No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem

While speaking with a friend on the phone this morning and reminiscing about the past, I said, “Those were the days”, to which she replied, “These are the days too, you know.” The revealing truth of that statement kinda startled me…because I knew it was right. I’m not sure whether David learned this as a Shepard, a fugitive, or a King, but he once said, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let’s rejoice and be glad in it.” Glad in it? But what about my disappointments, missed deadlines, family issues, health problems? Well good question. If we’re to be the conduit of compassion and grace that Pastor Ned spoke of last week to the ones in “Hard Places”, we would do well to take things a day at a time. Perhaps thinking of today as a compartment of it’s own. I was reminded today how well children are at this.

As I spoke to a group of 3rd through 5th graders, (and by the way, I’m not smarter than a fifth grader), I was amazed at their insight and profound questions. We were discussing the earthquake in Haiti, and the loss that many endured, when one little girl said, “Did the kids lose their playgrounds?” Questions like that make me ask myself, ”Stefan, have you lost your playground?” That place where you can “rejoice and be glad” no matter what the day looks like. Children live in a world of dreams and imagination, a world of aliveness…living, believing, and ears attune to the wild and free voice inside. Actually, I think there’s a voice of wonder and amazement inside all of us; but if we’re not reminded daily, wonder may turn to worry and we’ll find ourselves saying, “Those were the days the Lord has made.” It isn’t that God stopped speaking and left us to fend for ourselves; it’s that our lives became louder – the increasing crescendo of our possessions, the ear-piercing noise of busyness, and the soul-smothering volume of our endless activity drowned out the still, small voice of God. It happens gradually.

I am amazed each day as I read the updates on Chase Mann on Caringbridge.org, and find his family dusting for the fingerprints of God even in this difficult season. They and others who face trying situations help to fortify our faith as we see them boldly declare that “This, yes even this, is the day that the Lord has made.”