Jo & I have been the host (much to our delight) of both our daughters and grandson since last weekend. Tami drove in Saturday and Janna came with Braden on Sunday. In fact, they came near the end of our worship service. She came right up and stood next to me during our last song, then I looked back and he was making his way to me after seeing his Aunt Tami and Mamaw. He and I hung out together on Monday while the womenfolk did some last minute shopping. We watched Polar Express, then Transformers 2. We had watched T3 on Sunday. 🙂 Let me rephrase that: I watched T1, 2 & 3 while his imagination went into overdrive. I don’t think that boy slows down from the time he wakes up to the time he goes to bed. His motto is “when I plays, I plays hard; when I sleeps, I sleeps hard.” I sometimes feel like Clarence the angel in “It’s a Wonderful Life” after he gets kicked out of the tavern with George: “Ohhh, I’m getting too old for this.” My one reprieve, if you can call it that, was Wednesday afternoon when I was outside for close to 3 hours shoveling 3 cars out the 12″ or so of snow. I had my Frontier out earlier, but the three cars would be needed Thursday. I think the first words I heard when I came inside were “Grandpa, can we…..?”
I wrote this post in February of this year about imagination, his imagination. I know you are busy this time of the year so I won’t bore you with the same thing. If you have the time, please read it. But as I was outside shoveling and trying to take my mind off the pain I knew I was going to feel later that evening and the next day (cycling & Bowflex doesn’t prepare one for this type of “exercise”), I couldn’t help but think about Braden’s visit. After I began to mull over in my mind what I was going to say, it dawned on me that I had written about his imagination once before. Ironically, I found myself asking the same questions this time as I did last.
When did I stop dreaming and having an imagination like that?
When did I grow up and stop “playing?”
When did I, and why have I, allowed the cares of this world to dim the enthusiasm for life he has?
I realize growing up does sober a person up pretty quickly, but there is something to be said about living life “out of bounds” (not morally but enthusiastically). The end of the year is approaching (or is that the beginning of a new year is approaching?) and a book is laid open before us.
IT SAYS, “CHOOSE” THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE
Which will you choose?
Now…would someone quickly find an instant energy pill for a 60 year old man to keep up with a 6 year old rocket? Hurry please!
Bill, oh for us to be childlike without being childish.
You got that right Larry. 🙂
I hears you, Bill. I am learning that when I stop dreaming, I lose all sense of perspective.
My three-and-a-half-years-old granddaughter is an energetic, creative delight. But she does wear Meemaw out. I learned early on in life that if I wanted to stay out of trouble, I’d better conform to parental expectations. I am thrilled to see that Ellie’s parents have given her a lot of leeway to be who she is within her necessary boundaries.
So glad to hear that you are willing to risk dreaming. Also thrilled that your granddaughter not only dreams but is allowed to do so by her parents. You now have my permission to rest. 😛
😀
I’ve been writing and struggling with the lack of credence we as Christians give the supernatural gift of free will. It is so much more than just making a decision to believe. It is a gift for every person born, but especially for those of us who can grasp even slightly the power of the One who lives within us.
Interestingly I’ve got in my notes to write this week about this very thing. I listened to the old Pink Floyd song, Comfortably Numb and it sparked this very thought, the line, “The child is grown, the dream is gone,” made me realize how true that is for most of the world. We know better. Paul never lost his zest for life even facing death.
I refuse to let the burdens of this world steal the joy and enthusiasm God gives us. Sometimes it takes trials to realize our peace and joy are not based on circumstances and can’t be measured with our senses.
For the energy? Well, it’s a good tired…
I give a lot of credence to free will Floyd. We all have choices to make. I too refuse to allow the world to steal my joy and enthusiasm. I want HIS Joy. it is a good tired and when he goes home tomorrow it will seem empty.
I still think a lot like a kid. That is both a blessing and a curse at times. It has helped me to relate to my daughter. It did not work in my marriage.
My childishness has shown itself way too often in my marriage and in my work. Fortunately, I have a patient wife and an even more patient God.
You can do it, Bill (as far as the energy)! 🙂 I like your spirit.
Gonna have to Stephen. 🙂 He leaves tomorrow. Until then….
My pastor says that as we age we start to see more and more in shades of gray. Kids somehow retain that full-color view of the world.
Sad but true. I, however, want to continue seeing color.
My clan of seven keep me young and kicking brother…although my stamina is not what it used to be!
That kicking can get tiring.
I am hoping that the new year will see me pulling away from technology a bit more and into something else, though I am not sure what that is right now.
Kids can be a handful. My 11 year old niece still attempts to hop on my back and go for a ride, but at 46 I’m feeling the burden of old age already. 🙂
that burden only gets worse Ed. LOL
Don’t remind me, LOL.
It is easy as you age to get stuck in a rut. I don’t think it is so much admiring childish imagination as it is not liking the rut we might be in. Children have a 1000 ruts and can go from one to another in warp speed. Maybe it is time for the proverbial New Years resolution. I will create something or change something for the better in 2013. I will not stay in the same rut(S). Just a thought.
You use the right word Jeff: rut. I don’t want to get stuck in a rut. I like your idea of creating or changing something for 2013.
I think you’re so right, Bill! We call them “free spirits” and associate it with a lifestyle that’s possibly incongruent to God’s word, but like you said, you can be imaginative and live out of bounds enthusiastically without crossing the moral and relational boundaries. Good things to ponder. We come to Him as children and we understand why (at least to a degree). Thanks Bill.
i believe God wants us to be “free spirits” surrendered to Him and living within His boundaries (which are not burdensome at all). Thanks for the comment Jason.
Love this, Pastor Bill, and the freedom He gives us to imagine and create and have fun. Praying to keep that alive yet too. I think it’s a part of being a light that shines.
God bless you . . .and bring you some 5 hr. energy drinks!
Thanks Deb. I do believe, as you do, that imagination and creativity is a gift from God. I don’t drink those drinks so will have to pray for a natural fix. 🙂 Thanks. Hope your family had a good Christmas.
I am so happy to hear that you had some wonderful times with the girls and Braden!!! I probably would have been crying had I seen Janna come & stand beside you while Braden came down the aisle!! 🙂 I often watch Jonah & his beautiful imagination & think to myself, he’s so innocent right now, everything is new & wonderful to him…..it makes me sad to think that this innocence will be tarnished the older he gets. But I shall make it my mission to make his world happy & as innocent as possible….and trust me, when he’s here I get the work out, because he loves to race the dog & I down the hallway!! He keeps me young, that’s for sure. 🙂
I am very thankful that he’s being raised in a Godly home, so there will be some polish on that tarnish (God)
It was pretty special seeing him run down the aisle. 🙂 Such a shock to know you would have cried. I am also glad Jonah is being raised in a godly home.