Beautiful Things

I did the unthinkable. I left my child for the first time. For four days. The first day was painful, but I realized it was much needed time away with my husband.
On our way to Michigan we stopped in Ohio for the night. On July 4th we visited the Rock and Roll Museum Hall of Fame, which I highly recommend. It was amazing!
The next day, we made another long and uncomfortable trip to Michigan where we attended the Rob Bell’s Poets, Prophets and Preachers conference. While I’m not a Poet (well, not really), Prophet or Preacher, it gave me insight into how the sermon is constructed, how much thought my husband has to put into creating something meaningful and non-sedative. It was truly enlightening.

And for those times when pregnant me became too uncomfortable for those seemingly comfortable for a moment chairs, I walked around the lobby just observing. And what I saw was beautiful.
I watched from afar for a few days as a young white mother kissed her African American baby who sat beaming in a stroller. The husband would soon show up to do the same, both parents adoring their child. Color didn’t matter. When I finally approached her, not sure of how to broach the subject, I said, “I just need to know your story.” She smiled and told me of how this little one was abandoned, believed to be nine months and lovingly adopted by them. I was touched.
I also observed the sweetest elderly couple as the husband pushed his wife around in an uncooperative wheelchair, down a ramp and into the womens’ bathroom, day after day. Always smiling. Never complaining. He watched until she was out of sight, making sure she was safe.
There were so many other things I observed in and out of the conference such as the way a stranger looked into my eyes with so much compassion and kindness while she served me communion. “The Body of Christ . . .”
A pastor lost his job due to his attendance at the conference so a collection was taken for him. I’m sure he left with a year’s worth of salary. The generosity of people blew me away.
All beautiful things. A beautiful time away with my husband.