Monday, December 19, 2011

Myopia

When you're passionate about pursuing a child as you must be during an adoption process it's inevitable that you develop a myopia of sorts. We are so living in the expectancy of bringing Jacob home.  We're so close - like "creation being more or less held back" in anticipation.  Myopia.  Jacob's ongoing story even though its our world right now is just one story- one in a sea of over 26 million orphans in this world we live in.

Lonely Juniper - Utah
Sunday morning our friend Anne-Marie reminded me...there are more stories. She told me about little 'J'.  His story reminds me of our Jacob - but on steroids.  J is in a group home today.  He's a 10 year old energetic little boy that has a 'history'.  Hard things happened to him. Abandoned - he has no one.  Pulled out of a 'bad-situation' at home, placed in the system...adopted twice...and given up on -twice.  He's been given the message: you're too broken...we give up - twice.  Returned to the system like that sweater you don't like - twice.  He's there and he has no one today.

As my the fog of my myopia lifted - I looked around and saw the Lord's people and thought if not us - who? There are at least ten churches within 10 miles of where 'J'  lays his head each night   -he's alone.  I can assure you that across our nation there are children right under our noses and we drive past their world each day-oblivious.

What would it look like if one family from each church in the US stepped out, took a risk and "visited an orphan"- there would be no more 'J's in 'the system' in our country.  I wonder what would happen if we- the body of Christ wherever we are sought out the 'broken' children around us.

I'm not naive.   I know that not all of us can bring a child into our home - for a variety of reasons.  But I do know there are some who can and want to.  If you can't -its ok.  But we can all be "doers of the word" an encouragement, an enabler for those who are open but lack what they need to bring a child home, we can visit 'J' in his distress by helping those that can and want to bring a child home- THAT is James 1:27 in action.  What will we do?  A "great cloud of witnesses" watches.

Marshall
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3 comments:

  1. Anne-MarieDecember 23, 2011 at 7:16 PM

    Marshall -- Loved reading about little 'J' here. I love that kid so much. It is true that, "there are children right under our noses and we drive past their world each day-oblivious". So true. There are approximately 115,000 children in Colorado available and waiting to be adopted as you read this. Pray for little 'J' to find a forever family soon and to know they are forever. And check out an old post I have on my blog about adopting from the foster care system where the kids looking for forever homes might be right next door. http://25kidsandcounting.blogspot.com/2010/12/we-are-all-called-to-care.html
    ~~Anne-Marie

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  2. Anne-MarieDecember 23, 2011 at 7:26 PM

    That post was supposed to say 115,000 children in the United States and approximately 1300 in Colorado.
    Marshall - There are approximately 3800 churches in Colorado. So in Colorado we only need 1 family from every 3 churches! Hmmmm...

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  3. A "Worthey" Adoption JouneyDecember 29, 2011 at 9:29 AM

    Anne-Marie,

    I often wonder what it would be like to say that Colorado is the first state that doesn't have any children waiting to be adopted. I believe we CAN make a difference. Sometimes, you just have to step out. Thanks for letting us know about your blog. Can't wait to see it!

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