By Mary DeMent
Three year-old David eyed the bike. A few neighborhood boys had stopped by to play with his older brother, Sam. Hunter dropped his training wheel-free bike near the road. David watched Hunter run off. He looked at the bike and glanced back at Hunter, twice. Then, David seized his opportunity. He carefully approached the bike, still on the lookout for Hunter's return and began mounting.
"He's going to ride that thing!" I motioned to the other moms gathered. I ran down to the road and held the back of the seat. David began to peddle. I jogged a few steps. Waving me off, he said, "Let go, Mom. I got it!" And off he rode! Three years old. No helmet. No shoes. Not even a shirt, I'm afraid to say! After passing several houses, he lost balance and hit the pavement. Helping him up I asked if he was okay. He said, "Yep! Now I'm going to ride Hunter's bike back to him!"
I could learn a lot from David in the "seizing opportunities" arena. Sometimes, you just have to "go for it!" In the best (and safest) circumstances, you plan, you prepare, you organize, you equip, THEN you execute. If I knew David’s inaugural ride was coming, I would have told him, "Wait! Let me get your helmet, shoes and shirt! Hold up! Not yet. I need the video camera and someone to snap a photo of your first ride without training wheels." But sometimes, the crucial life moments won't wait for a video shoot.
Obeying Mom’s prior instructions on bike safety would have ensured David’s well-being. Rules are created for our protection. Helmets prevent concussions. Clothing and other padding, shields our bodies from scrapes and bruises. David possessed none of the above yet managed to escape injury…this time.
I pray that David’s athletic aptitude pervades other areas of life. May he be a quick learner, not just when it comes to balancing a bike, jumping a ramp or smacking a ball down the third base line. May David’s knowledge go beyond biking and ball fields. I pray David learns how to balance the game of life.
God gave David a thrill-seeking nature. But, he also gave him a cautious and caring mother. We both have a lot to learn.
“My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble…” (Proverbs 3: 21-23 NIV).
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Signs and Wonders
By Mary DeMent
While driving last week, my eyes caught sight of a familiar sign. It was white with black lettering. You’ve seen similar signs peppered across intersections, highways and even country roads. Like other signs, it was posted to get my attention. But it wasn’t addressing my speed, a school zone or a change in traffic flow. Nor was it alerting me to a no-parking zone or an unlawful u-turn area. This sign was small and round with two simple words. Down below those two words, in smaller print, read: “In Memory Of” and it listed a girl’s name. Those words altered my driving (and my thoughts) for the afternoon. The small, white, round sign, covered in a circle of flowers, simply said, “Drive Carefully.” But, those two words said much more to passersby.
The sign said, “My loved one died here, in this very spot, due to someone’s driving negligence or maybe it was an accident. Regardless, the cause of death involved a vehicle much like your own, so please, drive carefully.
As I passed, I paused. And I prayed. I paused to think of that girl or woman who lost her life. Breathing one moment, on her way…somewhere. Then, a screech, a crash, mangled steel and her trip, her life, over. I prayed for her family. I prayed I would heed their request.
I remembered Andy, my former neighbor. A fence separated our backyards. He loved growing things, all kinds of things. And Andy loved fireworks. He would shoot them off on holidays, on weekdays, any day, any hour. One day, the plants stopped growing. The noise ceased. Shortly after, a sign appeared near our house. A round sign, covered with flowers and Andy’s name.
I thought about the reckless ways I’ve seen people drive. I thought about the reckless ways I’ve seen people live. I wondered how we would respond if the roads we traveled were decorated with signs that read, “LIVE CAREFULLY.” Would we obey those traffic signs? Would flashing lights follow if we failed to observe the warning? I wonder.
Sometimes, “flashing lights” do follow. They are called, “consequences.” Touch a hot stove; receive a burn. Jump off a tall building; break a bone. Talk to me before my first cup of coffee; receive a blank stare. A friend who teaches troubled youth often tells “her” boys, “You can choose your actions, but you can’t always choose your consequences.”
Occasionally, though, we escape consequences (or so we think). An ancient text says this, “As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it” (Job 4:8 NIV). The author of Hebrews writes, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” Hebrews 4:13 NIV).
Let’s live carefully. Ready to give an account for our lives, ready to be investigated, ready to help others join us in living life carefully. Such lives can be signs many will notice as they see us, watch us, hear us, or live right beside us.
While driving last week, my eyes caught sight of a familiar sign. It was white with black lettering. You’ve seen similar signs peppered across intersections, highways and even country roads. Like other signs, it was posted to get my attention. But it wasn’t addressing my speed, a school zone or a change in traffic flow. Nor was it alerting me to a no-parking zone or an unlawful u-turn area. This sign was small and round with two simple words. Down below those two words, in smaller print, read: “In Memory Of” and it listed a girl’s name. Those words altered my driving (and my thoughts) for the afternoon. The small, white, round sign, covered in a circle of flowers, simply said, “Drive Carefully.” But, those two words said much more to passersby.
The sign said, “My loved one died here, in this very spot, due to someone’s driving negligence or maybe it was an accident. Regardless, the cause of death involved a vehicle much like your own, so please, drive carefully.
As I passed, I paused. And I prayed. I paused to think of that girl or woman who lost her life. Breathing one moment, on her way…somewhere. Then, a screech, a crash, mangled steel and her trip, her life, over. I prayed for her family. I prayed I would heed their request.
I remembered Andy, my former neighbor. A fence separated our backyards. He loved growing things, all kinds of things. And Andy loved fireworks. He would shoot them off on holidays, on weekdays, any day, any hour. One day, the plants stopped growing. The noise ceased. Shortly after, a sign appeared near our house. A round sign, covered with flowers and Andy’s name.
I thought about the reckless ways I’ve seen people drive. I thought about the reckless ways I’ve seen people live. I wondered how we would respond if the roads we traveled were decorated with signs that read, “LIVE CAREFULLY.” Would we obey those traffic signs? Would flashing lights follow if we failed to observe the warning? I wonder.
Sometimes, “flashing lights” do follow. They are called, “consequences.” Touch a hot stove; receive a burn. Jump off a tall building; break a bone. Talk to me before my first cup of coffee; receive a blank stare. A friend who teaches troubled youth often tells “her” boys, “You can choose your actions, but you can’t always choose your consequences.”
Occasionally, though, we escape consequences (or so we think). An ancient text says this, “As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it” (Job 4:8 NIV). The author of Hebrews writes, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” Hebrews 4:13 NIV).
Let’s live carefully. Ready to give an account for our lives, ready to be investigated, ready to help others join us in living life carefully. Such lives can be signs many will notice as they see us, watch us, hear us, or live right beside us.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Rough Draft
This day is different. Unique. It isn’t yesterday. It isn’t tomorrow. It is today. Right now. Today is in front of us, staring us down. Tomorrow it will be behind us, never returning. Time. How do you spend yours? As I write this in the early morning hours, two of my boys are near me…snoring. Up early but now crashed on the couch. My two other children are still snuggled in bed. And their father has already left for work.
The refrigerator hums to me. The laptop light nearly blinds me. Birds sing to me. They do their dance from branch to branch. No cares. No bills. No teenagers. No worries. They chat, taunt a prowling cat and fly through my backyard and their life with ease. Must be nice, I smirk.
This month is new. This year is new. Both untouched: Clean slates for us to write upon. Using the same pen but brand new paper. Will we continue our current novel or send it to the scrap heap? What adjustments are needed? Are we willing to make them?
Will we trust the Editor with our manuscripts? Ask for assistance? Be secure with His modifications? Like most editors, the Master Editor reviews our text for needed changes. Editors insert or delete commas and periods, change tenses, delete entire paragraphs, sometimes removing the article’s original point. They change everything! Our job is to write. And, submit. Have you submitted your manuscript, your ideas, your life to the Master Editor for polishing, suggestions, and improvements? Are you prepared to yield to His changes?
Our lives are only rough drafts. Here on earth, we write and rewrite. Learn the craft, learn to accept rejection letters and hopefully, improve our skills. We polish. We refine. In heaven, we read the manuscript with new eyes, enjoying the changes, remembering the journey that finally made our book, our life, into the best seller it was designed to be. Number one on the charts.
The next page of life begins with today. Driving to work, doing the laundry, teaching children or searching for a job. Dealing with a difficult co-worker, mounting bills or a troubled child or spouse. Life isn’t always smooth but remember, conflict keeps the story line interesting (unless of course you’re the one living it!).
Meet with your Editor often. Submit proposals, pray for wisdom, welcome suggestions and make needed changes.
Now, pick up the pen.
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24 NIV).
The refrigerator hums to me. The laptop light nearly blinds me. Birds sing to me. They do their dance from branch to branch. No cares. No bills. No teenagers. No worries. They chat, taunt a prowling cat and fly through my backyard and their life with ease. Must be nice, I smirk.
This month is new. This year is new. Both untouched: Clean slates for us to write upon. Using the same pen but brand new paper. Will we continue our current novel or send it to the scrap heap? What adjustments are needed? Are we willing to make them?
Will we trust the Editor with our manuscripts? Ask for assistance? Be secure with His modifications? Like most editors, the Master Editor reviews our text for needed changes. Editors insert or delete commas and periods, change tenses, delete entire paragraphs, sometimes removing the article’s original point. They change everything! Our job is to write. And, submit. Have you submitted your manuscript, your ideas, your life to the Master Editor for polishing, suggestions, and improvements? Are you prepared to yield to His changes?
Our lives are only rough drafts. Here on earth, we write and rewrite. Learn the craft, learn to accept rejection letters and hopefully, improve our skills. We polish. We refine. In heaven, we read the manuscript with new eyes, enjoying the changes, remembering the journey that finally made our book, our life, into the best seller it was designed to be. Number one on the charts.
The next page of life begins with today. Driving to work, doing the laundry, teaching children or searching for a job. Dealing with a difficult co-worker, mounting bills or a troubled child or spouse. Life isn’t always smooth but remember, conflict keeps the story line interesting (unless of course you’re the one living it!).
Meet with your Editor often. Submit proposals, pray for wisdom, welcome suggestions and make needed changes.
Now, pick up the pen.
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24 NIV).
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