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It’s Simple, Isn’t It?

We make life complicated. Tablets, cell phones, schedules with no time to breathe. Go, go, go, go. But life truly can be simple if we just breathe. Today, we had a birthday party for my youngest at a nature center. No TV, no computers, cell phones, nothing. We all colored, saw and petted different woodland critters, ate, and enjoyed each other’s company. Then we went to the imagination center. A creek, pots and pans, sandbox, a zip line, water, dirt, mud, critters, and fun. The kids got dirty than I have ever seen in my life. They were having mud fights, standing in the creek, building mini rivers, and using their imaginations. They were happy, healthy, and really enjoying life, nature, and each other.

I honestly can’t remember the last time, we just got to nature and just enjoyed each other. No cell phones. No buzzers to move on. No one saying don’t get dirty, don’t play in the water, don’t don’t don’t. It was all, be careful, and have fun. They even had a great time getting hosed off at the end.

This reminded me of all the negative images of Christianity in the news. Bible verses are taken out of context and even those who don’t want to join a church because of the baggage. Then I think, Christianity is hard, Jesus and his values are easy. (Following Jesus is hard in this world) Jesus wants us to love and live like him.

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the minds of naive people.” – Romans 16:17-18

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” – 2 Timothy 4:3

There isn’t one teaching of Christ, that I know of, that has we should hate. There isn’t one teaching that says we should push out those who are strangers in a strange land. There isn’t one teaching that says we shouldn’t open our hearts and our lives to others. Yet, every day I see Christianity being used by people to do just that.

I think of my kids and their friends playing in the dirt and mud. Then coming home and playing with action figures. No thought about TV. No thought of additional toys or not letting others play. Just having fun with each other and their toys. (Sure, there is a bit of bickering but hey, that’s what sisters do). We should be like that with Christ. We should welcome people into his arms. We should help our strangers, our neighbors, our unbelievers. We shouldn’t try to hold onto Christ for ourselves, but go out like kids playing in the dirt with new friends. Sharing and having an excellent time enjoying nature and their company. Christ is love as we should be too.

Are you willing to open your heart and your Jesus to others? Are you willing to see Christ for who he is and not what we think he may be to others?

I am open and willing with the help of God.