Saturday, April 18, 2026
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
The son son son of God
It was evening when the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea,
embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.
It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
A few weeks ago.
Sunday, April 5. Easter Sunday and the day before Andi’s birthday, the day after we returned from Illinois for the 38th time since we “moved” to Texas in 2020.  Aki and Andi settled here in 2009 after their June wedding, and we made lots of trips in those 11 years too. The Texas and Illinois welcome centers love us, and we love them.
Andi combined Easter and her birthday and hosted one big party. The night before the Illini lost to UConn in the Final Four, and we wore Illini Final Four shirts as we did in 2005, we played Kid Cranium, we ate amazing Japanese food created by Ken and Machiko, and Andi blew out 4 candles (not 40!).
Jasper’s energy followed all of us around that afternoon, that night. When it was time to sing, he lit the candles, he burst into song. His almost seven year old voice led us all. He sang with gusto and didn’t forget the “… and many more” at the end. As the time came, I watched him decide what to call his mom, and he chose “dear Andi.” Smiling almost to himself, I think he must have loved the idea of offering HIS MOM to the world as a woman of God.
I brought a box of books, including a leatherbound copy of Jesus Calling. Pick out a book, Jasper, whatever you want. He likes small books, he likes nicely bound books, he loves the smell of leather. What’s this one, Grandpa?
Jesus Calling.
“That’s the one I want. Jesus Calling.” He settled in his reading corner with the book he couldn’t really read, yet. No pictures, but he turned the pages (edged in gold) and I can imagine how he felt, feeling all that rich mix of spirit and leather, even a ribbon to keep his place while he was chasing God and God was chasing him. God offers us people so we can know him with skin-on. God offers us beautiful books to know him with leather-on.
Attention spans being what they are, Jasper didn’t stay in the corner for long. He had miles to go and promises to keep. But later, at the end of the evening most everyone gone, the book beckoned, God beckoned, and in his reading corner Jasper turned the pages again. Such smooth leather. He looked up at me. “Grandpa, Jesus and I have some letters the same in our names.”
Yep. There’s a J, right? And an S.
Yes, and Grandpa, there’s an E too. Although it’s not in the same place.
You have a lot in common, you and Jesus. Half the letters in your name, and more than half in his.
“Yes! But I’m not the son of God. Jesus is the son of God.”
Then he reconsidered.
“Well, I’m the son of God too” … thinking … and then he figured it out.
“But JESUS is the SON, SON, SON of God!”
His dad Aki came by a few minutes later, and Jasper told him the Good News. His face was beaming (I mean Jasper’s, but maybe both of them.) Aki has long since relinquished any claim on fatherhood to God – no jealousy around that table, only gratitude. Around the Tomita table, we are all sons and daughters, God’s KIDS, and God’s parenthood is ominipresent.
Andi’s favorite birthday gift was a Lego Starry Night. Thousands of pieces. At Thanksgiving she put together a Lego Mona Lisa, which hangs in her room at Austin Classical School, where she’s been the art teacher for years and years. Miles and Jasper are skilled Lego constructors; they love to solve the puzzles inherent in construction. They are relatively patient as they work and willing to spend far too much of their own money on expensive mini-figures at the local Lego store. All their birthday parties have been held at the store for years.
And I’m just struck by how Jasper solved this thorny theological-social-moral-behavioral puzzle in the corner. Who is the son of God anyway?
Christ is risen, who made all things.
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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