The Otto's and religion
While I'm constantly ranting about my "sorry" life, I often times don't take the time to post about the external things going on in my life.
Last year when my son started 7th grade at RSM, he didn't know anyone. On the first day of school, an out-going, funny kid named Daniel introduced himself, and they immediately clicked. For those of you who don't know my son, he's more like me than I'd like to admit. Well, Daniel was also new to the school district, his mom had just moved in with her boyfriend.
Over the coming months our two families became fairly close as the boys are always wanting to spend time together. Jay and I had several common friends and business contacts, as well as situations where we had just missed each other. We found out that we both knew of each other, but didn't know each other in person. Our circles overlapped. Barbie and I hit it off well, she understood where I am with some of my single-parenting issues and concerns.
In October of 2005 Daniel's mom (Barbie) and her then boyfriend (Jay) were married, and she immediately became pregnant. On their honeymoon, Jay became ill, and upon returning home was diagnosed with melanoma. Through a series of tests and biopsies, it was determined his melanoma was stage IV, and had started attacking his lymph nodes, and organs. After several surgeries, radiation and chemo therapies, they were able to get Jay stable, removed several tumors, and got him prepped for an extremely promising clinical trial.
A few weeks ago Jay received news that the tumor they were preparing to remove had grown unexpectedly quick, and had grown around some arteries, and was now inoperable. Through some means, they were able to get Jay into another clinical trail that is focused on reducing the size of cancer tumors. If this is successful, then he can continue with the other clinical trial. If it isn't, well....it becomes a situation where we all do what it takes to make sure he's happy, and comfortable.
In the just over two years that Jay and Barbie have been together, Daniel and his two younger brothers have become extremely attached to Jay, as well has now having a baby brother by Jay. With all that said, we (E and I) have been spending more time with them. Barbie and I have talked at length about ensuring that the boys have a strong social network to help and be supportive through this. I really do like them, and wouldn't wish this on anyone.
They are devoutly religious, in fact a few weeks ago we attended the baptism of Daniel and his younger brother Noah at Saddleback Church. Barbie invited me to service with her, while E went with Daniel to the Jr. High ministry where Jay is a mentor. They've also invited us to attend the church's Christmas program called "The Journey". Which we will be attending.
Oddly, I feel like a hypocrite. I believe in God, in the sense that I believe in a higher power, whatever that may be. But I have a hard time grasping the whole Jesus/prophet thing. It's like "the father, the son and the holy ghost," who are these people? Oh its just one person? Multiple personalities? Sybil?
To me, the stories in the bible are just that - stories. Long before the science and technology existed to explain the hows and whys of things, people created stories to explain why the son rose each morning, and set in the evening; why some years rain would be plentiful, and others would be drought stricken. The Native Americans, and other indigenous tribal cultures have done this, and the stories have been past from generation to generation. The stories bare so many similarities in how they are told, they all try to explain a situation, that at the time was beyond comprehension.
So here I am, going to church, but not a true believer in their sense of the word, but I'm doing it because I genuinely care about this family, and their situation. Which has me thinking, isn't that what religion is supposed to be about? Supporting one another selflessly, helping those in need, being kind, compassionate.
Last year when my son started 7th grade at RSM, he didn't know anyone. On the first day of school, an out-going, funny kid named Daniel introduced himself, and they immediately clicked. For those of you who don't know my son, he's more like me than I'd like to admit. Well, Daniel was also new to the school district, his mom had just moved in with her boyfriend.
Over the coming months our two families became fairly close as the boys are always wanting to spend time together. Jay and I had several common friends and business contacts, as well as situations where we had just missed each other. We found out that we both knew of each other, but didn't know each other in person. Our circles overlapped. Barbie and I hit it off well, she understood where I am with some of my single-parenting issues and concerns.
In October of 2005 Daniel's mom (Barbie) and her then boyfriend (Jay) were married, and she immediately became pregnant. On their honeymoon, Jay became ill, and upon returning home was diagnosed with melanoma. Through a series of tests and biopsies, it was determined his melanoma was stage IV, and had started attacking his lymph nodes, and organs. After several surgeries, radiation and chemo therapies, they were able to get Jay stable, removed several tumors, and got him prepped for an extremely promising clinical trial.
A few weeks ago Jay received news that the tumor they were preparing to remove had grown unexpectedly quick, and had grown around some arteries, and was now inoperable. Through some means, they were able to get Jay into another clinical trail that is focused on reducing the size of cancer tumors. If this is successful, then he can continue with the other clinical trial. If it isn't, well....it becomes a situation where we all do what it takes to make sure he's happy, and comfortable.
In the just over two years that Jay and Barbie have been together, Daniel and his two younger brothers have become extremely attached to Jay, as well has now having a baby brother by Jay. With all that said, we (E and I) have been spending more time with them. Barbie and I have talked at length about ensuring that the boys have a strong social network to help and be supportive through this. I really do like them, and wouldn't wish this on anyone.
They are devoutly religious, in fact a few weeks ago we attended the baptism of Daniel and his younger brother Noah at Saddleback Church. Barbie invited me to service with her, while E went with Daniel to the Jr. High ministry where Jay is a mentor. They've also invited us to attend the church's Christmas program called "The Journey". Which we will be attending.
Oddly, I feel like a hypocrite. I believe in God, in the sense that I believe in a higher power, whatever that may be. But I have a hard time grasping the whole Jesus/prophet thing. It's like "the father, the son and the holy ghost," who are these people? Oh its just one person? Multiple personalities? Sybil?
To me, the stories in the bible are just that - stories. Long before the science and technology existed to explain the hows and whys of things, people created stories to explain why the son rose each morning, and set in the evening; why some years rain would be plentiful, and others would be drought stricken. The Native Americans, and other indigenous tribal cultures have done this, and the stories have been past from generation to generation. The stories bare so many similarities in how they are told, they all try to explain a situation, that at the time was beyond comprehension.
So here I am, going to church, but not a true believer in their sense of the word, but I'm doing it because I genuinely care about this family, and their situation. Which has me thinking, isn't that what religion is supposed to be about? Supporting one another selflessly, helping those in need, being kind, compassionate.