Just as children flourish by growing up into adults, so adults flourish by cultivating childlikeness, avoiding the spiritual hardening of the arteries that comes with competence and experience. Andy Crouch
I underlined this sentence in Andy's book, Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power, a couple of days ago and can't seem to shake it.
I think he's right.
Here's a few reasons that come to my mind:
1- Jack, this happy little guy in the photo above. Childlikeness is playing hard and swinging high with big smiles. It is unreserved singing as you play songs on the piano (yes, Jack is also one of my piano students). It's laughter and giggles; worry-free fun.
2- Hannah, a sweet 2 year old I was blessed to spend the weekend with. Childlikeness is being secure with "MY daddy" (just making sure we got the message). It is knowing that if you want to try something new, there will be hand to hold on to. If you get tired, there are shoulders to ride on. If you are wanting to talk over and over about the same thing, someone will listen to you. (cuz... cuz...) It's a sweet relationship with the one who loves us.
3- Natalie, my daughter, a thriving teenager. Childlikeness is learning; even when it's not your favorite subject. Can anyone say Social Studies? It's sticking with it and persevering through the generals and battles when sitting on the couch and watching Sponge Bob sounds a lot more appealing. It's loving others first. Making friends without waiting for others to notice you are the new kid in the room.
How quickly we grow up and become comfortable. As if we've accomplished something and now can coast through life on our experiences. If we aren't intentional, we get stuffy, boring, and responsible. Bleh.
Living our best lives means reclaiming childlikeness and the original design of our lives. Freedom. Fun. Sweetness. Courage. Love.
I think YOUR daddy takes great pleasure when we do.
But the closer I am to You, my God, the better; because life with You is good. Psalm 73:28
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. - Maya Angelou
This weekend Bryce Davis played the piano accompaniment for Waukee High School's spring play "High School Musical". This is only one of Bryce's many musical accomplishments (he is SO talented!!)
But this one holds a special place in my heart. You see, I taught Bryce how to play piano. Or better said, I guided the opening of his gift.
I remember the conversation I had with his mom, Chris, a few years ago. Bryce really wanted to learn piano, but at the time there wasn't the extra resources available to pay me. Chris was undergoing cancer treatment at the time and the medical bills were piling up.
Of course I said yes. It was a privilege to be asked.
Time flew during my lesson times with Bryce. We'd spend 45 minutes to an hour together and it was some of the most fun I've had with a student. He would play written music and by ear; and began putting together beautiful sounds on his own with his evident musical talent. In a matter of months, he was ready to go beyond my guidance.
Bryce continued playing. He spent hours in the practice room after school. A teacher noticed, and the doors began to open. I am sure they will continue to.
In his words... "I am very glad that you taught me so much and helped me find my passion for playing piano. I enjoy it so much."
Today I am reminded that every gift I have is best used when it's given freely. So many times we don't think what we have is valuable enough to share; but here I am to say, Look at Bryce - YES IT IS.
Living your best life is one that gives back. Little or big, doesn't really matter. Give. You never know who it will make all the difference for. And what it does inside you when you get to see it will change you forever.
Here's to Bryce and his bright future and to the ones he, in turn, will give to.
I will restore you, reclaim you, and rebuild you because I cannot help but love you. Isaiah 60:10
Our church is wrapping up a 3 year building renovation process. I love this first photo because it shows not only the state of the warehouse we began with; but also the thinking and planning it took many times over to make it all happen.
We have celebrated everything from dry wall and electrical wires to ceiling tiles, bathroom signs, carpet, and MUCH, MUCH more. Every step brought us one step closer to the fulfillment of a dream.
It was a dirty process. And one that hit many roadblocks and detours along the way. We calculated and re-calculated. We called, searched, asked, pursued, and called again. We sweat, dug, scrubbed, lifted, pushed and pulled. And we prayed in those hardest seasons.
By the grace of God and the hands of many people we made it. On February 11, 2015, our occupancy permit was granted.
And here we are today. Filling this space with people who are experiencing the transforming love, truth and power of Jesus Christ.
Such a story gives us a glimpse into God's handiwork in our lives. He restores, reclaims, and rebuilds us... because he can't help loving us!!
Living our best lives is responding to his transformative work so that we can live out our purposes fully.
- Wherever you feel stalled and life is not what you want it to be - say "Yes". He is planning.
- Wherever you see God working in your life, big or small - say "Yes." He has given you much to celebrate!
- Wherever it is desolate, hard, dirty or exhausting - say "Yes." He is working.
By the grace of God and your courageous steps in living out your "Yes's", you will see a vision of your life unfold and His amazing purposes revealed.
Yesterday, following the big Easter Sunday dinner... the 72 degrees and sun beckoned us outdoors for some play. With a few hours of daylight to blow, we thought Jester park would be a fun place to hike about.
We navigated about halfway through the park and pulled the car over to a parking space and decided it was time to get out and burn some energy and explore. We enjoyed watching the fish and even a turtle swimming in a little pond. We made it to the bison & elk towards the back of the park who laid there in the grass as if there was nothing better to do on this beautiful day. Next, we twisted down to the lake. It ended up being a tucked away place with no one in sight... a lovely personal beach time.
At this point in our day, we had a decision to make. Do we follow that trail we can see at the edge of the lake or go back the way we came? The trail through the trees sure looked a lot more interesting and it was headed the way we came. Within 30 speedy seconds, our decision was made & resolve was set - of course let's do a trail on the way back!
We walked in and saw a sign that said trail was .2 mile long. Cool - we can't get lost with that short of a trail! And we walked right through came out the other side and hit the paved road to go back to our car. Whew, we had saved some time with that & even got to enjoy some scenery.
We walked. And walked. Took some photos. And walked. Next thing I knew, we were walking up a big hill I didn't remember and seeing the lake in front of us again.
That's when it was first suggested that we had lost our way. We turned around and thankfully our smart phone pulled up the park map and indeed - we had missed where our car was parked.
Thanks to Lyric's Fitbit, I can tell you we walked an additional 4,700 steps to find the car. Yep, right around the corner from where our trail had landed us coming out of the woods.... to the right.
If only we hadn't turned left.
You know, things like this happen in life all the time. We are given choices and sometimes we just don't want the boring, everyday decision and want to explore something new.
It's the joy of living.
I mean if you never take a chance and try something new - sure, you won't get lost - but you also won't see what you haven't seen yet, problem solve through the unknown or get to bond with friends over a shared adventure.
Living your best life is not settling for the known, but pressing into the unknown. Growing and living more fully through a variety of experiences. Sure, there may be time lost or wrong turns made. But can I just remind you that the payoff is worth the risk.
What is something new you are exploring this year?
