When our son was a baby, I remember reading about the various stages of development as an infant becomes aware of their surroundings. One of the milestones is the concept of "object permanence." This is when a child realizes that just because their pacifier is not in view (rolled under the chair, covered up by their blankie, hidden in Daddy's pocket, etc.), it still exists.
My children failed to learn this lesson completely.
I have discovered this when getting them ready to leave the house for school in the morning, and have asked them to find any object -- their shoes, their library book, their jacket. They wander into a room, gaze blankly around for a moment, then say, "It's not here." After doing this in every room, they announce that they can't find it... it must be in the van. I go into the room in which the object is most likely to be, and start turning over the top layer or so of civilization, and soon find the object, usually under clothing.
Somehow, my wonderful children fail to realize that things can be under other things (unless, of course, it's one of them, hiding from me under their blankets, blowing their cover by giggling). What a blessing that must be, to think that your room is not THAT messy, simply because you only see the top layer of crud, and believe that there are no layers underneath!
If I followed that reasoning on my desk, I'd soon not be able to see my computer monitor. Not long after, I'd be killed in an avalanche of paper and junk.
On the plus side, the rescue workers would find my keys for me.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Monday, October 04, 2004
Macaroni and Cheese
"If you're going to be good at something, make it something that elementary-aged school children like." You can quote me.
I'm good at macaroni and cheese. My kids say that I'm the best macaroni and cheese maker in the whole world. Granted, they haven't traveled far enough to know that for sure, but it's still something I take a certain amount of pride in. My kids like something I do.
What's my secret? It's simple. I use real butter, real milk, and follow the instructions on the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese box to the letter. Granted, we lost our 1/4-cup measure some time ago, but I can estimate the right amount in either the 1/3-cup or 1/2 cup measure (whichever is clean) pretty accurately. When the four-tablespoon mark on the wrapper around the stick of butter is somewhere off center, I can get the right amount every time -- even if one end of the stick has been used to butter toast or corn. I've got it down.
My kids say I'm the best dad in the world, too. Again, they haven't seen every dad in the world. If they did, I'm sure they'd see many that are better, who find it easier than I do to figure out the instructions for that job. If it was printed on a blue box, maybe I could find it. I'm guessing, though, that those instructions are harder because the end product is far more complex. I want to raise kids that can handle tricky situations, like the pot of busyness boiling over and making a mess in their lives. Or improvising when their lives run out of milk or butter at the wrong time. I want to raise kids who can show their own kids just how to stir things without spilling, so that all the flavors of life combine to make something good.
Okay, no great surprise that I stretch a food allegory a little too far, I guess. But my point is that I'd be a better dad if I would stick to the instructions a little better. I need to do a better job of reading my Bible and getting to know the Jesus that it reveals, and to be more like Him. Then I'll find it easier to raise good cooks.
I mean kids.
I'm good at macaroni and cheese. My kids say that I'm the best macaroni and cheese maker in the whole world. Granted, they haven't traveled far enough to know that for sure, but it's still something I take a certain amount of pride in. My kids like something I do.
What's my secret? It's simple. I use real butter, real milk, and follow the instructions on the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese box to the letter. Granted, we lost our 1/4-cup measure some time ago, but I can estimate the right amount in either the 1/3-cup or 1/2 cup measure (whichever is clean) pretty accurately. When the four-tablespoon mark on the wrapper around the stick of butter is somewhere off center, I can get the right amount every time -- even if one end of the stick has been used to butter toast or corn. I've got it down.
My kids say I'm the best dad in the world, too. Again, they haven't seen every dad in the world. If they did, I'm sure they'd see many that are better, who find it easier than I do to figure out the instructions for that job. If it was printed on a blue box, maybe I could find it. I'm guessing, though, that those instructions are harder because the end product is far more complex. I want to raise kids that can handle tricky situations, like the pot of busyness boiling over and making a mess in their lives. Or improvising when their lives run out of milk or butter at the wrong time. I want to raise kids who can show their own kids just how to stir things without spilling, so that all the flavors of life combine to make something good.
Okay, no great surprise that I stretch a food allegory a little too far, I guess. But my point is that I'd be a better dad if I would stick to the instructions a little better. I need to do a better job of reading my Bible and getting to know the Jesus that it reveals, and to be more like Him. Then I'll find it easier to raise good cooks.
I mean kids.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
ZOE Conference, Day 3
Okay, I haven't done such a great job of daily trip reports. I was so tired when I got back to my hotel last night that I just couldn't think well enough to write anything. So, I'll just blather some impressions and descriptions.
Brian McLaren speaks the truth of God. His talks this weekend have given me more hope for being able to change my understanding and pattern of being a Christian in a post-Christian world. I'm going to have to read his books soon, and start pushing my elders to do the same. I ordered the CDs of his five lessons, and will force them upon as many people as I can in the coming months.
Image: Judy Thomas, in the afterglow of Saturday night's worship, sitting and looking up at her son, Brandon, as he was being greeted and blessed by so many people who he has been a blessing to. Judy's face was filled with love and... pride? No, more like thankfulness. I got to meet this dear sister (though she knew my name from comments on various blogs, I think), and was touched by her graciousness and the way she radiates God's love.
James Wood posted on WorshipForum that his father-in-law had been killed in an auto accident recently. I found out today that I knew this man, and he and his wife had blessed my wife and I with their leadership in a marriage retreat we attended several years ago. James' mother-in-law was here, and I was so blessed to see her, though still grieving, so filled with the hope that comes from God.
Image: In the exercise room at the hotel where I'm staying, there is a phone on the wall.... about a foot off the floor. I suppose that it is for when you've hurt yourself exercising, and can't do more than crawl.
Image: Owen Burgess and I singing old hymns in twangy bluegrass style, while his daughter, Rebecca, writhes in anguish.
Clarissa Cox is about the sweetest person you could ever hope to meet! I feel like we've been friends for a long time, though we've only met this week, after having shared discussions on WorshipForum and blogs. I got a little more chance to talk with her tonight, and it's great to have another sister! Her husband, Rob, fairly radiates fun, and her kids are adorable!
I was struck by the ministry of several people that don't get much attention at these things.
- Eric Noah-Wilson, the executive director of the ZOE Group (i.e. he handles all the office stuff) works the table selling ZOE resources and other materials, and manages the logistics of the whole thing. He probably never gets to hear much of the worship or speaking. But he keeps giving. I praise God for his ministry in this way.
- The ZOE Group board members. These folks pray and plan all year for this conference and the other activities of the ministry, including New Wineskins Magazine. What they do is a blessing to a LOT of people, whether or not they know it. It's one of those things into which you can put a lot of time and effort, and not really know what the result is, other than the big events, the printed materials, etc. But what those things do for many of us who are responsible for worship at our churches is phenomenal.
- The spouses of worship ministers. They are married to dynamic, busy people who thrive on doing what they do. Sometimes, their spouses get ignored. But they are vital parts of the ministries of the men and women who direct worship week in, week out.
Things I love about visiting Nashville:
- Sweet Tea
- The prevalence of Dr. Pepper, my carbonated drink of choice
- Rolling hills for miles and miles.
- Great Christian music on the radio, including contemporary Christian, praise and worship, and Southern Gospel.
- Catfish, fried okra, and turnip greens. That's hard to find in California.
Things that bug me about visiting Nashville:
- Smoking in restaurants.
- No good Mexican food.
Obviously, the pros outweigh the cons!
Too tired to continue. Goodnight.
Brian McLaren speaks the truth of God. His talks this weekend have given me more hope for being able to change my understanding and pattern of being a Christian in a post-Christian world. I'm going to have to read his books soon, and start pushing my elders to do the same. I ordered the CDs of his five lessons, and will force them upon as many people as I can in the coming months.
Image: Judy Thomas, in the afterglow of Saturday night's worship, sitting and looking up at her son, Brandon, as he was being greeted and blessed by so many people who he has been a blessing to. Judy's face was filled with love and... pride? No, more like thankfulness. I got to meet this dear sister (though she knew my name from comments on various blogs, I think), and was touched by her graciousness and the way she radiates God's love.
James Wood posted on WorshipForum that his father-in-law had been killed in an auto accident recently. I found out today that I knew this man, and he and his wife had blessed my wife and I with their leadership in a marriage retreat we attended several years ago. James' mother-in-law was here, and I was so blessed to see her, though still grieving, so filled with the hope that comes from God.
Image: In the exercise room at the hotel where I'm staying, there is a phone on the wall.... about a foot off the floor. I suppose that it is for when you've hurt yourself exercising, and can't do more than crawl.
Image: Owen Burgess and I singing old hymns in twangy bluegrass style, while his daughter, Rebecca, writhes in anguish.
Clarissa Cox is about the sweetest person you could ever hope to meet! I feel like we've been friends for a long time, though we've only met this week, after having shared discussions on WorshipForum and blogs. I got a little more chance to talk with her tonight, and it's great to have another sister! Her husband, Rob, fairly radiates fun, and her kids are adorable!
I was struck by the ministry of several people that don't get much attention at these things.
- Eric Noah-Wilson, the executive director of the ZOE Group (i.e. he handles all the office stuff) works the table selling ZOE resources and other materials, and manages the logistics of the whole thing. He probably never gets to hear much of the worship or speaking. But he keeps giving. I praise God for his ministry in this way.
- The ZOE Group board members. These folks pray and plan all year for this conference and the other activities of the ministry, including New Wineskins Magazine. What they do is a blessing to a LOT of people, whether or not they know it. It's one of those things into which you can put a lot of time and effort, and not really know what the result is, other than the big events, the printed materials, etc. But what those things do for many of us who are responsible for worship at our churches is phenomenal.
- The spouses of worship ministers. They are married to dynamic, busy people who thrive on doing what they do. Sometimes, their spouses get ignored. But they are vital parts of the ministries of the men and women who direct worship week in, week out.
Things I love about visiting Nashville:
- Sweet Tea
- The prevalence of Dr. Pepper, my carbonated drink of choice
- Rolling hills for miles and miles.
- Great Christian music on the radio, including contemporary Christian, praise and worship, and Southern Gospel.
- Catfish, fried okra, and turnip greens. That's hard to find in California.
Things that bug me about visiting Nashville:
- Smoking in restaurants.
- No good Mexican food.
Obviously, the pros outweigh the cons!
Too tired to continue. Goodnight.
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