"Waggie, ride, outside?"

Earlier this week, my 17 month old son Gabe uttered his first real sentence!  It was actually a question…at about 230 in the morning!!!   He is still getting used to his new room at the end of the hall and on occasion been waking up with a short cry.  On this occasion he was a bit more fussy and so, I gave in and went down to his room and brought him back to sit with mom and I until he quieted down.  I know, I know…wrong move, but if I hadn’t, Kim and I would have missed a special moment.  Very quietly, in the darkened room he gazed toward the window and said,

“Waggie, ride, outside?”

For those of you needing translation, that request was, ‘Wagon ride outside?’  Kim and I smiled at this very sincere request and gently and quietly explained that a wagon ride was not in the cards at that hour of the morning.

If you’re a regular follower, you know that I like to share positive stories of faith, family and fellowship.  This week I’ve been a little more diligent about following my friend and mentor, Derek Maul’s blog, (The Life-Charged Life).  http://derekmaul.wordpress.com/ 

This week he’s written about connecting with people everywhere and what the common thread is that holds us together; he’s explored communication and listening, especially at the close family level; he wrote too of the bonus of February 29 being an extra day to do some intentional living like you mean it.  His final post of the included this quote from his latest book, 'Reaching Toward Easter', 

“This journey together through Lent serves as an invitation to align the heart of our spiritual nature with the regenerative heart of God, sustainer and deliverer, to set our intention toward life and to align ourselves with the light…”

Gabe’s words, Derek’s writings, my recent speaking travels and the soon to come birth of Gabe’s lil’ brother, Liam have all been on my mind.  

A child's simple request-

It is truly astounding to see my son grow and begin his journey of life.  

I wonder why as adults we so easily lose sight of the excitement, the beauty, the inner growth and importance of our individual journey's.  Why do adults so easily cast people aside; not communicating, not listening or in all too many cases, not willing to listen?  Why do adults not seek the common threads of family and community that ultimately can so easily unite us all? 

An adult's complicated request-

It is truly astounding to see an adult stop growing and stagnate their lives.  

I wonder why as children we can so easily be excited by the beauty, the inner growth and importance of our individual journey's.  Why do children so easily embrace people; communicate and listen in truly amazing ways?  Why do children understand the common threads of family that ultimately so easily unite us all?  

Just interesting to look at it from those two perspectives of our lives and contemplate how at both times, all the time, we are in the arms of the sustainer and deliverer, setting our intentions toward the journey of life and aligning ourselves with the light.  How come we don't recognize it?

As we all reach toward Easter may we all recognize that we can reach out, even in the darkest hours with the simplest or the most difficult of requests.  Our spiritual parent is always there for all of us.   

I value the middle of the night moments with Gabe.

I value the middle of the night moments with God.

“Waggie, ride, outside?”

 

LET'S GO!!! 

 

"What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." -John 1: 4-5.

Peace,

Ray

PS- Thanks Woodstock (VA) Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for making me feel so at home on Sunday, Feb 26th.  I look forward to visiting with you again in the future.