The Feast of Catherine's Nativity began with the not so subtle corporeal alarms that routinely awaken expectant mothers who are past their due date. Mother was happy to have time to shower. Father was disappointed that the early morning race to the hospital prevented a more blatant (and widely witnessed) disregard for traffic laws.
Once at the hospital it was clear dear Catherine wanted out but a suitable exit route had not yet been established. A walk around the premises, an infusion of medication, and the sterling perseverance of her landlord would all play important roles. But first there was the matter of getting her untangled. In one of Mother Nature's macabre ironies, the very cord that gives life can also threaten to take it.
A rush of doctors, who had been remotely monitoring things, unexpectedly burst into the room. They began manipulating the dear girl in discomfiting ways, reporting on an alarming drop in heart rate, explaining emergency surgical options, and reminding us all of the fragility of bringing a child into the world, an exercise that, in too many countries, continues to kill more women than anything else.
Endlessly thankful for our place in the world, surrounded by the best in technology and medical training, the professionals got to work unbinding Catherine. Even more startling than the array of dreadful outcomes that pop into one's mind at times like this is the paucity of time needed to dream them up. Dear Catherine, however, soon decided to turn our urgent worry into needless concern when she graciously heeded the prompts, rolled over on her own, and freed things up to renew her life and ours.
On Holy Tuesday clergy traditionally take time to be with their bishops and colleagues in an annual renewal of their ordination vows. In preparation for the grandest feast in the Christian calendar is the idea that one's vocational identity be affirmed and renewed. We must regularly remind ourselves of who we are called to be and what we are called to do. What is good for priests is not a bad idea for everyone else, especially dads.
So as Catherine squirmed and squirreled her way into the new world, and seasoned priests processed down a cathedral nave, a mom and dad were given an unforgettable reminder of their call and responsibility - to nurture, cherish, safeguard, and love the gift of a precious little girl whose bright eyes, curious hands, and delicate smile just made this the best job in the entire world.
0 comments:
Post a Comment