boys along the path - becoming men

They knew the right thing to do - and did it!  

As I get going this snowy morning I'm going to slip into some fatherly pride.  Yesterday afternoon Tobiah and Jashton asked if they could go sledding, not some grand trip to a park or big hill, but on the icy snow slope which is now the front lawn of the church.  No parents, just the boys, out on an adventure.  Permission was granted, snow clothes was donned, and they were off to enjoy some fresh winter air on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon.

I was cleaning up in the kitchen when I looked through the glass door in the rear of our house.  If you don't know, we live behind the church, and out that window I can look over our abbreviated backyard, the parking lot, and see the church (and all the way to the main street of town).  As I glanced out I saw Jashton walking along side the church, blue saucer sled in hand, heading for home.  But where was his brother?....

A few seconds later Tobiah pops out from behind an outcropping of the church structure, kicking an empty bottle onto the church driveway.  The church grounds, being in the heart of our town, are also a teen hang out.  Last weeks warmer temperatures melted away enough snow to reveal their droppings.  That is; ice tea cans (they seem to like Arnold Palmer's?), power drinks (Monster outsells Red Bull) and Gatorade bottles (though they are less common this time of year).  Any-how... Tobiah found one of these relics of teens past (or passing teens) and was kicking it around.  I watched, what would he do?

Oh YEAH!  He picked it up, ran back 20 feet to jam it into the provided trash can!

Life is good!

There was no benefit to him.  There was no one watching (as far as he knew).  He knew the right thing to do, and did it.  Later that day I let him know that I had seen what he did.  He was a bit baffled how I knew what he had done, but then shared that Jashton had picked up some as well.  Ding, ding, ding....more points.  Okay, picking up trash is clear, measurable, tangible behavior.  But sharing good about another person, not keeping credit for himself, doing what is right even when no one is watching - that is a boy becoming a godly man.  And that is what I am seeking for in each of my boys.

A bit of trash and a glass door provided a window into who my boys are becoming.



NOTE:  Also in the day there were brothers picking on each other, siblings fighting, tears, and undoubtedly some yelling - No, our household is not a parenting utopia of perfection - but a work in progress as we all seek to live into our God given potential.



NOTE 2:  "ding, ding, ding...more points" is an expression.  It is not meant to imply that we have a tally sheet of points and deductions for our boys.  They are, and know they are, loved unconditionally regardless of behavior - they are our sons!

I locked the church on Sunday morning

I experienced a strange sensation this morning.  At 9:28 a.m. I put the key in the door, made the 1/4 turn clockwise, and heard the click of the door of our church locking.  I had not thought about it before the event, but  the door needed to be locked, the church was going to be empty - but locking a church on Sunday morning just felt wrong.

It's not that we were not worshiping as a church, but we were joining other congregations who we partner with on food, education and advocacy programs for the poor in Albany for worship this morning.  We had a bus load waiting to depart for the trip into the city (all of 6 miles), and many others would drive separately, so all was good, just strange.

As I rode along in the bus I reflected on the irony that this Sunday morning was the only morning our church was locked and closed this week (or actually any day so far this year other than Jan 17th) - I mean even in the blizzards either Dave or I was there working.  So we close our doors on Sunday and have them open all the other days.  Hmmm....

 - A good reminder that church isn't about the time or the place, it is about the people.  God loves for people to gather, to focus on his worth, to pray, to sing, to learn, to listen - these things please God greatly - but not when it is out of rote habit or obligatory ritual.  (We must worship God, not patterns or places)
 - A good reminder that church isn't just Sunday morning.  Everyone who is a Christian is part of the universal Church, and as such we are being the church all week long - wherever we are, whatever we are doing.  Not only is this building open all week, but Delmar Reformed Church is open and active all week in the lives of each person who calls DRC their spiritual home and family.
 - A good reminder of how great worship at church can be.  I didn't want to lock it up and go somewhere else.  We would be gaining by worshiping with others and celebrating the work of the FOCUS ministries, but also missing out on the very special something which happens on Sunday mornings at our church.

As the bus returned us to 386 Delaware Ave, the doors were unlocked again.  They were unlocked to let the teenagers unpack the three minivan they were returning in after an overnight "mid-night run" to help the homeless in New York City.  A night handing out food, clothes, and supplies to the homeless, before sleeping briefly, worshiping, and then coming back to a building which is but a facility to strengthen and support the work of Jesus in this world.

It's okay if it is locked on Sunday mornings from time to time... because Jesus calls us to so much more than one hour a week sitting in a sanctuary.