| Hey Friends! This morning I went to YSU and took along my assistant, my two year old, Zechariah. Some of you saw us and got a high five or "the rock" from the little guy. What intrigued me the most was the way Zechariah saw YSU. It all started as I got him dressed for the day. "You're going to go with me to YSU today," I said. The whole rest of the morning he kept saying what sounded like "Yshoe, Yshoe, Yshoe.' He was excited. When we got to campus we parked in metered parking down by the former Little Jimmies and by The Beat. We walked up the hill and Zechariah saw the water fountain. "Water daddy! Water!" He was thrilled to see the water skyrocketing into the air. It made me wonder. Would you or I even notice the fountain? Did you stop and watch it in awe today? When I pulled him away from the fountain we went in Kilcawley and Peaberry's to see who was around. As we passed by Arby's into the "hall" space where the candy counter and ATM are located Zechariah saw the steps at the other end and said enthusiastically, "STEPS!" How we adults disdain steps -besides, he said that right beside the entrance to the elevator! Then we went into Peaberry's and there he saw pool tables with guys playing pool. How he laughed when the cue ball hit the other shooting it into the pocket. The next guy shot and again - laughter! When was the last time you found joy in the collision of two balls on a felt table? Are we too worried about making the shot to win? After some time meeting different people and playing the Dora the Explorer "Map Game" (Greg Mook beat the game I might add!) we went to Marketplace with Greg. After giving everyone "the rock" and the "peace out" sign we went out to the fountain. He loved it! Would have gone right down into it if I would have let him. He ran, or should I say swabbled (I just made that word up!) as fast as he could go to get to it. He threw himself down in protest when we left but then he saw the sculpture, art thing outside Moser Hall. You know, the big red thing. Since it has a nice big curve on one side Zechariah was convinced that it was a slide. "Slide down daddy, Riah slide down" he kept saying. Even as he ran up the mulch to the thing itself and was touching it he still thought it was a slide. After pulling him away from that I carried him a little bit when he noticed the leaves of the trees blowing in the wind. "Leaves" he shouted. Have you noticed the leaves lately? What a gift of shade they provide. Going back to the car he saw more steps. He not only went down the steps but ran over to the ascending ones to go up them! How we mutter and complain about having to go places. Zechariah purposely takes the steps! Finally we got in the car and headed for Wendy's for some chicken nuggets.
Why do I tell you all this? Well, one of my hero's Cal Seerveld wrote an article that talks about reading the Bible like a "Grown Up Child." If the stuff we spout in church is true, then we are living in a world in which each new day is a gift from God. The water flying into the air is a gift. The leaves are a gift. The ability to walk up steps is a gift. The joy of a game of pool. Do you get the point? I'm not judging anyone but after 8 years of constantly hanging out with college students I notice that usually there is this dazed foggy look in their eyes. We take things for granted and get caught up in our own little lives. We don't even notice the fountains, leaves, and slides of life. I challenge you (and me) to be thankful to God for each gift. John Piper says that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us a focus for all of life. I pray that today we will look at life through that focus and find life to the full. I pray that you will look at things like a little child - not immaturely, but with a sense of awe, wonder, and thanksgiving. As you Yshoe'ers go through finals I pray God's blessings on you. As you search to make sense of life I pray you will be directed to relationship with Jesus Christ. He promised to give life to the full - and that is not just for the sweet hereafter. It is for the joy of fountains, pool balls, slides, and leaves today.
Rejoicing in Christ,
Jefferson |
