Is Ethiopia Close to Heaven?

Faith asked that question as we were looking at videos of Ethiopia on this blog this morning. I was glad she was sitting in my lap facing the screen because I could not stop the tears. It was such a tender moment. And according to our family's map - the answer is yes. Here's why:

Heaven is where God's glory shines so brightly there is no need for the sun, and where all is made right. We couldn't help but see the glory of God all over our adoption, and I cannot describe the rightness that began for us the very moment they placed Davis in our arms. The beauty-for-ashes was blinding as we were blessed to see a tragic situation being turned into hope for him, as he gained a future with a family; joy for us, as we had had such a desire for this little one; and in some unknowable way comfort for his birthmother and her family, who undoubtedly wanted a good life for their boy. And though this miracle was first seen by us in Ethiopia in May 2009, it began before the beginning of the world when all of our days were ordained by our adopted Father in heaven. So we do see an intersection between Heaven and earth in the city of Addis Ababa. I don't think I can overstate this.

Of course the glory of the kingdom of God is not completely visible (yet) from our earthly point of view. For example, we saw the people of Ethiopia suffering the injustice of poverty which leads to there being so many orphans there as in many other destitute places, but we also saw small(?) pockets of love reaching out - in the giving of these children by their original families, the caring for them by men and women who spend their days working in orphanages and places like our agency's transition home, and in their adoption into new families - seems like the kingdom of heaven to me. A kingdom that begins as a mustard seed. Or a hidden treasure. And in kingdom economy - blessed are the poor - Ethiopia is a mighty rich nation.

And then there's also the altitude of Addis to consider. And the halo-ish light of sunlight trapped in smoke. And if heaven is full of beautiful, gracious people we're getting even closer. . .

Of course, the answer I gave Faith was a bit more simplified.

On a much lighter note, David and I took Faith to play putt-putt tonight and I would like to report that while I wore Davis in the bjorn the entire time we played, I still had a respectable score. David did very well, as always, and Faith had several really awesome shots. She is too funny to play with because if she doesn't get the ball in within a few tries, she picks it up and sets it about 4 inches from the hole and announces "This time I'm going to try to get a hole in one!" I must have heard that sentence 15 times this evening. . .