Dear All of Us,
No kidding!
It takes a long time
for most of us
to get good at
JUST KIDDING
AROUND
We were really good
at it early on.
Then for years of when
we were schooled
away from it.
"Come on! Grow up!"
"Don't be such a baby!"
"Be a Big Boy/Girl."
"Stand on your own two feet."
"Get serious about life."
"Stand apart."
"Take care of yourself."
"Be your own man/woman."
"Get a life!'
"Get an education.
"Get a job."
And most of us did.
I did.
Off to boarding school,
seminary, college, university,
piling up those degrees.
Ordained, pastored
all sizes and shapes
of churches, taught
high school and college,
helped lead a large
diocesan school system,
retreat master, spiritual director,
blessedly married, fathered,
now grandfathering, writer, speaker.
A lot of a lot.
Most of it quite worthwhile.
All grown up.
Yet, well, something got lost,
not all together,
but sadly too often and much -
a disconnect from simplicity,
source and center.
Growing up sometimes
meant growing away
from the total trust,
the playfulness,
the centered spirituality
of childhood, the grace of
JUST KIDDING AROUND
These days, long of years,
short of breath,
I'm getting a second wind
as my days wind down.
Jesus and my little
Grand Son, Ollie the Younger,
are taking me out to play,
to cut loose, romp, trust,
get "happied" up, secure in a
spirituality Source centered.
We're having a ball
JUST KIDDING AROUND.
I watch Ollie.
He is centered in
The Source.
It's not a "think thing".
It's a lived experience,
mediated by his Mom.
He loves her.
He needs her
and he knows it!!
He trusts her.
He is free and safe with her.
He dives into embrace and
gets lost in snuggle.
They play.
He grows and learns
secure in their oneness.
A model and experience of
simple, Source centered
spirituality.
Ollie is a great coach
and playmate.
He's really good at
JUST KIDDING AROUND
Jesus is out here in
the playground of life with us.
He smiles me simple and safe.
All kinds of oneness.
Together we get absorbed
in the flowers and trees
and beautiful architecture
of our neighborhood here in DC.
We feel expansive doing
water aerobics together,
delighted in the rippled
light show of sun and water
dancing together in
the crystal-clear pool.
We take our time and savor
the extraordinary meals
my wife prepares every evening.
We go up to the roof pavilion
many evenings and get lost
in the panoramic magnificence
of the sunset over the cathedral.
There's mellowing in
gentle family visits.
We read all kinds of great books.
We often and more and more
just sit together, a rested oneness.
At about the same time,
the disciples came
to Jesus asking,
"Who gets the highest rank
in God's kingdom?"
For an answer Jesus
called over a child,
whom he stood in the middle
of the room, and said,
" I'm telling you,
once and for all,
that unless you return
to square one and
start over like children,
you're not even going
to get a look at the kingdom,
let alone get in.
Whoever becomes simple
and elemental again,
like this child, (like Ollie)
will rank high in God's kingdom.
What's more, when you receive
the childlike on my account,
it's the same as receiving me."
Matthew 18: 1-5
The Message
Is it ever so God
to finally get back to
JUST KIDDING AROUND
Ollie the Elder
******
PS
Ollie has an extraordinarily
good father.
More of the same Godness
in a different way.
He is twice blessed to
The Source
******
Hey, to all the new kids showing up
here today, You're in! Let's play!
frankly speaking
spirituality for the street
(and certainly,
for the playground)
johnfrankshares.blogspot.com
click frankly speaking top left
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******
WOULD YOU PLEASE
HELP OUT?
Sure would appreciate it
if you would pass this on
to a couple of friends,
family, colleagues today.
You are the only advertising
I can afford. Thanks!!
******
Come on!
Let's go!
Ollie and Jesus are waiting for us.
******