Tom's Good News

Playing Games

Christy and I had a wonderful vacation with our good friends Roger and Annette, filled with lots of adventures. We drove through blinding snow to get to Newport, RI, endured a Nor’easter, and drove home in the snow too. We only lost our power for a short while and we were well prepared to sit the storm out. We had all the food we would need and played games all day while the storm raged around us.

On the way home Christy and I were talking about playing games. We enjoy playing Apples to Apples, Cribbage, Mexican Train, Scrabble, Sequence, and many others. As we talked, suddenly the thought struck me: “What kind of games would Jesus enjoy playing?”

Would Jesus enjoy playing games that involve the accumulation of riches or resources? Would Jesus enjoy playing games that involve death and destruction? Would Jesus enjoy playing games at all? I personally think he would enjoy the fun and companionship.

Then I began to think about other games Jesus might not enjoy playing. We play games with ourselves and others that can be harmful and hurtful. We even try to play unhealthy games with God.

How many of us have played “Let's Make a Deal” with God? We promise God all kinds of things, and ask God to give us what we want. Then we fail to live up to our promises.

How often do we find ourselves playing “Trivial Pursuit”? We chase after trash, and neglect the treasurers God offers us. Then we hold on to things that harm us more than help us.

How often do we play “King of the Hill”? We fight to climb to the top, pushing everyone out on our way. Then we prevent anyone from joining us. We play a lot of games Jesus would never play.

Imagine a world where we play games that enhance our relationships with God and one another. Imagine a world where we affirm one another and everyone wins. Imagine a world filled with joy and love.

I long to live in that world. I will see you in church. Remember, God loves us more than we can ever imagine, and I love you too!

Tom

Chasing Our Tail

Our dog Storm is a bundle of energy. She loves to run and play. She makes the Energizer Bunny look like a sloth. One of the strangest games she plays we call “chase your tail.”

She starts out by looking back at her tail waving from excitement, and quickly reaches back to get it. Then it moves as she turns and the chase is on. Okay, sometimes we edge her on by saying with enthusiasm, “Get your tail!” “Get your tail!”

Last time I watched this game I took this picture, but then as I looked at the picture I saw myself and many others. We reach behind us to something in our past, and begin chasing it like it will become something in our future. Around and around we go, but we make no real progress. Sometimes it feels like we in a human hamster wheel.

Storm eventually gets tired of the game, and I imagine we do too. We may not even know how to stop, but if we don’t we will experience physical, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion. It is time to stop chasing our tail!

God called this time of stopping the Sabbath. The Sabbath was created by God to help us find healthy and helpful meaning and purpose. Yet we tend to use that time to energize the chase more.

I would invite us to pause right now. When we finish this paragraph, close our eyes, take a deep breath, and think about these questions for the next 3-5 minutes: “What are we chasing after?” “What would God invite us to strive for in our life?” “What first step do we need to take to start that journey?” Okay, begin!

What did we discover? What if we took this pause each day, or at least once a week? I believe we would find a new game that will energize, not drain our spirit. We are in the season of Lent, a time when we are invited to consider how to best prepare ourselves to welcome the risen Christ. This is a time to explore ways to stop chasing our tails, and become more faithful disciples.

I will see you in church. Remember, God loves us more than we can ever imagine, and I love you too!

Tom