Green Light

"It looks like EVERYBODY'S going to be on green light today," said the little child in the back seat, with great enthusiasm. "Get it? ...Green Light?" He laughed heartily at his own joke, a most endearing characteristic inherited from his old man.

Sure enough, the light was green. It wasn't the funniest joke I'd ever heard, but for a 5 year old at 7:50 a.m., it wasn't a bad attempt. And I was definitely a "tough crowd," running on too little sleep, too little coffee, and a mind consumed by the day's list of tasks that were yet to be completed.

As our turn came to swing out onto Chapel Hill Road, the boy continued. He would further his discussion of Kindergarten crowd-control tactics. "Do you know where we keep the clips? Behind the door. That's where you have to go to move your clip." Having heard about this before, I wasn't completely lost. "That's when you get in trouble, huh," I said.

"Right," he said, affirming that my statement was correct, yet indicating that he would have to give me yet another remedial lesson in the ways of education. "You start on blue light, then green. That's a warning. Then, yellow. I guess that's like a DOUBLE WARNING."

I had to play along, heightening the dramatic build up to the final stage of traffic light lessons in right and wrong, good and evil. "Then," he said, "you go to RED light." A moment of silence. "_______ went to red light yesterday." Two moments of silence, a show of respect for the awesome power that is "red light."

"That means you have to stand at the fence (during recess, no less) for TEN WHOLE MINUTES!!" "Wow," I said, "that sounds like a long time." "Yeah," he said.

What more was there to say?

There are kindergarten lessons of action and consequence that would probably help us old folks, too. Can't you just hear the water cooler talk on Thursday morning? "Hey Bob, did you stay on blue light so far this week?" Bob, disgusted, says, "No. Man, I was talking during the meeting and went straight to green." "Too bad, dude, I guess you'll have to wait until next week to get something out of the prize bag. But, looks like I'm gonna make it, and I hear that this week there are hot wheels in there."

My boy is beginning to learn the lessons of life. Actions have consequences. Cooperation is a good thing. Life together is possible, if we all learn to share and get along. Some folks push the rules further than others, but the rules will push back. Ten minutes on the fence is a long time.

As we pulled up to the drop-off at his school, my little paratrooper put on his pack, pushed out the door and bailed free, into the great wide open. His mission: maintain status "blue light" through Friday at 15:00, and obtain hot wheels vehicle from the prize bag. Resolute, he spotted his comrades-in-arms and immediately accelerated to a trot. Soon, he was beyond my sight and I drove away, leaving him to all that his day would hold.

He may or may not accomplish the mission. So far, we haven't seen "yellow," though green is not an uncommon occurrence. Either way, lessons will be learned, and tomorrow will be another new beginning. That little boy can rest assured that whatever happens, on any of his days, his father's love will never change.

Somehow that sounds familiar.

Matthew 7:7-11 7 "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10 Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

May the Father who loves us give us those good gifts, even if the gift is a much-needed trip to green light.

Grace and Peace,
Adam

POEM FOR THE DAY:
(Because poetry is like spinach, it can be tough going, but you know it's really good for you)

"Changing Diapers" by Gary Snyder, from Axe Handles © Shoemaker & Hoard, Washington D.C.

Changing Diapers

How intelligent he looks!
on his back
both feet caught in my one hand
his glance set sideways,
on a giant poster of Geronimo
with a Sharp's repeating rifle by his knee.

I open, wipe, he doesn't even notice
nor do I.
Baby legs and knees
toes like little peas
little wrinkles, good-to-eat,
eyes bright, shiny ears
chest swelling drawing air,

No trouble, friend,
you and me and Geronimo
are men.

LIFE AT SOTH:
Tonight is our monthly dinner at the church, followed by the second installment of the God is Closer Than You Think study at 7pm. Thanks to everyone for all the great feedback and for the awesome attendance last week --- nearly 50 adults were present. Our dinner will follow the same plan as usual and we'll just make the transition from supper right into the study in our worship space. It'll be loud and a little messy, but we can make it work. If you can't make it until 7:00 or later, please come on in anyway, get your supper and feel free to eat while you listen.