This morning I took a good friend of ours Tomo to the airport as he is returning to Japan after graduating from IUPUI. I've known Tomo for about two years and it has been amazing building a friendship with him and watching him start living his life for God. In a card he gave me he said that I really changed his life. This has caused me to think about how unique relationships are with people where God directs them and is at the center of them. This isn't something I've learned by reading the Bible or being taught, but something I've seen replayed in my life over and over again. It's amazing how quickly you can build a solid, meaningful relationship with another person when it's God focused. I've also learned that this doesn't just apply to marriages and families but to marraiges, families, friendships, acquantances and co-workers.

When I was driving home from the airport this morning as I was thinking through this, I then thought about Noah. One week from today we will take him from the orphanage to spend the rest of his life with us...

Throughout this adoption Courtney and I have chosen to keep God at the center and it's been obvious how He has orchastrated it all.  Much like my relationship with Tomo, and the other "God relationships" in my life, I know we will learn tremendous things from our relationship and journey with Noah.  Here are a few that I've thought of so far:

1. How to love someone unconditionally especially when he can't do anything to earn it.
2. How to be less selfish and more selfless (I had a pastor that always said marriage caused you to deal with 25% of your selfishness and having kids the other 75%.)
3. What a father's heart is like and how a father desires for his children to know and love him. (just like God does for all people)
4. I will better understand what Jesus felt like when he was considered an outcast from his society and people mocked Him.  Only during time in other countries (Mexico, Uganda, Czech Republic) have I realized the feeling of being an outcast and very different from those around me.  Even though our culture and society is mostly past racism, this is something Noah will experience at different times in his life.  As his parents we will also feel the pain that is caused from these experiences.
5. How to dream and see the potential in your child as he grows, matures and develops. (I think this is a perspective God has for us... only difference is He knows the abilities and future that He has prepared for us.)
6. What it means to adopt someone that is not like you, looks different, comes from a different culture and heritage into your family.

That's all I thought of this morning.  How about you?  Any other ideas or thoughts?  Especially those of you that are also going through this adoption experience or have in the past?