What a Newborn has to Offer

I have an admission--my mind wanders during sermons.  Hard to believe, I know, but yes, it's true.  Recently my mind wandered in response to a comment made by my Senior Pastor, Jeff Williams.  He was preaching from John 3 when Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling counsel, came to Jesus by night.  Jesus told Nicodemus, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (John 3:3), referring to a spiritual birth.  Pastor Jeff then asked what newborns have to offer...nothing.  Newborn babies are completely dependent upon their parents, or at least their mother, for survival.  I was hanging in there with him at this point.  After all, babies can't feed themselvs much less take care of what happens as a result of being fed.  Then, I wandered, and wondered...

When I became a mom, a completely new understanding of God was opened to me.  I began to see from the perspective of a parent, a Heavenly Father, an Abba Father.  Now I comprehend the unique connection between parent and child.  I celebrate my son's accomplishments; hurt when he experiences physical or emotional pain; pray for his present and future; and love him unconditionally.  I remembered hearing him cry when he was born and holding him for the first time.  I asked myself, "What did my son as a newborn have to offer?" 

From there, my psychologist brain went into high gear.  I remembered reading some research on infants twenty plus years ago in undergraduate school, and when I got to work the next day I looked it up to check the accuracy of my memory.  (Yes, I still had my text book.  I'm a book fanatic, ok!)  So, I turned to my book "Infancy" by Linka Smolak (1986) and gave myself the proverbial pat on the back for not being senile yet.  Newborns can see, just not very well.  Their vision is about 20/600, compared to 20/20 for normal adults.  Their ability to focus is quite limited, so they see best at distances 8 - 10 inches from their face.  (For the record, yes, they see better than I do!)  Newborns also prefer to look at complex patterns rather than simple ones, and the observation that researchers use to determine preference in a newborn is that they gaze at what they prefer to see.  So, what complex pattern is 8 - 10 inches from a newborn's eyes?  A mother's face.  They can see a mother's face while nursing, and they gaze into that face because it is the most interesting pattern around.  Nothing competes for their attention.

What does this do for the mom?  A mom who has loved that baby before it took a breath; who has nurtured and cared for her baby in the womb; who felt the first ripple of movement and heard the first heartbeat; who waited expectantly to hear that first cry...a mom who holds her baby in her arms and sees that little face gazing up at her bonds to her baby.  Dads are not left out!  Dad's who hold their child close--who feed, change, bathe, and stare with wonderment at their child--also experience the captivating gaze of their child.  Parents look into that little face staring up at them and revel in the relationship they have as parent and child and the potential for the relationship to come, knowing that it won't be smoothe and easy but knowing that it will be worth it.  They are bonded, attached, parent and child, and that relationship never can be severed.  The fellowship may take a hit from time to time, but the relationship never changes.

Newborns also have the ability to perceive what a face is doing and react accordingly.  A newborn less than 72 hours old can mimc the facial expression of an adult, albeit in a simplistic manner.  They widen their eyes when they see a wide-eyed expression.  They open their mouth when they see an open-mouthed expression.  Why do you think adults make such goofy faces to babies?  It's because they get a response and they love it!

So, what do newborns have to offer?  The potential for a relationship.

What do people who are born again have to offer the God of the universe? The potential for a relationship. 

Newborn believers gaze into the face of grace and nothing competes for their attention.  They pay close attention to the face of love and mimic what they see.

And God loves it!

Father, return to me the joy of my salvation, when I gaze into Your face and mimic what I see.

If You Tilt Your Head and Squint...

I love photography.  I'm not a professional, and I've never taken a class.  I'm just a shutterbug who gets a good shot every now and then.  I love all the different perspectives I can take of the same thing.  While others may be taking a straight forward picture of, say, a building, I'd be the one lying on my back on the sidewalk taking a picture straight up the outside corner.  It's the same building; it just looks a little different.  But if you just tilt your head and squint...