FOOD
FOR THOUGHT
(03/16/2008)
Connect
Four Cindy
Hong
Being
slightly addicted to anxiety, excitement is peppered with apprehension
when getting ready to visit my nephew and niece. Will 4 year old Landon
and 2 year old Olivia remember me? Will they want to play with me or will
they ditch me for their cool toys? Thankfully so far, the latter thoughts
haven't turned into reality. Every visit we have a blast together. During
this last visit over Thanksgiving, Landon and I really bonded over playing
together. He had just learned to play Connect Four a couple of days before
and wanted to initiate me into a week-long marathon session. We played
everyday that week, game after game after game. After probably the 258th
game of swish…click…swish…click, trying to be the first to connect
4 same-colored checkers in a row, I'm sure I had this glazed look in my
eyes. To encourage me to press on, this precocious 4 year old says, “Just
enjoy it, Goo-Goo!” “Enjoy what , Landon?” In response
he makes this dramatic gesture, waving his hands across all the checker
pieces on the floor, and says, “Enjoy this , playing together!
” So that's how this aunt was reminded by her nephew that life
is about connection and playing together is about enjoying our bond as
family. And it was a reminder that our purpose in life consists of connecting
with God, that we all have a God-shaped vacuum inside us that only He
can fill. We all crave connection with Him. Whether we know it or not.
If not, then perhaps the vacuum is sucking up other stuff or clogged with
dirt or other gunk (the theological term).
As
we move toward Good Friday and Easter Sunday this week, may we be more
intentional in remembering the pain Jesus Christ went through on the cross
to re-connect us with the Father. When Landon and I played, only one of
us could win each game. But when we take time to connect with God through
His word and prayer, it's a game we all win.
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