Tag Archive for: Birthing

Tested in Birthing Rooms

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Armodoxy for Today: Tested in Birthing Rooms

A foxhole is a hole in the ground used by soldiers as shelter against enemy fire. It’s been said that there are no atheists in foxholes. It’s an aphorism to suggest that in times of extreme fear or threat of death people will appeal to a higher power. In other words, when looking in the face of death, even the atheist will admit to a God.

Many years ago, I discovered another place where there are no atheists. The night my first child was born, it occurred to me that there aren’t any atheists in birthing rooms, either. When looking in the face of life in its most delicate and novel state, that is new life, untouched by the world, uncontrollably you lose yourself to your emotions. That loss of control is a recognition and acknowledgement of being in the presence of something greater than yourself. The details of paper-thin fingernails, the sculpting of beauty in the features, point to the fingerprint of God and the realization that the miracle of life as anything but an accident.

I tested this theory a couple of times after that first experience and most recently with the phenomena of grandchildren. Same conclusion: There are no atheists in birthing rooms.

We pray, Lord, in the simplest expressions of life we find You. Keep our senses ever-alert to Your presence all around us. Watch over and protect those little expressions of Your Love. Amen.Whispers of the wind, held in a breath—each filament a fragile thread of nature’s poetry.

A Humbling Choked Voice

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Armodoxy for Today: A Humbling Choked Voice

In birthing rooms, homes, and fields throughout the world, parents meeting their child for the first time are overwhelmed with tears and choke on finding the words to express that awesome moment of life. Our Lord Jesus refers to this moment, “When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.” (John 16)

At a full solar eclipse a few years back, as the Moon covered the Sun and only the solar flares were dancing around the circular disk in the sky, I was moved to sing the Armenian Hymn, sharagan, “Aravod Looso” – a praise to the morning Sunrise and to the Light. Try as I may, words were not coming out of my mouth. I was choking in emotion. Overwhelmed by the event.

In 1985 Carl Segan and his wife Ann Druyan authored the book, “Contact.” The story explores the possibilities of contact between humans and extraterrestrial beings.  About a decade later the story was made into a motion picture starring Jodi Foster and Matthew Machaney. It was fascinating because the story was written from a science perspective, as would be expect from Carl Segan, who was an astronomer and planetary scientists, and very eloquently articulated scientific concepts for the average man. He was an advocate of skeptical scientific inquiry and the scientific method. Yet at the end of Contact he concedes that words and the expressions we possess are inadequate in explaining or expressing the events of the first human contact with the extraterrestrial world. In common parlance we can say he choked.

Events that are bigger than life – whether exploding in the cosmos or the first glance at new life, humble us. They choke our voice so we speak with our heart, and a tear in our eye. They are subtle reminders of the grandeur of God.

We pray from the Book of Sirach, Because of Him each of His messengers succeeds, and by His word all things hold together. We could say more but could never say enough; let the final word be: “He is the all.” Where can we find the strength to praise Him?  For he is greater than all His works. Awesome is the Lord and very great, and marvelous is His power. Glorify the Lord and exalt Him as much as you can, for He surpasses even that. Amen. (chapter 43)

Choked with Emotions

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Armodoxy for Today: Choked with Emotions

In 1985 Carl Segan and his wife Ann Druyan authored the book, “Contact.” The story was about the possibilities of contact between humans and extraterrestrial beings.  About a decade later the story was made into a motion picture starring Jodi Foster and Matthew Machaney. It was fascinating because the story was written from a science perspective, as would be expect Carl Segan who was an astronomer and planetary scientists, and very eloquently articulated scientific concepts for the average man. He was an advocate of skeptical scientific inquiry and the scientific method. Yet at the end of Contact he concedes that words and the expressions we possess are inadequate in explaining or expressing the events of the first human contact with the extraterrestrial world. In common parlance we can say he choked.

In birthing rooms, homes, and fields throughout the world, parents meeting their child for the first time are overwhelmed with tears and choke on finding the words to express that awesome moment of life. Our Lord Jesus refers to this moment, “When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.  So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” (John 16)

The last few days we’ve been talking about celestial events on the scale of solar eclipses. During one such event, as the Moon covered the Sun and only the solar flares were dancing around the circular disk in the sky, I was moved to sing the Armenian Hymn, sharagan, “Aravod Looso” – a praise to the morning Sunrise and to the Light. Try as I may, words were not coming out of my mouth. I was choking in emotion. Overwhelmed by the event.

Events that are bigger than life – whether exploding in the cosmos or the first glance at new life, humble us. They choke our voice so we speak with our heart, and a tear in our eye. They are subtle reminders of the grandeur of God.

We pray from the Book of Sirach, Because of Him each of His messengers succeeds, and by His word all things hold together. We could say more but could never say enough; let the final word be: “He is the all.” Where can we find the strength to praise Him?  For he is greater than all His works. Awesome is the Lord and very great, and marvelous is His power. Glorify the Lord and exalt Him as much as you can, for He surpasses even that. Amen. (chapter 43)