My freshman year Fall semester roommate Dave Hoe called me up yesterday and as soon as I saw his name light up my cell phone display, I thought I was about to hear the good news: the baby had been born!!!
But the baby had not been born, although the due date is tomorrow. Two previous trips to the hospital were false alarms, and so, little Elliot Fox (yes, they already named him) still sits, hangs, grips, and kicks inside of Lindsay and waits for his time to come. Waiting to enter the world is a pretty big deal; I wonder if he knows what he's getting himself into? Not that he really had a choice I guess.
After talking to Dave about how excited he was to become a father, I got sad and wished (or at least part of me did) that I was becoming a father soon too. And that's when he asked the question that stumped me:
"Neville, Lindsay and I would like you to be the baby's Godfather?"
I was stunned, and couldn't tell if he was joking or not.
"Are you serious or is this a joke?" I asked.
"No, I'm serious."
"Well, what would that entail?" (dumb question, I know---but hey, I'm not Catholic even though I wish I was, and so give me a break)
"Well, should anything happen to Lindsay and me, we'd want you to raise Elliot."
"Oh, absolutely!" I said. And that's how it happened. I became a Godfather for the very first time, and I was thrilled. I didn't think about it; I didn't project and prophesize into the future and think hard on what that would look like for me or what I so-call-my life; I just said 'yes!' It was the first un-selfconscious decision I've made in quite a long time, and it's one that reminded me again of God's love for us all and how he gets us all to love each other and care for each other and help one another, despite ourselves.
And so, I sit here on a Sunday night, quiet for the first time in days, and think of the joy-peace that only Love can bring. It is sobering and depressing and uplifting and more beautiful than the sixteen mountain tops I see driving into work every other day. It confirms the fact, or more importantly...truth, that all is full of Love and there is no ounce or inch of creation that God does not hold to be his own.
4 comments:
Beautiful!
I want to be a godfather too!
Being a godfather is probably just as good as being a father. I think it might be kind of like being an uncle, which is pretty great. Of course, there's some added responsibility, but it's all in the hypothetical sense, so it's not too stressful.
I think you'll do a great job.
Hi Neville - I'm glad you read my blog. I don't write about deep things, just little blurbs. I've read your posts several times to see what you are up to out in L.A. I hope you are enjoying it every day. It is cool that the couple asked you to be godfather! I know you'll do a good job. I also hope I get to see you if you are in Indiana, or if I get to move Liz out to California.
My question is this. Not to down play the godfather role and all but really how realistic is it that if your friends were to pass away a week after the baby was born that you would take this child in and father him/her. I understand how wonderful it is to be a godfather and what a privalege it is to have a friendship that a couple would trust you with there child but tell me would this really happen?
if you're gonna rain on someone's parade, at least write your name, you coward!
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