Level Playing Field

See these kids?

HUMC Church Youth at Metamorpho Retreat

They are all the same.  Really. Don't you look at all children and think - Wow! these kids are all the same? Heck no! I have worked with children for years and found that I have never said, "Those kids are just alike." 

Look at the kid furthest left. He's mine! He has autism. He is NOT into running. At all! The guy in the middle belongs to a friend of mine. He is an accomplished athlete.  That girl next to him, she is a sweet girl and has just started running to prepare for a long awaited return to soccer. And that girl in front, the one not really running, but super cute, yeah, she doesn't really run, anywhere. Ever! But yet they are running, with smiles on their faces and steadfast determination.

These kids are just alike, in this moment, they are the same, they have the same shot at accomplishing this task. What is the task you say? Finishing an obstacle course in pairs of three after finding your partners. Simple and silly game, yes! But much fun as evidenced by their faces. The joy comes from the fact that in this game everyone had an equal chance at accomplishing the task at hand. My son's autism didn't matter, there was no advantage to being an athlete new or seasoned. All you needed was willingness and a good sense of humor.

Folks, this is what puts us all on a level playing field; willingness and a sense of humor. lack of these two components might also be what keeps us from succeeding. These two traits are God given; humor and willingness. In the light of the seriousness of life, how many of us put these two God born gifts in their original packaging and place them high on a shelf in the scary closet. (You know, the closet that we all just stash stuff in and quickly close the door lest something falls on our head.) 

Why in the world would we take the two gifts that make us as strong, able and prepared to take on the world and hide them away from ourselves??

Being a willing participant in life enables God to equip us for what life throws at us. Being willing gives us that attitude to say, "Come on new experience, try and kick my butt! Cuz you can't!" 

It might but being willing gives us the data needed to achieve that task on a second (or 12th) try PLUS the added bonus of that we gain from reliance on God. FYI - God is capable, able and has a complete tool belt to enable us for whatever.

Having a sense of humor actually keeps us from failing! WHAT??? If you can't do something but don't allow it to defeat you, destroy you - yet laugh in the face of the monster named "Loser" then you win! Added bonus, Joy wins! Fun ensues and the world is a much better place. 


"There is hope for the future because God has a sense of humor and we are funny to God."

Bill Cosby

Back to the picture - Do you see it??? I see it. Even on the face of my son who rarely smiles. Its there look. it is 

JOY

FUN

FREEDOM

The ability to run with the big dogs, play with the cool kids and the satisfaction of a level playing field.

See this - Level playing field. They are all using their willingness and senses of humor to untangle the knot I put them in. 

Maybe you should try!

When was the last time you just gave life a chuckle and dove in??