“When we were children we’d play
Out in the streets just tempting fate
When we were children we’d say
That we don’t know the meaning of fear”
In yesterday’s newspaper (which I read this morning as I ate breakfast since I was too lazy to go outside and walk in the snow to get today’s paper) there is an article about a couple who decided to take a four month cross-country trip with their four kids, all under the age of 10. They have no house to return to, since their lease is up in March, but the couple is living out their dream to live simply and see the world. It was actually a really good article, and I suggest you read the whole thing here.
This is what Maile, the 33-year old mother said: “Just to be able to see as far as the headlights. Not being able to see what’s all out in front of you but having the faith to see what’s being shown to me now is enough. And that’s really what we’ve had to do. It’s an addictive way to life. It puts excitement back into our lives. Faith has carried us through.”
You really have to admire their sense of adventure. Maile said that going on this trip puts excitement back in her family's lives. It made me think of a few nights ago when I was talking with my closest friends. Thinking out loud about what I wanted to do with my life, I mentioned how I was envious of people my age who were married and were starting families because they are almost forced to settle down and get a stable job. I, on the other hand, still have no idea what I want to do, and I can literally do anything I want. It’s inspiring, but it’s scary. I have all these things that I want to do but am not sure how they will all play out.
I am always so worried that my getting older will taint the visions that I have for changing the world. I am worried because I have seen it happen to so many people. Once, an adult who is very close to me attempted to heed me warning. “I was young once, too. I thought I could change the world, too,” they said as they placed their life regrets onto me.
That’s the thing, though - I want to change the world. I don’t even want to change the whole thing. I just want to change something. There are so many things not right, God surely has something for me to do. I know He put me on this earth to redeem this one thing. And the best part is, I'm not even going to do it. He has already begun it in me, and will carry it out to completion. I can be so inspired by people like the family who is getting rid of everything to live in a RV to travel the country. But I get lazy. The whole reason I am writing this is because I didn’t even want to go outside this morning to get today’s paper.
Does laziness come from fear?
My name, Jill, means “youthful”. When I found out my name’s meaning in 3rd or 4th grade, I was jealous of my friends who all seemed to have much cooler name meanings. One night when I was in high school, I confessed this to my sister. She, in her wise and encouraging perspective, responded, “I think your name has an awesome meaning, Jill. It means that you’ll have a childlike spirit even when others’ views have been tainted.”
How many times does Jesus say we need to look to children for how to fully understand how life should be? Jesus offers a kingdom with freedom and love in complete perfection, and He says I need to be like a child in order to receive it.
Children know no fear. Their innocence has not been tainted. They laugh. They run and play and jump and squeal and get dirty and bruise their knees and don’t care. They use their imagination. They build and create. Sure, they cry and scream and throw fits, but it’s only when something inhibits them from simply enjoying the life they’ve been given.
I am claiming my name as "youthful." What does God want to name you?
(lyrics above taken from this song)
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