Radical Acts of Humanness

We've just heard that friends of ours are navigating a loss that most of us will never understand.
They set out a year ago to adopt a baby (their second adoption) and have been through trials, uncertainty and work which most biological parents do not experience. They set out, they gave their hearts and their hope, they loved and named and awaited, and on the day they expected to bring home their baby they were told that it wouldn't be so. The biological mother changed her mind. Anyone can see the beauty which that holds for this tiny baby, but the awesomeness lies in the radical act of voluntary vulnerability of these two incredible people.
They knew that this heart wrenching outcome was a possibility and ,in fact, we spoke about it only days before, and yet, they opened their hearts and minds and wallets and home as if it was not, and what an honorable. worthy. fine. example that sets for the rest of us.
I cannot begin to know what they are experiencing now, but I know that this idea of choosing, mindfully, to leave exposed our hearts and minds; to offer ourselves up for the love of hope and the hope of love is truly awe-inspiring to me and has taken root somewhere deep in me.

Our friend told us that when their last baby was born he held that tiny newborn for six hours, just bonding, connecting, loving.... throwing to the wind the knowledge that it may be the only time. Could you do that? Could you love and give yourself wholly and completely and intimately for the love of a soul that can offer no promises? Could you imagine a world where we all lived in voluntary vulnerability? Could you even go to the grocery store in a state of voluntary vulnerability? Being and living true to self ... no matter what?

Today I save a quiet place in my heart for reverence of our friends and I wish them peace and deep love to ease their pain.