Childlike Lenses

This week the Lord gave me a glimpse into a part of my heart that He adores. It’s the same part that He loves in you, that childlike enthusiasm about life. The problem is this quality can easily be snuffed out.

At times I get weary when it seems that everything and everybody is working to blow that fire out. Even this week when the winds of opposition were blowing, I thought to myself, what is the use? And then the Lord seemed to turn on the light and show me the childlike awe I often feel for life. He loves to see my enthusiasm for what He’s created. In turn it releases creativity in me and the game begins.

The way it works is simple. At times I might see a picture of the beach or hear the sound of the ocean in my head and experience jitters of exaltation, or see the color orange, fresh flowers, vibrant butterflies, or even luscious fabrics and feel my stomach jump.

When you pay attention to your senses, you will notice these things too. The Lord loves the very unique childlike way we each see the world. This may have dulled overtime, but He longs to see our youthful spunk recaptured and thriving.

The things that spark my heart may seem ridiculous to you, but there are things in your own heart that resonate in your being and light up your senses. If you become aware of your own heartbeat a whole world of exploration into the mystery of God will open up to you.

God doesn’t want us to surrender our childlikeness to appease others who are rigid and unwilling to live in their hearts. He wants us to guard those areas and find ways to let the child inside out to play.

This takes intention. And at times it can be a lonely path when others aren’t so high on life. If you are facing that dilemma, ask yourself what is standing in the way of your experiencing wonder and enthusiasm for life and then take responsibility to do something about it. God is inviting you out to play!

Colorful Pages

Mark and I went to see the movie, The Son of Rambow, this past week. Yes, it is spelled, Rambow and not Rambo. It is a great indie film well worth the price of the ticket.

In the story two boys are thrown together to make a film, one tenderhearted and the other deceptive. In the process they each are reconnected to their hearts that had been buried and neglected do to loss.

One boy was raised by his well meaning single mom who struggled to live within the confines of her religion. In the mean time her compliant son awakened in his world. Constant inspiration flowed throughout his mind and emerged into vivid illustrations on every page of his Bible. Story lines with magnificent images flashed upon the screen in contrast to the dead religion that kept his mother’s life bound in black and white pages.

The other boy, defiant and disillusioned was being raised by his indifferent older brother in a world with no parents or boundaries. Amidst his angst he found himself being loved and accepted by his new friend.

Together they poured out their young confused hearts into the film making project that gave their lives purpose and meaning. Through their humorous escapades the audience can quickly identify the emptiness found in a loveless life of religious works, as well as the battering of a world with misused freedom.

This movie makes you want to jump and leap and do everything in your power to stay free from a pseudo religiosity that stifles, but doesn’t give life. As beautifully illustrated, life comes in the midst of relationship, not works.