The simplicity of life is no where better exhibited than in watching my 9-year-old twin boys play in the back yard with a newly purchased slip'n slide. Watching them brings back memories of my own childhood days when I, too, owned a slip'n slide. I'm also reminded that if I tried to slide on one of these things today, I would most likely dislocate various parts of my body.
Though we have advanced technologically beyond any of my childhood dreams (I think on my block growing up, slip'n slide was as techonoligical as we got), I don't think it's possible to improve on getting some kids together on a hot summer day with a water hose and a slippery piece of plastic. Now for those who have not experienced the slip'n slide experience, you might be thinking, "What more can you do except just slide?" Well, let me inform you!
Though the basic premise of slip'n slide is to slide, it's more than that. For instance, you don't just slide, but see how far you can slide, how many ways you can slide (ie. frontwards, backwards, sideways, etc...), how fast you can slide, how wet you can get, how muddy you can get (don't ask how this happens), how much water you can put on the mat, and any other game or competition anyone slip'n and slide'n can create.
The reason I believe in the beauty of a slip'n slide on a hot summer day is not just because of the memories of my childhood, but because of the creativity and comradory that such a piece of plasctic in a backyard creates. I have just witnessed my boys create about 7 different games using the slip'n slide in the last 10 minutes. And at just this moment, they are laying down and drying out discussing the things that 9-year-old boys need to discuss such as how many bugs might like to use their slip'n slide as well.
So many times in our culture I feel that we are overly entertained. We have become numb to the simplicity of just sitting and enjoying a cool breeze on a summer day. Granted we might enjoy a cool breeze, but only as we sit with our IPhone checking email or news updates every few minutes.
We also bring such overly entertained attitudes into our worship life as well. We no longer know how to be still or to be unplugged from email, text messaging, facebook, and twitter. Nothing wrong with using all which technology has to offer us, but I pray for my own life that my use of technology does not make me less human. Could it be that maybe I just need to take my Bible, a pen and a notebook and find a quiet place to just sit and think and fellowship with our Creator? Could it be that maybe I have lost the art of thinking creatively because I have learned to turn my mind off during mindless entertainment (and forgot to turn it back on?).
My kids have video games and they enjoy playing them, but I really see their personality and their ingenious minds at work on a slip'n slide. Though I do enjoy technology, I think today that I enjoy the creation of the slip'n slide the most!
Going to clean up a mudhole!
Jeff
Friday, June 5, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Image Is Everything?
Nice jacket. Nice tie. Pressed slacks. Shined shoes. This is obviously someone who has it together. After all, if they dress and look like someone on the front of a clothing cataloge they must be educated, esteemed, a developed leader, and maybe even spiritual (If not a church attender, he would most definately be welcomed)
Or could it be that all this gentlemen esteems is wearing nice clothes? Anything wrong with looking nice? Of course not! But if that is as far as it goes, there might be a problem. What about the person who dresses a bit more shabbily and yet does so for the purpose of his ministry to the homeless? He doesn't have the "proper" image...or does he?
I guess that what I have been learning is that I am quick to judge others. Just by glancing at a person's looks and what they are wearing, I make assumptions. Someone who looks like they just climbed out of bed and donned a pair of shorts is most definately an individual who needs some organization skills and most likely, a job. Could it be, however, that this unkempt looking individual only looks the way he does because of staying up all night with a sick child or spouse? I am so quick to judge!
I am even inclined to judge others while gazing their yard. Why is their yard so green? What a waste of money on water? I wish I had money to waste on watering! Or, why don't they mow their yard? Don't they care? How lazy! Again, so quick to judge without first seeking to understand others.
The danger this creates for me is that I can be tempted to work more on my image, how I appear before others, rather than on my character, who I actually am. In other words, as long as I wear the proper clothes and mow my yard, things are good. Forget the fact that I'm struggling with how to discipline my children or feel lonely, the key is that all looks well.
I guess I still need to learn from Sawyer Brown's lyrics from their song "They Don't Understand." The chorus says:
Everybody's busy with their own situation
Everybody's lost in their own little world
Bottled up, hurry it up trying to make a dream come true
Everybody's living like there ain't no tomorrow
Maybe we should stop and take a little time
Cause you never really know what your neighbor's going through
I pray that we come to the realization that image is not everything. May we cease to judge others by image alone and stop seeking to perfect our own image to the detrimate of our character. Sola gracia
Or could it be that all this gentlemen esteems is wearing nice clothes? Anything wrong with looking nice? Of course not! But if that is as far as it goes, there might be a problem. What about the person who dresses a bit more shabbily and yet does so for the purpose of his ministry to the homeless? He doesn't have the "proper" image...or does he?
I guess that what I have been learning is that I am quick to judge others. Just by glancing at a person's looks and what they are wearing, I make assumptions. Someone who looks like they just climbed out of bed and donned a pair of shorts is most definately an individual who needs some organization skills and most likely, a job. Could it be, however, that this unkempt looking individual only looks the way he does because of staying up all night with a sick child or spouse? I am so quick to judge!
I am even inclined to judge others while gazing their yard. Why is their yard so green? What a waste of money on water? I wish I had money to waste on watering! Or, why don't they mow their yard? Don't they care? How lazy! Again, so quick to judge without first seeking to understand others.
The danger this creates for me is that I can be tempted to work more on my image, how I appear before others, rather than on my character, who I actually am. In other words, as long as I wear the proper clothes and mow my yard, things are good. Forget the fact that I'm struggling with how to discipline my children or feel lonely, the key is that all looks well.
I guess I still need to learn from Sawyer Brown's lyrics from their song "They Don't Understand." The chorus says:
Everybody's busy with their own situation
Everybody's lost in their own little world
Bottled up, hurry it up trying to make a dream come true
Everybody's living like there ain't no tomorrow
Maybe we should stop and take a little time
Cause you never really know what your neighbor's going through
I pray that we come to the realization that image is not everything. May we cease to judge others by image alone and stop seeking to perfect our own image to the detrimate of our character. Sola gracia
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