Catch Me if You Can

I struggle with devotion time. I desire to have an intimate time - just me and Yahweh - chewing on some scripture - spilling our deepest secrets and thoughts. I just don't do it. I have a million excuses. None of them are legitimate. Oh, I wish to be a disciplined person.

BUT...

Yahweh chases me! Even though I do not seek him - he seeks me. I get followed to the highest mountain peaks, and to the lowest valley. I do not find him in his word - so he finds me in his world. He finds me in movies, television shows, strangers on the bus, friends, books, newspaper articles, internet sites, blogs, trees, leaves, wind, animals, machines, my wife, and my children. Yahweh always finds me. I am thankful I am not lost, I can orient my self in anything I pass by.

BUT...

I will continue to long for closeness. I will strive for the secret to discipline. I will struggle to prioritize. And I will follow when he finds me.

Jason is my Peter Pan

My friend Jason recently lost his tree house. Many people cried out to God for answers. Jason wondered why his tree house is so important to so many people. So, I thought about a while, and this is why it's important to me, rather why you are important to me:

Everyday I am disgusted at some of the small choices I watch my kids make. When Isaac goes outside he rarely puts on a coat, and if he does it's no more than a sweatshirt. We live about a mile from Troutdale - the windiest place on earth, and it gets cold. I don't get it. He says he's not cold, but I don't believe him, yet when we are outside he doesn't complain.

Andrew (my other son) thinks that playing is the only thing I should ever do. He wants for us to play a never ending game of battling guys. I don't mind playing this game with him for a while, but I have bills to pay, chores to do, and blogs to read. Why can't he understand that the life of an adult is more complicated than he knows? Because Andrew doesn't understand this social expectation he lashes out to force the issue. Usually this comes in the form of bugging his sister.

Jason, you and your tree condo, call me to examine my priorities. Sometimes I am devoted to living in a simple way - Isaac, Andrew, and Hannah get all my attention, during those times you encourage me to be creative in our play. The possibilities are endless with the knowledge of a friend down the street who is building a tree house - note that he has no children himself. You call me to be a more creative father. Other times I am not giving the attention my kids need. During those times you call me to re-devote my self to my priorities.

But most of all you call me to a life that embraces the slogan: "I don't wanna grow up!" I love that idea, not because I am afraid to grow up, but because as I get older I make life more complicated with my selfish choices. It's okay not to wear a coat outside in winter, I did it all the time as a kid, and it's okay to ignore the social expectations for adults because my kids are more important than anything else. I need to overlook the little things so I can focus on the big things.

Jason, you have sprinkled fairy dust on all of us, asked us to think good thoughts, and lead us to Neverland - your tree house.

It's Guy Code

I don't know how many guys actually know about this code, most comply but are not aware of its existence. The code is very much a part of the social contract between guys. The part that I don't understand is the "every other" section, which should be renamed the "intimacy intolerancy" pledge. The "every other" rule states: no guy shall be directly next to another guy. There must always be an "other" in between. Women, dogs, pillows, or empty space will work to fill the "other" role.

This is absurd guys. We are so afraid of getting close. I'm tired of sitting every other seat in a movie theater. I'm sick of choosing to stand on the bus when there are no free seats that contain empty space, or women in the others next to it. I'm weary of handshakes instead of hugs, I'm done with the action adventure or comedy movie expectation - I like artsie films.

And so I say to all I am breaking away, creating my own code. I will watch chic flicks and cry if I feel like it. I will sit next to my Man date without an empty seat in between. I will hug my Man friends. I will always choose the middle urinal.

It's time for a revolution!