Canaan's Rest

God is infinite and cannot be captured in any concept, thought, or image. When we were children, we saw pictures of Jesus blessing the children or as a shepherd with the sheep. As we mature in our faith, we move beyond images and pictures, for God is beyond images and is reality. I read an example of a mother fish in the ocean whose baby fish ask her, “Mother, what is water? Show us water!” Of course, we know they are immersed in water and yet don’t have a concept of water. So let’s say she sets up a PowerPoint projector and shows them pictures of great waterfalls, the ocean, etc., and they receive a concept of water. She tells them that they know more about water now and they can just swim in it and let it flow through them. When the Powerpoint is turned off, the little fish struggle to believe they are swimming in the water. For them it is like the dark night of faith. Likewise, our imaginations give us pictures with the Powerpoint of God, but these are simply images. Faith is moving beyond the images and ideas of God, as we come to believe what we cannot see and go deeper into God. Mother Theresa lived for fifty years in this state, though those around her were unaware as she turned outward to serve the poor.

You don’t choose when you go through the dark night, but it is wonderful to know in faith that God is doing a deep work. It may feel lonely, but remember God is breaking through and flowing into your life more strongly than ever before. God exists and the reality is not dependent on our feelings. We no longer depend on Powerpoint images, but swim in reality of His love.

There is a lie that Gen Xers have believed, and that is that daycare is necessary and even beneficial for modern family life. But the truth is, later statistics show that 1 in 5 children develop a serious mental illness. Gen Z and Gen Alpha have mental health issues as well, result of screen exposure and daycare in infancy. Komisar says there is no such thing as “good daycare” for a mother’s presence can’t be replaced, especially in those first three years when 85% of a child’s right brain is developed, the part that has to do with emotions and social understanding. When an infant is held by the mother, the baby’s nervous system is soothed, building emotional resilience.
Fathers are important and Kosim describes them as playful, tactile stimulators who encourage risk-taking and exploration. They are protectors against external threats. No wonder, a mother wakes up when the baby cries while the father sleeps, unless he hears danger which alerts him quickly.

When an infant is put in daycare with different caregivers, their developing brain goes into a state of stress. Left for eight hours, the baby perceives abandonment, resulting in a diminished capacity to handle adversity. Komisar writes that ADHD is not a disorder, but a symptom of a nervous system stuck in a hyper-vigilant, flight-or-flight state. Attachment disorder may result, and in later life, depression, anxiety disorders, and even borderline personality disorder. Before the age of three, children need a secure one-on-one bond with a consistent caregiver, which is hard to achieve in any day care center.

I want to encourage women today not to feel they have to work as a prerequisite for equality, but think more of the developmental needs of their children. There are years later to be in the workforce when children are in school. For some it is not possible because of circumstances, but one option named is a loving relative filling the spot or a long-term nanny. Let us be willing to make personal sacrifices to give our children what they need most: the consistent, loving presence of their parents, especially in the first three years of life.

There have been a few times in my life when I was really thirsting, like in the mountains when my mouth felt parched but there was no water available. I didn’t think of a hamburger or hotdog, but just a cool glass of water. Water is not only essential to people, but also to animals, plants, trees, etc. I read that a tree is 80% sap which is mostly water, but also is full of minerals, carbohydrates, vitamins and proteins that circulate to feed the tree. Trees are watered through their roots with dew, clouds, fog, mist, rain and snow. They do not hoard the moisture, but after it circulates, it is released into the surrounding air, emitting a fragrance when combined with oxygen.

We can learn lessons through nature, and the tree speaks to us that we must be well-watered in the Word and His Spirit if we are going to bless others. If we are dry and empty, we will have nothing to give out, for we are all shriveled. But when we drink deeply of God’s Word, it will speak to us and permeate us with His love, joy and peace. Let us not be shriveled, but overflowing and giving off His fragrance to those around us. When Al and I went to a Christian community in Wisconsin, it was as if the whole forest was filled with a lovely fragrance!