with Betty, journaling more, finding more time to laugh with my kids, and fiercely protecting my quiet time with Kendra.
We have also spent the past month or so preparing to sell our house (more on that next week). This decision comes directly on the heels of the previous two paragraphs. There is a driven need to downsize and reduce the requirements that come with large home and property ownership.
It's been easier for me to turn inward. The gap between what people see (or want to see) from me and what's really going on underneath the surface is a little bigger than normal. These are the times in life when I purpose to start the day grounded in the gospel. These are the days when I ask friends to push me back to the gospel (and they have been faithful to do that for me).
These are also the days that I remind myself a simple fact: Mighty Joe sees.
I've told this to others often, but sometimes I need to simply whisper those words and remind myself. "Mighty Joe sees."
Joe's doctors prepared us for several probable outcomes in his life. One of those was blindness. I can still remember his first check-up when Joe grabbed a toy from his neurologist's hand. His doctor was caught off guard and said, "Wow! He can see!" He proceeded to take us into the room where he walked us through Joe's current MRI and explained why he shouldn't be able to see. New pathways, new neural connections, and a mighty God looking after our boy allowed for the improbable.
Today we celebrate MightyJoe's 7th birthday. God has blessed us.
In the midst of a busy life where the plans and life can seem fuzzy, it is good to remember that Mighty Joe sees.
Happy Birthday Mighty Joe!
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
