I've been waiting several months for spring weather to show up. We had a tame winter here in the Midwest, but cold temps have hung on for way too long. The, "one day Al Gore's a nut, the next minute he's an accurate doomsday prophet", kind of spring. Last fall, my oldest son Jace and I went on a couple of camping trips, and he and I have been dying to get our gear out of the garage and put to good use.
Well, it finally happened. We had a beautiful day Sunday and Jace and I loaded down the Honda and headed to the campground. We were one of only 4 campers on the entire grounds and it was great to have the place to ourselves. I set up the tent in record time, 15 minutes, thanks to Jace being distracted by the playground. I like to spoil my sons in creative ways and my goal was to make the entire trip a blast for him. We stayed up too late, ate too much food, watched movies (thanks mom for the portable DVD player), laughed until we cried, stayed in our pajamas most of the next day, went on a hike (Jace picked out a killer walking stick that would have made Moses jeaulous), went to the lake, and had breakfast while most people were making lunch plans.
He begged me to let us stay another night but I was in desperate need of a shower and technology so we headed home. As we pulled into our driveway, Jace jumped out of the car to let Ronnin and Justus know that we were home and had conquered nature's elements. I sat in the car, tired and procrastinating having to unload the car, when Jace came back outside and ran up to me. My window was down, and he leapt up through the window, gave me a big hug, and said, "Thanks Dad, for the best day of my life."
Now my son's only five and I know that any day involving junk food, movies, and getting really dirty constitutes greatness in his mind. But man, what a euphoric experience to feel his little arms around my neck and hear those words come out of his mouth. My mind went back to my own father who continues to go out of his way to "spoil" me. Just to take time to love me.
Well, it finally happened. We had a beautiful day Sunday and Jace and I loaded down the Honda and headed to the campground. We were one of only 4 campers on the entire grounds and it was great to have the place to ourselves. I set up the tent in record time, 15 minutes, thanks to Jace being distracted by the playground. I like to spoil my sons in creative ways and my goal was to make the entire trip a blast for him. We stayed up too late, ate too much food, watched movies (thanks mom for the portable DVD player), laughed until we cried, stayed in our pajamas most of the next day, went on a hike (Jace picked out a killer walking stick that would have made Moses jeaulous), went to the lake, and had breakfast while most people were making lunch plans.
He begged me to let us stay another night but I was in desperate need of a shower and technology so we headed home. As we pulled into our driveway, Jace jumped out of the car to let Ronnin and Justus know that we were home and had conquered nature's elements. I sat in the car, tired and procrastinating having to unload the car, when Jace came back outside and ran up to me. My window was down, and he leapt up through the window, gave me a big hug, and said, "Thanks Dad, for the best day of my life."
Now my son's only five and I know that any day involving junk food, movies, and getting really dirty constitutes greatness in his mind. But man, what a euphoric experience to feel his little arms around my neck and hear those words come out of his mouth. My mind went back to my own father who continues to go out of his way to "spoil" me. Just to take time to love me.
I'm at a weird place in my life. I am still addicted to my father's attention, embrace, protection, guidance, and approval while at the same time I am now responsible for providing those same things to my sons. I am a son and a father at the same time. I crave the opportunity to be transparent, weak, and confused like a child and I also feel the push to be strong, brave, and responsible like a father.
I see my relationship with God much the same way. I need a pure relationship where I can be brutally honest about my fears and weakness, and yet feel that I am being changed into a whole person at the same time. The Bible says, "we are changed from glory to glory". For some, that may conjure up some warped idea of a mystical experience that morphs you into a better person, but for me, I see it as God revealing to us that we are changed in pieces. Step by step we are growing closer to God, understanding his will for mankind, and grasping our place in his marvelous design.
So I embrace the reality that my son may not have really had the best day of his life, but that we enjoyed each other's company, had a lot of fun, and grew closer together. It's exactly how I feel after spending time with my own dad, and a great way to picture your relationship with your heavenly father.
I bless you to enjoy God, have fun doing it, and to grow continually closer to Him.
I see my relationship with God much the same way. I need a pure relationship where I can be brutally honest about my fears and weakness, and yet feel that I am being changed into a whole person at the same time. The Bible says, "we are changed from glory to glory". For some, that may conjure up some warped idea of a mystical experience that morphs you into a better person, but for me, I see it as God revealing to us that we are changed in pieces. Step by step we are growing closer to God, understanding his will for mankind, and grasping our place in his marvelous design.
So I embrace the reality that my son may not have really had the best day of his life, but that we enjoyed each other's company, had a lot of fun, and grew closer together. It's exactly how I feel after spending time with my own dad, and a great way to picture your relationship with your heavenly father.
I bless you to enjoy God, have fun doing it, and to grow continually closer to Him.
