Archive for January, 2009

Tonight, you get a two-for. (Graces and Mercies, Ian, Temporal Echoes of the Eternal)

I had been hoping that this time would never come, but it’s here.

We’re now looking at a series of “lasts.” Most parents get a set of joyous, but probably mildly sad lasts before the kids move out and leave the nest. Unfortunately, there’s nothing triumphant or joyful about our lasts. A couple of nights ago was, more than likely, the last time Ian will sleep in his room, in his own bed. We’ve seen him walk unaided for the last time, and pretty soon he will go to school for the last time. The tumor symptoms have increased with a vengeance, like an opponent who sees the endgame, and is determined to win.

We’re at the point where, while not known for sure, God’s decision seems to be clear. We’re walking our little boy home, kind of like how we walk him everywhere these days. We’re keeping close, aiding with each step, surrounding him with encouragement and praise. This is our calling, and I hate it. I have raged, dreaded and feared this time, but we have no choice but to be faithful with what we’re given.

And yet, I couldn’t help but to remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 27: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. I’m re-learning lessons of servanthood, and I’m finding it some joy in helping Ian with the simplest of tasks, with the perspective that I’m doing it for Jesus as well. There is a sense of duty as a parent, there is a sense of love out of caring for my son, but I also have a joy out of caring for someone whom God loves more than life itself, enough to die on a cross. As painful as it is, there is part of me that considers what I do for Ian as a privilege.

* * *

I’ve told some of you that I’m reading the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn. When Deb & I went to Maui for a week, we studied about Hawaii for at least a month. You would think that before now I would have bothered to do a study on the place where I will be spending eternity. I’ll confess that my primary motive was to be able to truthfully answer any questions that Ian might have, as well as make it easier for me to say “farewell” to him.

The passage I read tonight gave me food for thought:

God has never given up on his original creation. Yet somehow we’ve managed to overlook an entire biblical vocabulary that makes this point clear. Reconcile. Redeem. Restore. Recover. Return. Renew. Regenerate. Resurrect. Each of these biblical words begins with the re- prefix, suggesting that a return to an origination that was ruined or lost. (Many are translations of the Greek words with an ana- prefix, which has the same meaning as the English re-). For example, redemption means to buy back what was formerly owned. Similarly, reconciliation means the restoration or reestablishment of a prior friendship or unity. Renewal means to make new again, restoring to an original state. Resurrection means becoming physically alive again, after death.

These words emphasize that God always sees us in light of what he intended us to be, and he always seeks to restore us to that design. Likewise, he sees the earth in terms of what he intended it to be, and he seeks to restore it to its original design.

Religion professor Albert Wolters, in Creation Regained, writes “[God] hangs on to his falled original creation and salvages it. He refuses to abandon the work of his hands–in fact, he sacrifices his own Son to save his original project. Humankind, which has botched its original mandate and the whole creation along with it, is given another chance in Christ; we are reinstated as God’s managers on earth. The original good creation is to be restored.”

I’ve been very focused lately on what will be different in the next age, and how Ian will be different, that I’ve forgotten to think about what will be the same. I fully expect that he’ll have his same laugh that he did before the tumor set in (that I have trouble remembering right now.) His eyes in his glorified body will be the same shape, and the same color. He’ll have his same sense of humor. He will enjoy running like he did, and probably even more. We’ll have the same inside jokes. There’s a part of me the expects when we see each other for the first time, we’ll embrace and use our current greeting (“Courage and Kindness, son.” “Courage and Kindness, Dad.”)

Somehow, that helps. It’s strange just how much comfort I’ve been getting by getting clues about what will be familiar in Heaven…almost as much as by learning about what will be different.

, ,

3 Comments

Hey, You–I Gotta Tell You Something… (Temporal Echoes of the Eternal, Ian)

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:16-17

We went to Mall of America yesterday, after the doctor’s appointment. We’ve been there dozens of time as a family. This time, we took turns pushing Ian in a wheelchair. We looked at the stores, had a snack and we laughed. The whole time, I wanted to stop each person and let him/her know about my son. Not about his condition, but about him. About what a wonderful little boy he is.

Do you know my son, Ian? You should get to know him. He’s a fantastic kid. He’s only in first grade, but he can add a column of two-digit numbers in his head. He can read at least a couple of grades better than I did at his age. He’s had a rotten year, but he’s still got a great attitude. He’s brave, and is one of the most kind-hearted people I know. He can see when someone is suffering, but he isn’t afraid to say or do something about it. I love him more than anyone else in this world, except for maybe my wife. If you got to know him, I think you would feel the same way. You need to look past the appearance. His body is weak and frail right now, but someday he’s going to be glorious.

Is that how you feel as well about Jesus, Heavenly Father? When He was born, as He grew into a man, was it only your wisdom that kept the angels from trumpeting His glory every day, celebrating His majesty each minute?

,

2 Comments

Nope, Not a Happy One This Time

I am the man who has seen affliction
by the rod of His wrath.
He has driven me away and made me walk
in darkness rather than light;
indeed, He has turned His hand against me
again and again, all day long.

He has made my skin and my flesh grow old
and has broken my bones
He has besieged me and surrounded me
with bitterness and hardship
He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead

He has walled me in so I cannot escape;
He has weighed me down with chains.
Even when I call out or cry for help,
He shuts out my prayer.
He has barred my way with blocks of stone;
He has made my paths crooked.

Like a bear lying in wait,
like a lion in hiding,
He dragged me from the path and mangled me
and left me without help.
He drew His bow and made me the target for his arrows.

He has broken my teeth with gravel;
He has trampled me in the dust.
I have been deprived of peace;
I have forgotten what prosperity is.
So I say, “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped for from the Lord.”

– Lamentations 3:1-18

In moments like these, the sound of laughter and joy is nothing short of ear-splitting. Right now, all I wanted was to find someone who was at least as miserable as I feel, so I thought I would check out Jeremiah. I knew that I could count on “the weeping prophet” to put better words to my emotions than I have the energy for right now.

I had to run back to St. Paul tonight to pick up a CD of Ian’s MRI. God and I had a heart-to-heart (one of a few today), and it seemed rather one-sided. I’m exhausted, and I’m afraid that tomorrow will make today seem like a cakewalk.

Once again, if anyone’s interested, I will post one or two updates on Twitter. It doesn’t provide the depth that this does (a 140 character limit can do that), but I can do it from my phone, so it will be up-to-the-minute. Check out this site and our CaringBridge site for the in-depth analysis.

Ok, the Ambien’s kicking in now…

No Comments

Hold On,…

…Hold on to yourself
This is gonna hurt like hell.
Hold On by Sarah MacLachlan

The link above is to a concert performance for that song. Originally, I was just going to quote it, but I found the clip, and the performance is incredible, so I had to include it. I never knew the story behind this song, but hearing it from Sarah, I thought that it was somewhat appropriate. “Somewhat appropriate,” meaning I was suddenly gripped by spasms of grief and mourning.

I’ve been watching Ian this weekend. Going to work is a blessing, but it also insulates me from much of what is going on. Now that’s we’ve dropped the steroids to give the MRI tomorrow the best image possible, we start seeing the tumor symptoms again. Watching my son struggle up stairs…watching his eyes not quite work together…watching saliva drip from his mouth, knowing that he doesn’t feel it and can’t stop it…knowing that this might be as good as it gets. It’s been difficult to not slip into a self-destructive state of mind.

I’ve been reminding others that God is not done with this, that He is still in this situation. Right now, tonight, I really want to believe it. But I’m afraid now. I’m afraid of the pain to come, but I think that I might be more afraid of what I might do, in my weak and selfish human-ness, if I lashed out, trying to stop the agony.

Gee, aren’t you glad you stopped by? Maybe the next post will be happier.

1 Comment

Twittering (Announcements)

Sometimes, when we have the big appointments with Ian’s oncology team (like we do next week), there’s an urge to get any news out quick, just so people can either rejoice, or now how to pray. To that end, I’ve started a Twitter feed, as a place that we can post to before we’re able to get home to a computer. As if you needed another place to look, check out http://twitter.com/hendersonhome on Monday and Tuesday to see the latest news.

No Comments

Ian at the Timberwolves Game (Ian, Pictures, Video)

We had an incredible time this evening at the Timberwolves game. The pictures and video do it more justice than I can with words:

During the warm-up, Ian and his friend Aaron go to meet a few of the players. Here, the boys get to talk with Ryan Gomes

Before the game, we were able to have our picture taken with Ryan. In the front is Aaron and Ian. In the back row are Tom, Deb, Ryan Gomes, and Mr. & Mrs. Bassiere. Mr. Bassiere is Ian’s physical education teacher, who wrote in a letter to a local radio station and made this possible.

This shows where our seats were. The two little blue caps are Ian and Aaron.

The Timberwolves gave Ian a prize bag. This included a pair of size 18 shoes. He’s have to grow into them…
Al Jefferson making a free throw
During a time-out, Ian got to hold the game ball.

Ian and his buddy Aaron were allowed to give the starting T-Wolves high-fives as they were introduced:


[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wVuUCw7Mnw]


We want to send out a huge “Thank You” to Laura Kellison and John O’Connell at the Minnesota Timberwolves for their hospitality and generosity. You gave us an evening that we will remember for the rest of our lives, and made a basketball fan out of Ian.

, ,

1 Comment