We are on the way to more grandchildren later this year. The list of “stuff” is exhaustive.
A baby’s health and welfare may be paramount, but the available options of “stuff” reflect the parent’s lifestyle and aspirations more than the baby’s welfare. Parents want to make sure they have all the “best stuff” for every possible consequence (not to mention the expectation of something close to their current lifestyle and current aspirations).
I was no different decades ago.
Simply that “pre-internet” and “pre-online shopping” there was nowhere near so much choice. We too needed to know we had prepared for every eventuality, had all the stuff we would ever need, and would be good parents to our new child.
And then we became parents and found out the books and glossy magazines and racks of shiny stuff are not what being a parent (or baby) is all about.
“Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.”
This little scenario is played out in three gospels. The “shiny stuff” is slightly different in each: “power” is not in all three … “Sodom and Gomorrrah” neither … but “preaching and proclaiming” is – and that fits nicely with the “Great Commission”.
Take nothing for the journey.
Those five words tend to be overlooked – “shiny” mission is the thing – “shiny” converting and saving is the thing – “shiny” healing and driving out – “righteous” shaking the dust from your feet – “biblical” consequences of “them” not listening to “me” … the “post-internet” and “post-online shopping” shiny mission stuff – now THAT is the thing! The (godly) “Masters of the Universe stuff” is the stuff of appeal.
And “the journey” much less so.
More and more I am finding good stuff in the bible. Less and less is it to do with traditional “teaching” and “preaching and proclaiming”. More and more it is the stuff that changes me. Less and less is it any of the stuff that changes you because I tell you it should change you. More and more it is about my freedom. Less and less is this word “control” even relevant.
The control of taking everything with you …
A car-load of stuff every time a baby moves from your house to “shopping” … to another’s house … for a holiday … to and for and of “anywhere” … This car-load of “essential stuff” that is packed and unpacked each time … The control of being able to respond to every circumstance … The control of being in control …
In a parent – not necessarily a bad thing – but in a “Christian” … ?
I don’t know.
In a Christian “I don’t know” is never the shiny aspirational lifestyle stuff of choice. In a Christian “I know and you will know as well!” is the default sought-after “good Christian” aspiration.
Less and less I understand why that is – less and less I want to understand why – more and more I just “don’t know”.
Take nothing for the journey.
But what do I need … ?
“I don’t know.”
Is all.
.
Just me being curious 
Paul I remember the days we had two small boys whose ‘things’ took up so much room we didn’t have luggage room for ourselves. Back when we were lucky to afford a landline, mobiles were a thing of the distant future as were computers. We didn’t often want for those things called necessities, well food and stuff. We had a good Christian Community wherein those days really meant being not long out of Antioch
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The good old days! 🙂
My mum and dad had them, we have them, our children are beginning to, and our grandchildren most certainly will as well one day. I can’t help but wonder why we don’t all have them at the same time about the same things. 🙂
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My eldest has a daughter about 26 and 3 other children 2 girls and a boy, the youngest Nicky has mild Autism.
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Family is the best!! 😍😍😍
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Following would be a lot simpler if we weren’t so loaded with stuff.
You better do this, but don’t do that. You need to give to this, but not that. No no no all wrong. You don’t look right, or talk right, you don’t have enough faith, are you sure your saved? What would Jesus do… You must of sinned and God is punishing you, God loves you , but…. if you love us you would do this, that, and the other thing. All are welcome, but you sit over there.
Glad we could help you and by the way you really need to work on your confidence.
Good Lord, please save me from the saved!!! LoL
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“Save me from the saved!!!”
I have a picture. English (proper) football. A great save is where the goalkeeper stops the opposing team scoring a goal. Being saved means there is no goal. The ball is stopped from entering the net. I wonder if the ball says that as well: “save me from the saved”
🙂
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Here in Australia Soccer is officially called Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer. The rest are known as Leagues
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That links here: Football Association, FA, is the official body.
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link seems to be a hole in the net get me
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http://www.thefa.com/
🙂
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Wolverhampton Wanderers used to be my dads team when we lived in England – Coventry was the last home we had before moving to Australia.
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Like it so true, they told me I didn’t have enough Faith else God would heal my epilepsy.
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I find that really sad (not to mention irritating).
If you have enough faith you get a yes. If not you obviously haven’t enough. God is a department store – put enough faith in the cash register and you walk away with anything and everything you desire!
Grrrrr!
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yes, Grrrrr, But I believed them because they had authority over me, I felt ashamed of my lack of faith.
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I know a women who had 13 miscarriages. The people at her church told it was because she must have sinned and God was punishing her. She found out she had some type of glucose intolerance or something like that. Anyway she now has two grown boys. I can’t even begin to imagine when your so young and heart broken to then be told such things. It trouble what do and say to each other in the Name of God. Truly using his name in vain.
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“It’s terrible what we do and say to each other in the name of God”
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Yes, so màny use their perceptions of God’s will and His Word as weapons
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Love it! A determined ball!
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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I prefer Soccer by far but played Hooker in Rugby at School.
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they let me do that – once! Never again. Taking my feet off the ground with all that testosterone around me? I never had enough trust! 🙂
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I was a girl/boy playing against the boys and was determined to make a go of it – I didn’t think that if it had been a dirty match that I might have been hurt – I just hooked away.
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