I'm sure when I was younger, that this question came to head; but the older I get, the more I realize their wisdom, and I rarely ask this question anymore. But today was one of those days that caused me to ask this question. Now that I am a parent, especially of teenagers, I am much more aware of everything my parents went through!
Today, I took my two 16 year old children to take their temporary license exams. And they both passed. uh-oh - now what do I do? I guess we start driving. So, there was an abandoned parking lot we found to drive around in, far, far away from civilization (well - maybe not too far). They did a great job for their first time. We will see how this goes.
But, I realized how much more nervious I am about them driving than I ever was about driving myself. And that leads me to my title question. In Iowa, you can get your temporary license at age 14...yes, 14! And that is exactly what I did. If I remember right, on my birthday, I took the exam and was driving around Iowa. And don't give me any of those predictable comments about how easy it must be to drive on the open dusty roads next to all cornfields; or how my temporary license was for a tractor. I'm a city boy, my friend! Any way, What were my parents thinking, letting me drive at 14? I'm feeling a little insane about mine driving at 16 and 4 months!
I guess their getting older (glad I'm not). It is a part of the ritual. I will try to make the best of it. And, I also realized another benefit today. We took care of 2 things at once. My son got his temporary license; but if he ever gets arrested, it can double as his mug shot! If you don't believe me, ask him to see it.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
An Uncomfortable Quote
This was a quote my wife read last night in our family devotional time. It is a good one. It is also uncomfortable, at least for me; because it reflects where my heart often is. Let me share it with you:
"I am progressing along the path of life in my ordinary contentedly fallen and godless condition, absorbed in a merry meeting with my friends for the morrow or a bit of work that tickles my vanity to-day, a holiday or a new book, when suddenly a stab of abdominal pain that threatens serious disease, or a headline in the newspapers threatens us all with destruction, sends this whole pack of cards tumbling down. At first I am overwhelmed, and all my little happinesses look like broken toys. Then, slowly and reluctantly, bit by bit, I try to bring myself into the frame of mind that I should be in at all times. I remind myself that all these toys were never intended to possess my heart, that my true good is in another world and my only real treasure is Christ. And perhaps, by God's grace, I succeed, and for a day or two become a creature consciously dependent on God and drawing its strength from the right sources. But the moment the threat is withdrawn, my whole nature leaps back to the toys." - C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York: Macmillan, 1962)
"I am progressing along the path of life in my ordinary contentedly fallen and godless condition, absorbed in a merry meeting with my friends for the morrow or a bit of work that tickles my vanity to-day, a holiday or a new book, when suddenly a stab of abdominal pain that threatens serious disease, or a headline in the newspapers threatens us all with destruction, sends this whole pack of cards tumbling down. At first I am overwhelmed, and all my little happinesses look like broken toys. Then, slowly and reluctantly, bit by bit, I try to bring myself into the frame of mind that I should be in at all times. I remind myself that all these toys were never intended to possess my heart, that my true good is in another world and my only real treasure is Christ. And perhaps, by God's grace, I succeed, and for a day or two become a creature consciously dependent on God and drawing its strength from the right sources. But the moment the threat is withdrawn, my whole nature leaps back to the toys." - C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York: Macmillan, 1962)
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Below Par
**I thought I already posted this, only to find out that it stayed as a draft for this past week. So, it is a week old, but since I already wrote it, don't want to waste it. Plus, I don't normally get to talk about golf in my blogs. So, here it is...
This phrase is normally used in a negative way, referring to someone who is not performing to the expected standard or above. They are underachieving. But, the actual meaning of the phrase is a good thing, when related to the game of golf. Par is the number of hits expected to put the ball in the hole; although only the good ones can score par consistently. We duffers will get a par every once in a while and feel really good about ourselves. But scoring below par, through birdies and eagles (ask your golfing friends for more explanation) is really, really good; even far above average!
This past Friday I had the privilege (for the 2nd year in a row) to attend a professional golf tournament, called the Bridgestone Invitational, held at the Firestone course in Akron, OH. I am grateful to the friends that have supplied me with the tickets, once again. It is very interesting, and fun, to be present, live, for the action; rather than just watching it on TV. It is fun to see the reactions of the golfers, the interaction with their caddies; and especially to watch the crowds.
One of the things that I couldn't get out of my mind, as I reflected on my experience there, was how important golf is made to be at a place and situation like that. There is alot ton of money spent, by spectators, to sit (or walk) out in the sun for 8 hours, to gasp on miss shots and to cheer the good shots, of guys in funny pants hitting a little round white ball, past the trees, over the sand, on the green and into a little hole, in as few as strokes as possible. People want their autographs and chant their name. And if the golfer, at the end of his round, were to give you the golf ball they just used, well, that would make the spectator's day, or even week or year!
I love sports and I love to watch it live; but in the grand scope of what is truly important, it really isn't. These guys have spent countless hours perfecting their game, so they could play it for a living (which is great!) and make money and in come cases, become well known. I'm sure there are Christian golfers using this as a great opportunity to share their faith and be a testimony for Christ. But, in most cases, these guys spend their lives and their fans spend their cheers on things that are very temporary and not truly valuable.
That made me think of how those of us who will never be famous or make a ton of money, and will never get cheered. The truth is, if we spend our lives practicing righteousness, learning to love and follow Jesus in a better way...if we spend our time and money and what lasts for eternity - the changed lives of people in Christ - then we are investing ourselves in what truly matters, and what is truly cheer worthy.
Those who value what God values are living extraordinary lives.
This phrase is normally used in a negative way, referring to someone who is not performing to the expected standard or above. They are underachieving. But, the actual meaning of the phrase is a good thing, when related to the game of golf. Par is the number of hits expected to put the ball in the hole; although only the good ones can score par consistently. We duffers will get a par every once in a while and feel really good about ourselves. But scoring below par, through birdies and eagles (ask your golfing friends for more explanation) is really, really good; even far above average!
This past Friday I had the privilege (for the 2nd year in a row) to attend a professional golf tournament, called the Bridgestone Invitational, held at the Firestone course in Akron, OH. I am grateful to the friends that have supplied me with the tickets, once again. It is very interesting, and fun, to be present, live, for the action; rather than just watching it on TV. It is fun to see the reactions of the golfers, the interaction with their caddies; and especially to watch the crowds.
One of the things that I couldn't get out of my mind, as I reflected on my experience there, was how important golf is made to be at a place and situation like that. There is alot ton of money spent, by spectators, to sit (or walk) out in the sun for 8 hours, to gasp on miss shots and to cheer the good shots, of guys in funny pants hitting a little round white ball, past the trees, over the sand, on the green and into a little hole, in as few as strokes as possible. People want their autographs and chant their name. And if the golfer, at the end of his round, were to give you the golf ball they just used, well, that would make the spectator's day, or even week or year!
I love sports and I love to watch it live; but in the grand scope of what is truly important, it really isn't. These guys have spent countless hours perfecting their game, so they could play it for a living (which is great!) and make money and in come cases, become well known. I'm sure there are Christian golfers using this as a great opportunity to share their faith and be a testimony for Christ. But, in most cases, these guys spend their lives and their fans spend their cheers on things that are very temporary and not truly valuable.
That made me think of how those of us who will never be famous or make a ton of money, and will never get cheered. The truth is, if we spend our lives practicing righteousness, learning to love and follow Jesus in a better way...if we spend our time and money and what lasts for eternity - the changed lives of people in Christ - then we are investing ourselves in what truly matters, and what is truly cheer worthy.
Those who value what God values are living extraordinary lives.
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