Welcoming newcomers

This past weekend, Ayla was introduced to the parish and to some of the people who frequent that particular place of prayer. As her parents and grandparents brought her into that place, I wonder what was going through their heads.

For some, perhaps there were concerns about how she would be welcomed. For others, perhaps there was a bit of excitement at the prospect that this was the beginning of what will be (hopefully) a long and fruitful part of her life for years to come. She herself had no knowledge of this first encounter, and it will be quite some time I'm sure before she does recall any association with this building, with the people within or with the significance of moments that may very well spring from this significant moment.

How she relates to the parish community, and to any other community of friends, relatives or acquaintances, has much to do with the seeds that are planted now. Like a garden that is planted after the winter snows have departed, faith only grows if it is tended to, fed and watered at regular intervals. Where the sources of these nutrients will come from is already agreed upon: her parents are already her first teachers in the ways of the world; they will also be her first teachers in the ways of the faith. There will also be many others to help ... her aunts and uncles, her grandparents ... and others.

The responsibility of parenting is multi-faceted, and the learning curve for new parents is often very steep. They need hands to help with the physical nurturing of their child, and they need voices to speak words of advice to help them guide their newborn in the ways of wisdom. They also need voices to speak words of wisdom, and the example and prayer of others to guide them in the way of faith. Without these, any life in faith would quickly perish and die of thirst, lost to the winds of current influence, but with them, there is at least the possibiity if not the promise that faith will take root, in the heart of the child who is still too young to know anything different, and possibly even in the hearts of parents who question the value or importance of putting forth the effort required, first to experience for themselves the value of community and faith, and then to share these precious gifts with the little one who has been entrusted to their care.