St Paul famously once wrote in one of his letters... But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and
straining toward what is ahead... (Phil 3)
Earlier this year during Lent I wrote about what shapes our
identity and gives us security and against which we are held accountable.
...Such Lenten reconsiderations included this text (above) on the Fifth Sunday in Lent and
to the reality that we count as “loss” all that we have striven to achieve,
because of the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ.
I got to thinking about that. About what I had been counting a loss, and
what I thought I had achieved...
In fact, the sermon preparation and delivery surprised me in
something of an epiphany experience!
You see, earlier that week I had been saddened to read this
article under the heading:
Is this the
beginning of the end for Down syndrome?
It turns out that in Victoria
Only 5.3 per cent of pregnancies where there is a prenatal diagnosis of
Down syndrome are continued. The article goes on to say that:
Down syndrome in the modern day is a study in changing social values
and choice. It's about the fight by people with Down syndrome to be truly
included – and valued – in a society that proclaims a respect for diversity ...in New Zealand, an organisation called
Saving Downs has taken its government's prenatal screening program to the
International Criminal Court, saying it is persecutory. It considers prenatal
testing a form of eugenics, the bio-social philosophy associated with, but
pre-existing, Nazism, that espouses breeding out "inferior" humans
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| Pa and Nanny in Ngunguru |
Tonight I was down at the basketball stadium watching Jonno play in his 'regular' team in the local Social comp. He shot two three pointers and contributed mightily in defence, playing nearly the whole forty mins.
I began to think about what we had experienced as a family in choosing to raise Jonathan (never
really any other option for us) and the various battles we had fought, and
continue to fight, to have him accepted as part of a diverse society... and the
gift he continues to be for us.
It made my gains and losses fall into perspective.
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| Bay of Islands 2013 |
 |
| Medium fella, Big Fella and the new Little Fella (circa 2011)! |
I started to re-evaluate some of the recent losses I had
experienced in life and ministry and endeavour to look beyond and within those
for the gain... a sobering, ledger-like experience!
- Some loss of capacity with the ageing process is, on a good day, somewhat compensated by wisdom and insight!
- Loss of health with resulting cardiac surgery has given me the ability to identify with and counsel those facing serious surgery - though I'm still learning to accept limitations!
- Loss of the ability to run distance has provoked new directions for fitness and friendship through Doncaster masters athletics and the Victorian sea kayaking club
- losses experienced in moving countries has been compensated by the formation of new friendships and ministry opportunities
- Loss of both parents was difficult, especially when living in another country. Gains have included the marriage of two children and the advent of grandchildren!
So... Losses and Gains.
What’s been your experience?
Here’s some questions I used to take soundings on that Sunday:
·
When you
reflect on your life, what are the gains and losses you have experienced?
·
Are some of
these ambiguous, even convoluted – hard to categorise?
·
Have any of
them switched – become silver lining experiences?
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