Paradise Found.
Sometimes I get caught up in the bad news. All that stuff that reporters love to talk about. With their painted-on look of sorrow that barely covers the glimmer in their eyes, they report on those tragic deaths, the suffering, abuse, and poverty. And, if that were not enough, I get bogged down in my own self-loathing, and pity, my own pain and suffering. And, I forget. I forget that there is the good stuff right there before me. But just recently I was reminded.
Our friends invited us over. They are a 30-something couple with 2 adorable boys. Big brother is 5 and little brother is 3. They live on a cute cul-de-sac with their cat and some fish. We were excited to go because we had been promised a "camp-fire" complete with roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. It had been years since I had been in front of a good roaring fire, so although it was kinda hot out, I was optimistic it would be a nice time.
Well, "nice time" is quite the understatement. It was paradise.
The boys were running around in the large back yard. There were those old familiar summer fragrances of freshly cut grass, cedar and sunshine. We sat in lawn chairs in front of the fire pit and talked and laughed while we roasted our hot dogs and marshmallows. We feasted while I watched "Mom and Dad" interact with the kids. And they were actually enjoying them. Playing and running, listening to stories about kindergarten... The food was yummy, but the real blessing was simply the peace of it all. And the simple joy. It was stunning.
I sat back and watched as the boys laughed and played. The lightning bugs were active and little brother danced around the yard mesmerized by them. Yeah, he caught a couple and mauled them, but hey...it was still cute. With the sound of the cicadas, the flickering fire in the twilight, laughter of these great kids and the fellowship with our friends, I felt surrounded by love. This family is the real deal. This is truly what it is all about. I am so blessed to be able to share in the lives of these people. To get a glimpse into a paradise that I often forget exists.
I've often scoffed at the platitude, "God won't give you more than you can bear". I guess I think that's bull because first of all, God isn't "giving" me the crap in my life. I have made some poor decisions, or others have--and so the crap cometh. And secondly, many people are faced with more than they can bear and they end their own lives. So, I find that whole little saying insulting. But what I am realizing is that if we keep our eyes open, and our hearts. And if we reach out when we need to--God will give us that glimpse. That reminder that He is still there.
And, I am grateful.
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postscript--I apologize for the lack of names in this post. I am pretty sure my friends would prefer that I not publish their names and their kids names on the world wide web! They don't read this blog, so I didn't want to ask! :-)
Our friends invited us over. They are a 30-something couple with 2 adorable boys. Big brother is 5 and little brother is 3. They live on a cute cul-de-sac with their cat and some fish. We were excited to go because we had been promised a "camp-fire" complete with roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. It had been years since I had been in front of a good roaring fire, so although it was kinda hot out, I was optimistic it would be a nice time.
Well, "nice time" is quite the understatement. It was paradise.
The boys were running around in the large back yard. There were those old familiar summer fragrances of freshly cut grass, cedar and sunshine. We sat in lawn chairs in front of the fire pit and talked and laughed while we roasted our hot dogs and marshmallows. We feasted while I watched "Mom and Dad" interact with the kids. And they were actually enjoying them. Playing and running, listening to stories about kindergarten... The food was yummy, but the real blessing was simply the peace of it all. And the simple joy. It was stunning.
I sat back and watched as the boys laughed and played. The lightning bugs were active and little brother danced around the yard mesmerized by them. Yeah, he caught a couple and mauled them, but hey...it was still cute. With the sound of the cicadas, the flickering fire in the twilight, laughter of these great kids and the fellowship with our friends, I felt surrounded by love. This family is the real deal. This is truly what it is all about. I am so blessed to be able to share in the lives of these people. To get a glimpse into a paradise that I often forget exists.
I've often scoffed at the platitude, "God won't give you more than you can bear". I guess I think that's bull because first of all, God isn't "giving" me the crap in my life. I have made some poor decisions, or others have--and so the crap cometh. And secondly, many people are faced with more than they can bear and they end their own lives. So, I find that whole little saying insulting. But what I am realizing is that if we keep our eyes open, and our hearts. And if we reach out when we need to--God will give us that glimpse. That reminder that He is still there.
And, I am grateful.
------------------------------
postscript--I apologize for the lack of names in this post. I am pretty sure my friends would prefer that I not publish their names and their kids names on the world wide web! They don't read this blog, so I didn't want to ask! :-)
Comments
And that platitude is actually a misconceived version of a bible verse--1 Corinthians 10:13.
Ironically, what the verse says, and means, is pretty much exactly what you are realizing.. that when the crap cometh, we can get our glimpse. And those glimpses will be enough to pull us through. Here it is in "The Message" paraphrased bible:
"No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit*; he'll always be there to help you come through it."
*note: The author is here assuming that "your limit" is the limit that you have when you reach out. The threshold of what you can take is a lot lower when you try to do it alone.