This past week, I was getting some fuel at a gas station. It was about 20° outside and I was bundled from head to toe. As I was standing there, some kids caught my attention. It was about 8:15 in the morning and they were in the front yard of the church across the street from the gas station playing football. I thought this was strange!
The whole scene seemed so abnormal! First, they were not wearing any coats, gloves, or hats. They had to be freezing. Truth be told, they probably didn’t even feel the cold because they were having so much fun. Second, “Aren’t they supposed to be in school?” Oh, there is their mom in the minivan––parked by the book bags with four or five other cars––waiting for the bus! Mom probably wanted them out of the van, LOL! Thirdly, I thought to myself, “I wonder how long this 2-man game of football will last?” You see they were standing way too far apart for their arm strength and the brisk wind of this February morning air.
Then they answered the question in my mind. One threw the ball and the wind blocked it from sailing through the air. It ended up about halfway between them and about 20 yards to the right! After a stare down and a couple of “You get it, NO YOU GET ITs,” off to the races they both were! And then it happened, the collision of collisions between two 7-year-old boys. Both boys were out cold (pun intended)! I chuckled. Mom got out of the van and ran to her boys. Needless to say they went back to the van––forehead bumps, rosy checks, and grass stained pants! Great opening act for my day!
As I drove away, my heart was warmed so much. I have been there so many times, the conflict––“You get it, no you get it!”––only to get bumped and bruised because of unsureness. Then I recalled that so many of the moments weren’t just on a playground or a front lawn, but were in a much tougher place in life, places where so much seemed to hang in the balance. Then I hear the Lord speak, Proverbs 3:5-8 (The Message)…
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health; your very bones will vibrate with life!”
The next time you are in a “You get it, NO YOU GET IT” moment, forget running to the “football” of conflict––RUN TO GOD! He will never leave you with a headache or grass stained pants!