A Beautiful Child

I was waiting in line at Walmart the other day, a fairly normal experience. Also, as usual, I was ever so slightly impatient and aware of the time (when am I not?) and thinking a bajillion thoughts most likely at once. Then the people-watcher in me kicked in, and I started to scrutinize the customers around me. I glanced around, and a young, beautiful face halo-ed by wispy pale curls met my gaze. Two innocent, precious, light-colored eyes met mine, followed by a shy smile. The child couldn't have been much older than a year or so. I smiled back. What an invaluable thing a young life is. I watched the child in awe, thinking of my once untouched face, with blue eyes and curly golden hair, much like this child. I was further struck with the realization that that child, would someday be my own. In the not so distant future, I could be that mom at Walmart, with the great responsibility and immense blessing of caring for a life that God Himself formed. Amazing. It definitely makes you feel old. Thinking of one's future kids is always overwhelming, but what an opportunity of a lifetime to love on young lives that have been, in a way, loaned to you from God, and to realize that although you are teaching them, they are teaching you more about yourself and their heavenly Father each day. How precious life is, and how sad it is that society insists on de-valueing (is that a word?) it.

Thought #1: Be Here Now (aka- Take Out the Ear-buds)

I've had two thoughts lately, and this is thought #1: Be Here Now. It's much more difficult than it seems, and many things distract from the present (such as incessant texting, facebook, and television). But I mainly want to focus on the peril of living life attached to your i-pod. Although I haven't seen too much of it, people walk and move and breathe without unplugging from their musical world. Now, I would be the first to say I love music, and life should be a musical. :) This though, is not the problem here. The issue is not only a physical safety hazard (how can that kid crossing the street hear the approaching bus over Metallica?) but also a social, mental, and perhaps spiritual set-back.

Think of it this way: if you're plugged in, will you be as aware of your surroundings? No... so therefore, you won't be engaged in the people around you or their conversations. Further, not only does that potentially weaken your relational ties, but also weakens your mental IQ if you are not participating in stimulating conversation or soaking up new ideas. This does not just effect you, the extreme hip-hop fan, but also the person in your class, on the bus, driving the bus, walking beside you, or whatever. What if you missed out on an opportunity to meet a kindred spirit or minister to someone who just needed a kind word? Would you know, if you were not "here now"?

I feel that Jesus, as He walked on Earth, was constantly aware of the people and needs around Him. If He wasn't in touch with the present reality, He was in touch, off alone, with a greater reality, God the Father. So, all this is to say, please, for the love of your life, your friends, your future friends, your intellect, and your spiritual health, pull those ear-buds out of your head and exist in the moment God's blessed you with.