His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge
We are busily compiling and writing articles on Detroit's
financial crisis and on health care issues, the latter occasioned in part by
the closure of our local neighborhood hospital here in Brooklyn. Both of these are serious matters, somber and
in some ways, even heart-rending topics.
But in the midst of our labors, there is some happy news we
have to stop and acknowledge: the birth of His Royal Highness Prince George of
Cambridge. This event, of course,
happened on Monday, July 22 and on Tuesday, July 23, we found ourselves
completely diverted from other activity and totally absorbed in watching
coverage on BBC.com of his departure with his parents from St. Mary's Hospital
in London for his home at Kensington Palace.
Later in the evening, we watched a round-up review on CNN.
There were two signs of the happiness that this birth
generated. The first is obvious, but
still well worth noting. As parents
William and Kate emerged from the door of the hospital out onto the street,
they were absolutely radiant. They were
relaxed and joyful as they presented their son for all to see. They approached lucky photographers and offered
numerous opportunities for picture-taking and they both replied to a few
questions about the baby's name – "we're still working on it and it will
be ready soon" [it was, indeed, the very next day] – and their own feelings – "it's all very
emotional", his mother said through a broad smile. These are plainly all the best kinds of
emotional feelings.
Then they returned briefly inside to put the baby prince in
a car-seat, which the proud father prince carried out to a car and placed securely
in the back seat. The mother got into
the car by herself and sat next to the baby.
Then the father prince got into the driver's seat and drove his family to
their home.
What wonder and pleasure in these simple actions, carried
out by a future King of England for his son, the subsequent King of
England. How meaningful and how gracious
for them to share in just the right way with all of the world.
The other show of happiness we then saw and heard came from
otherwise sober-faced TV reporters and commentators. Christiane Amanpour, as an example, actually
laughed out loud as she was describing all this on CNN later in the
evening. How wonderful that everyone can
take such delight in this birth. There
are plenty of other less-than-pleasant events taking place in our day and
time. Let's enjoy this little guy!
In the baby's honor, we quote here from the service of
Thanksgiving for a Child in the Book of Common Prayer (page 443):
O God, you have taught us through your blessed Son that
whoever receives a little child in the name of Christ receives
Christ himself: We give you thanks for the blessing you have
bestowed upon this family in giving them a child. Confirm
their joy by a lively sense of your presence with them, and
give them calm strength and patient wisdom as they seek to
bring this child to love all that is true and noble, just and
pure, lovable and gracious, excellent and admirable,
following the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
We daresay the relevant "family" who've just been
blessed encompass the entirety of the United Kingdom and a lot of other places
around the world. Hooray!