The Slide

Remember waiting your turn on the playground?  Particularly for the slide...

I'm not talking about the four foot plastic slide that lands you in soft, imported sand or wood chips.  I mean THE SLIDE.  

-At least ten feet above the ground at the starting point 
-Made out of shiny (HOT) metal
-Possibly bent in places from years of being not only "slid down", but also "tromped up"

Yes, that slide.  You stand behind countless others in the hot sun waiting your turn to climb a ladder the height of which future generations will only have the privilege of climbing if they go into the roofing business.  If you make it to the top without falling off and breaking a limb before you've even begun, you sit triumphantly and anticipate the thrill of rocketing toward the Earth on a slick surface willing to give as hard a landing as you are apt to bring upon yourself.

Then someone yells from below that they would like to have a turn too...the sooner the better.  The person that has climbed up behind you gives you a little nudge.  And off you goooooooooooooooooooo.  Thump.

It's over.  The anticipation.  The ride.  The thrill.  Conquered.  Done.

And you look back and immediately want to do it again.

So you RUN around and get back in line, already lamenting how loooong it will be before you again start to ascend the ladder.  Only this time you're strategizing about how not to get burnt and how to keep your skin from skidding on the way down.  

This time will be even better.

Fast forward to the adoption front:

We're still waiting in line for our turn to ascend into the friendly skies and land in EE.  We're still in line, grumbling along with the others about how long it's taking for it to be our turn.  The longer we wait, the harder it becomes to wait.  The closer we get, the further away meeting our daughter seems.  

We pray.  A lot.

While we're waiting though, we get to watch those going before us.  They report back on the conditions of their trip and about what to watch out for when we land.  We are genuinely happy for them.  They waited their turn in line just like we are.  We watch them go...and adopt...and come home and begin the hard work of attachment and bonding with their children.  Some get right back in line to answer the call again.  More precious children chosen and rescued.  It is beautiful to witness.

And we long for our turn.  And we thank God for His perfect timing, not knowing what lies ahead.  

Or when.

Christianity should be this way.  Elders should be walking the straight and narrow path as a witness the generations coming after them.  Young ones should be scrambling behind them, eager to walk with Jesus and confide in Him too, seeing the joy and peace it brings, longing to grow in Him and abide in Him because they can see how wonderful it is to be His child.  As they hide His words in their hearts and it eventually pours out of them for His glory in whatever calling He has given them, they, too, ought to be able to look back at the ones coming behind and remember what it was like.  

To be waiting, yearning, anticipating.  The good life.  The Spirit filled life.  And out of humble gratitude, thankful for their gifts and their blessings, they'll report back about their journey, warning the next generation about the snares and entrapments, but also testifying to the goodness and the fullness of living for Christ.  

We ought to be longing for that great reunion day, not knowing what lies ahead, or when.  

We are not guaranteed our next breath.  Others pass on from this world into the next every hour of every day, yet we still find ourselves surprised that it happened.  

We're so busy.  Busy, busy, busy.  

Coming, going, attaining, accomplishing.  Does it glorify Him?  Are we earnestly daily desiring to do the things that are pleasing to Him with the limited time we've been given?  Just how limited...only He knows.

It doesn't have to be big and life altering.  Just His will.  For each day.  Even in the small things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Matthew 6:33

Praying for the fatherless this Father's day.  Praying that the desires of their hearts will be granted, and that they too will know what it is to follow a loving Father.