existential adoption angst.

on the bus ride to and from work, i've started reading a new book. (it's not a very long ride, but a good book is worth snatching bits and pieces of whenever you can.) i really am more of a non-fiction fan than anything else, and i've recently started the sins of scripture by john shelby spong. you probably remember the name; i remember back when i was "in the fold" automatically thinking he was a heretic without ever actually reading the book, and now i like reading him and being discerning. isn't that a good word? instead of prejudiced.

so anyhow, this particular book is about how particular bible verses have been used way out of context and have had harmful effects rather than positive ones. i'm still in the first section, which turns out to be about the environment. and the first chapter? focuses on being fruitful and multiplying. his point is, essentially, that a mandate that had a purpose when humanity/the jewish people were just starting out, has lost its immediate context, and thus can't be blindly applied anymore. in actuality, he claims, using excellently researched and chillingly scary numbers, one very important thing we can do right now for the earth, nature, and humanity is CURB population growth.

bethany asked me today why we don't just adopt. (she was being curious, not judgemental). the answer is that i think we will, and that we'd like to try both, but that we'd love to be biologically involved and create something together at least once. stated that way, these aren't sinister desires. but up against population density statistics and al-gore-type environmental truths...don't i just feel like the only decent thing to do is adopt. ouch.

i promise to pray about this, but this is going to be one of those prayers that severely test my ability to be humble.