Dear West Family

The final week in January is always a big week in the Lester household. It is a week in which we celebrate the birthdays of both Lester boys and we always do our best to go big on these celebrations. This takes discipline and commitment to accomplish in the month where we are prone to the Christmas celebration hangover (pray for Sue who has a birthday on December 27th) and where our money is usually stretched well beyond what it is capable of supplying through the apparent 987 days of January expenses. In spite of all of this, my family works hard to make sure that both Daniel and myself have valuable birthday experiences and I am very thankful for that. We do this because birthdays are tangible moments when we get to acknowledge to people that we see them, value them, love them and esteem them.

I love what G.K. Chesteron said about the importance of marking these moments when he said … “The first fact about the celebration of a birthday is that it is a way of affirming defiantly, and even flamboyantly, that it is a good thing to be alive.”

We affirm defiantly and even flamboyantly that it is a good thing to be alive. Wow.

This is actually a part of the uniquely Judeo-Christian worldview and is true of every person on the planet every day and not just on their birthday. It is a good thing to be alive and to be made in the image and likeness of God, full of dignity, value, worth and purpose. Every person is a walking miracle of God’s grace and kindness just through their very existence. This is essential to remember in the many and varied difficulties of life on earth as a person, and it reminds me of my favorite Psalm which is a necessary salve against the dual threats of self-obsession and self-loathing.

David writes …

13 For it was you who created my inward parts; 

you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

14 I will praise you 

because I have been remarkably and wondrously made., 

Your works are wondrous, 

and I know this very well. 

15 My bones were not hidden from you 

when I was made in secret, 

when I was formed in the depths of the earth. 

16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; 

all my days were written in your book and planned 

before a single one of them began. 

17 God, how precious your thoughts are to me; 

how vast their sum is! 

18 If I counted them, 

they would outnumber the grains of sand; 

when I wake up, I am still with you.

- Ps 139:13–18. (CSB)

On the night of Daniel’s birthday, after he had fallen asleep, I snuck into his room, knelt at the side of his bed and prayed this passage over him. My prayer was that he would believe it, and my prayer for you is that you too would believe it about yourself and about those around you. Whether you are near to a birthday or not, it is worth taking some time to remember today that you are a walking miracle of God’s mercy and love. 

We affirm defiantly and even extravagantly that it is a good thing to be alive!

So friends, let us be a people who affirm this truth in ourselves and in those around us. Fight for the dignity and worth that comes from being handcrafted by God! According to the Psalmist, He thinks about you all the time! If that isn’t worth celebrating, then I don’t know what is.

One last thing. The song this week is from the beautiful South African group “We Will Worship” which is led by my incredible friend, Langa Mbonambi. It is a reflection on Psalm 139 and while much of it isn’t in English, I think you will find it very moving as a practice run for some of the multi-lingual, multicultural worship experiences of heaven. Gosh, I do miss singing with this group who used to lead worship fairly regularly at the church I was part of in Johannesburg. Enjoy a different mode of worship today.

This I Know (Ungizungezile)[ft Khaya Mthethwa] // We Will Worship

One more last thing. Today is Justin Dunton’s birthday. Send him a message to affirm defiantly and even extravagantly that he is alive. He is a blessing to our community of faith.

One more very last thing. Tomorrow, Jimmy McNeal launches some new music into the world. Go and check it out. It is an incredible fusion of Jimmy’s upbringing and of Austin Stone worship culture. I think it is going to smash some musical boundaries and bring a lot of people great joy.

Stay warm. Stay safe. Stay faithful. Stay bold. You’re a walking miracle.

See you Sunday,
Ross