Inspite of the Rain

So imagine this situation:

As the rain pounds on the roof above and splatters against the front window, a young, pregnant mother quietly comes into the front room and gently asks if you are still ok with picking up her two and a half year old daughter from school.  As the rain continues to play in the background and the sharp wind hears its cue to join the orchestra, you know that backing out isn’t an option.  You pull on your boots and raincoat, grab the bike key, smile at her apologetic look, and brace yourself for what awaits you beyond the door. 

You peddle along to the preschool, remorsefully recalling the beautiful summer days when bright sun soaked into your knees instead of chilly rain soaking your entire body.  You pull the map written on a post-it note out of your pocket only to find that what was once damp is now running with ink.  So, going off your memory, you park and lock the bike, go through a million gates that are meant to keep toddles in, but actually probably allow the children to play longer in wait as their parents struggle with the physics of latch gates.  Anyway, finally you find the classroom, smile as the teacher goes off in Dutch to you, grab the hand of the already bundled up little girl, and waddle back through the hallways looking like a drowned mouse leading a little green marshmallow on legs. 

Idiosyncrasies

So I am not actually sure if ‘idiosyncrasy’ is the right word, but if it has anything to do with ‘peculiarity’ and ‘quirky’ then it is the perfect word to describe our experience in Brussels every other Friday.  The episodes always begin with a 45 train/metro/hike to an old, should-have-been-abandoned-a-long-time-ago hospital building that has now been converted into a residence for ‘homeless’ people.  The best way to describe the operation there is that it is ‘desperately held together’ by a few incredible selfless 50+ strong Christians who have a very unique vision for serving the poverty stricken. The only qualification for staying there is saying that you are a ‘praying person’, so most of the residents are chemically dependent or mentally handicapped. 
Anyway, every time we go there it is an adventure.  Among so many other things, here are some of my favorite idiosyncrasies:

Anticipation, Celebration, and Joy

Without a doubt, this season is one of my favorites. It is always marked by gift wrapping, the loudness of family, New Year's resolutions, hyper activity, and general craziness. It is also, though, a time of anticipation, celebration and joy. We lay aside the daily rhythm and celebrate our families, the birth of our Savior, and the opportunity for a new start.

Over Christmas, I had the opportunity to navigate my way across the English Channel to visit Scotland and celebrate with the Jacksons, friends of our family. For me, it was a really blessed time. Though I missed my own family, it was great to be welcomed into another family.  Their generosity and love were truly a witness to me of what it means to have Christ at the center of your life.