Today is the day!
Today, our beautiful goddaughter, Anneka Potter Barrow, embarks on what promises to be a truly extraordinary adventure: a year-long mission trip to a small, remote community in rural Mexico as part of YAGM- Young Adults in Mission. (This is the group under whose auspices another young friend of ours, Laura Hermanns, lived and worked for a year in Rwanda.) It’s an opportunity Anneka is seizing with relish- and for anybody who knows her, that is no surprise. This opportunity suits her to a tea, and not just because she speaks fluent Spanish. On the one hand, Anneka has a tender heart of gold that has inspired her to befriend and love all kinds of people in her life who were lonely or hurting or maybe caught on the fringes. On the other hand, Anneka also has a spine of steel that has allowed her to stand up to bullies, whoever or wherever they may be – and a Can-Do attitude with which she has moved mountains….. figuratively for sure and almost literally as well!
But I would never say that Anneka has been a reckless person living an utterly fearless life. She has been scared plenty of times in her life- and I can think of a couple of occasions when I as her ‘Uncle Greg’ had to come riding to the rescue. I remember one night when she was home alone when some bad thunderstorms were moving into the area and she was so scared that she called us up. I drove over to her house to retrieve her and bring her home with me so the three of us could wait out the storm together. Another time, she called me – again she was home alone at the time – because a bird had flown into their patio door and was killed by the impact, and its small corpse was laying right there in front of the doorway, and she couldn’t bear to open the door. Again, I came over to pick up that little dead bird and dispose of it, as any loving ‘uncle’ would. (These stories remind me of my own wife. Kathy is an incredibly strong and formidable person- until it’s time to kill a centipede or other creepy crawler.)
I’m sure know the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child.” I love thinking about these two minor moments in Anneka’s life because they are two of the moments when I felt like I was really part of Anneka’s Village – and was making some kind of difference, however minute, in her life’s journey. But whatever difference I have ever made in Anneka’s life along the way is utterly dwarfed by the love and attention she has received from her ‘Aunt Kathy’ over the years. I look at their very special bond and just shake my head in wonder and gratitude; it makes me so happy that Anneka has been the recipient of Kathy’s extravagant and fierce love – and that Kathy has had her to love. And of course, Anneka has loved her in return. And Kathy and I are just two of many, many people who have also loved Anneka- beyond the fervent love of her parents, brother Jackson, and other family who would walk through fire for her.
This past Sunday, the congregation of Holy Communion wished Anneka godspeed on this amazing adventure she is about to undertake. It was a stunning service that was mostly planned by Kate, with all kinds of memorable moments. And it’s not just that her church family was there- but many, many family members and extra special friends were there as well. At one point in the service, Pastor Mark led Anneka down the middle aisle of the sanctuary, and everyone present gathered around her. Those closest to her laid hands on her- and everyone else laid hands on those in front of them – to form an extraordinary human chain. It was to demonstrate to Anneka that we love her – and that our love – and God’s love – surrounds her, and will continue to surround her even as she travels off to faraway Mexico. It was a reminder that in this world that often seems so scary, We Have Each Other and We Stand With Each Other.
It’s what Village People do!
Pictured at the top: This was a moment in the service just ahead of Anneka being commissioned for this year of YAGM service. She was surrounded with friends and family- some of whom came from long distances to be there. (Kate did an amazing job of orchestrating all of this- and a lot of this ended up being a splendid surprise for her.)
Pictured below: This is the passing of the peace in the middle of Sunday’s worship. We pass the peace rather exuberantly at Holy Communion, but especially on a special Sunday like this.
