If you haven’t come to church during the day in the week, you wouldn’t know how quiet and serene it usually is. There have been days when I only see or hear people when they walk by the water fountain. Working in a church is usually a nice place, especially if you want to concentrate on something.
This week was an exception. It’s an annual ritual. Once a year, instead of the normal quiet, a cloud of cacophony descends upon Calvary Church. This cloud assumes the form of several hundred kids running and yelling and generally banging around the halls of the church. There’s loud music coming from the sanctuary. The smell of markers and glue overtake the gym. The kitchen suddenly becomes busy and overflows with lemonade and snacks.
Yeah, it’s VBS time. And I, for one, I love it.
Yes, we barely get anything done during the week, but there’s nothing like seeing a bunch of kids running around and having fun. It helps remind us how fun the world can be and what joy it is to view it through the eyes of children. As we get older and discover the answers behind some of the “mysteries” we pondered as children, life slowly becomes less magical and more pragmatic. Along with some other companions, Cynicism and Ordinariness show up and start accompanying us down life’s narrow way.
I remember when my life was populated with superheroes and fantasy figures who waged wars against evil. I remember when winters were packed with snowmen, sledding, and of course, the holiest of days, Christmas when gifts were sent from heaven (no, not Jesus, I’m talking about presents, although Jesus is important). On the other side of the coin, summers were glorious days filled with grass stains, pool trips, sticky popsicle hands, and, yes, VBS.
Part of me returns to that time when I see kids running around gleefully, clutching their crafts and their toys that they bought with tickets from remembering their verses or bringing a friend with. I have always believed that sense of freedom, fun and magic are things that should never leave us regardless of age, and that God wants that for us adults too.
Life is a bit harder and a bit more bitter with Cynicism, Ordinariness, and Mr. NoMagic as our companions. No, sometimes you cannot go home, but it is possible to lose them for a while and go back to that time when things were fun and as sunny as can be. Ecclesiastes 8:15, “So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.”
Just be sure to wash your sticky popsicle hands before supper first.
-Matt
childrenEcclesiastesjoylifeVBS
The Joyful Children of God
June 26, 2008
Calvary
Comments Off on The Joyful Children of God
Matt
If you haven’t come to church during the day in the week, you wouldn’t know how quiet and serene it usually is. There have been days when I only see or hear people when they walk by the water fountain. Working in a church is usually a nice place, especially if you want to concentrate on something.
This week was an exception. It’s an annual ritual. Once a year, instead of the normal quiet, a cloud of cacophony descends upon Calvary Church. This cloud assumes the form of several hundred kids running and yelling and generally banging around the halls of the church. There’s loud music coming from the sanctuary. The smell of markers and glue overtake the gym. The kitchen suddenly becomes busy and overflows with lemonade and snacks.
Yeah, it’s VBS time. And I, for one, I love it.
Yes, we barely get anything done during the week, but there’s nothing like seeing a bunch of kids running around and having fun. It helps remind us how fun the world can be and what joy it is to view it through the eyes of children. As we get older and discover the answers behind some of the “mysteries” we pondered as children, life slowly becomes less magical and more pragmatic. Along with some other companions, Cynicism and Ordinariness show up and start accompanying us down life’s narrow way.
I remember when my life was populated with superheroes and fantasy figures who waged wars against evil. I remember when winters were packed with snowmen, sledding, and of course, the holiest of days, Christmas when gifts were sent from heaven (no, not Jesus, I’m talking about presents, although Jesus is important). On the other side of the coin, summers were glorious days filled with grass stains, pool trips, sticky popsicle hands, and, yes, VBS.
Part of me returns to that time when I see kids running around gleefully, clutching their crafts and their toys that they bought with tickets from remembering their verses or bringing a friend with. I have always believed that sense of freedom, fun and magic are things that should never leave us regardless of age, and that God wants that for us adults too.
Life is a bit harder and a bit more bitter with Cynicism, Ordinariness, and Mr. NoMagic as our companions. No, sometimes you cannot go home, but it is possible to lose them for a while and go back to that time when things were fun and as sunny as can be. Ecclesiastes 8:15, “So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.”
Just be sure to wash your sticky popsicle hands before supper first.
-Matt
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childrenEcclesiastesjoylifeVBS