New grandson certainly adorable baby

	Tom Rinkoski

Cain Harold Rinkoski was born at 10:35 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25. In witnessing his coming into this world, I learned what adoration was about.

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Like the Magi I came from afar to worship at the birth of a baby, my grandson. I traveled from Packerland to Des Moines, Iowa.

It is truly humbling to have something so small, so defenseless, bring you to your knees, make you cry, and leave you in awe. All the pain of childbirth could not dampen Audrey's love for Cain. Cain's first bath was in her tears of adoration. I saw my son, a proud young man with two summa cum laude degrees, bow low to reach out to this child. I watched Audrey's parents hold and adore that baby, as they pointed out his glory to each of their other children.

The nurses' comments sparkled like stars in the sky pointing to an even brighter light that could not be denied. Cameras snapped in worship. In room 625 of Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, the world stood still. That is the power of adoration.

I can honestly say I did not understand being called to adoration before that. Sure it was part of the catechism, and I had that memorized. But memorization is not knowing. I could recite that I am called to love, adore and worship Him. But, I am not the adoration type.

I am old enough to have participated in many Benedictions as well as 40 Hours. What I learned when I held my grandson is that adoration is neither about words and song nor silence and meditation. Adoration does not demand a gilded temple but heart-felt acceptance.

Adoration is when you feel put in your place, but none the lesser for it. In fact, you feel sucked into a black hole of greatness. And in that swirling spot you view your place in the whole entire universe. For a brief moment you feel small, an insignificant speck in the gargantuan universe. But quickly you feel the universe in you and it grows from "OK" to wild enthusiasm.

I remember standing in St. Peter's in Rome next to one of the many columns that hold up that monster of a church. At first I felt small, but then I felt Catholic. Suddenly St. Peter's was small. That's what I learned about awe and adoration when my grandson Cain was born.

When we returned to their room in the hospital the day after the birth, my son Tom was dancing around the room with Cain to the sounds of a Bach Cello Suite. That's adoration in action!

When was the last time you held a baby? Who has inspired you? What events have left you in awe? When I check the thesaurus the synonyms for adore are "treasure" "cherish" and "prize." If those are the verbs, and "I" is the subject of the sentence, what people, place and things are the objects of your verbs?

One event that left me in a state of awe was when I first saw that picture of our humble blue green planet from space. It left me speechless. I have been a whole earth person ever since. You can purchase a poster version of that picture now. It is a connection with God as creator.

Take time this Lent to remember the times God has opened the door to heaven for you. Tell someone that story. Let them tell you their story of the thin line they found between heaven and earth. And, if you haven't had such an opportunity, use Lent to ask why not?

(Rinkoski is the Green Bay Diocese's Family Life director and a professional story-teller.)