"Dad, I want water!"

Is there a childhood story that your parents love to share about you? It's like their default, go-to story whenever they tell anyone about what you were like as a kid. You don't even really remember it, but your mind has webbed together this "memory" based on THEIR recollections? 

Well, my parents love to tell the story of how much I hated going to bed at night as a child. I wasn't scared of the dark or anything... let me just clarify that! I was strong-willed. I was persistent. I was a royal pain-in-the-ass. (Not much has changed, I know) I simply wanted to stay up as long as I possibly could. I would beg them to read stories to me or I'd insist on telling them stories. When that didn't work, I would scream out "Dad, I want water!" Which, of course, he would bring to me...every time! (daddy's girl problems) Apparently, 5 minutes later, I would scream out "Dad, I gotta pee!" 

I mean when my parents tell this story, it cracks them up. They cut each other off and finish each other's sentences whilst sharing. (Insert the 'my-parents-are-annoying Eye Roll' here)

Why did I want to stay up so badly, when I now value every second of my beauty sleep? As I struggle to stay up to finish my papers right now, I wish I were that six year old again. The six year old who did not want to go to sleep because she thought "Today was so great, I don't want it to end!" When I did go to sleep, it was with much reluctance and with much anticipation of the day ahead of me... that was sure to be better than the day before.

Oh, the childlike mentality!

Isn't that the mentality Jesus wanted us to have?

"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 a child, will rank high in God’s kingdom" (Matthew 18:3 MSG).

Kids often try and stay up past their bedtime. They want to tell their daddy a story. They don't hesitate to ask for what they need. They have no worries about disclosing their plans for tomorrow. They are quick to present all of their requests to their father. We should do the same. 

Instead, we multiply our troubles by rehearsing them in our heads at night. We fret about the past and worry about our future. We want today to end in hopes of a better tomorrow. 

Present all of your grievances to your heavenly father tonight, and bask in the excitement that tomorrow is a new day... full of possibility...full of hope...full of wonder!

Weeping may last through the night, 
but joy comes with the morning. 
Psalm 30:5

In peace I will lie down and sleep,

    for you alone, Lord,

    make me dwell in safety. 

Psalm 4:8

Short-Cuts (The Swamp Story)

I can't tell you exactly how old we were, but we couldn't have been older than 18 and 14 years old. My younger sister and I had lunch at one of our favorite Dominican restaurants on Castle Hill in the Bronx one summer afternoon, and made a spontaneous decision to head to the Bronx Zoo for a day of sisterly bonding afterwards. We didn't want to pay for the $10 cab ride or the small bus fee because... how far could it really be? I don't remember this for sure, but it sounds like it would have been my brilliant idea to walk to the zoo. (and by brilliant, I mean completely illogical) I'm always ready for an adventure! 

What could have been a simple half hour bus ride, turned into a two hour trek through the good ol' Boogie Down. We passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gumdrops, and walked alongside the Cross Bronx Expressway. No really --we walked alongside the Cross Bronx-- where there's NO service roads, bike lanes, or walking paths. We must have looked as ridiculous as we felt because someone screamed out of their car window "Coje el tren!" translated from his ghetto Newyorrican Spanish... "Take the train!" (How embarrassing!?)

Could you picture us? It was a scorching hot summer day, we were both dripping in sweat, and we shifted between arguing and laughing at ourselves the entire walk.

Whenever I re-tell this story, I call it "The Swamp Story." It's the best part of the story, really. There came a point on our walk where it became really unsafe for us to continue along the highway. Our only option was to cross over a soggy swamp. Now, I refused to get filthy, so my genius idea was to scale a fence sideways until we reached the end of the swamp. I made it across that 20ft chain-link wired fence with a bit of a struggle in my flip flops...but my poor sister... she didn't stand a chance with her tiny legs! I watched her lose her footing halfway to her destination. She dangled by her arms for a few seconds before she lost grip and dropped into the muddy mess. Needless to say, I did what any good big sister would do... I laughed so hard it hurt! If anyone knows my sister, they know that my laughter was short-lived. Think I'm a smart ass? My sister can rip you apart with no more than 2 sentences.

We ended up at a public playground to rinse my sister off from head to toe in the sprinklers.  Once we finally arrived at the Bronx Zoo, we were so exhausted we had no energy left to walk around. We sat for about an hour near the sea lion pool. It took all of our efforts to drag one foot in front of the other when it was time to leave, and we took another 2 hour journey by train/bus back to Queens.

This happens to be one of our favorite stories tell. I literally cry in laughter when we reminisce on that ridiculous adventure, but while we were walking through it... (literally WALKING through it)... let's just say we were quite miserable in that heat. If we had the opportunity all over again, knowing what we know now, we would probably decide to pay the price for a taxi or hop on the bus without question. How many of you would change some of the silly decisions you've made in life if given the opportunity, knowing what you know now? Some of us would, but some of us think back to unhealthy experiences or people in our past with longing, and begin to miss something that wasn't even good for us to begin with...& we don't understand why we can't get out of the "swamp" we are in... (but that's a topic for another blog post)

Many times in life, we just don't want to pay the price and invest the extra effort in doing things the way we should. We often think we can take shortcuts in life to get to our destination, but it can easily result in a frustrating journey, embarrassing moments, a longer route, regrets, the potential of hurting people you love, putting yourself in compromising situations, and we ultimately make our lives unnecessarily more difficult.

I urge you not to take these "short-cuts" to success or satisfaction. Many times we can't help but satisfy our fleeting desires because it may seem fun and fulfilling and adventurous at the moment; yet we end up on a longer, much more difficult journey as a result. Learn what you need to learn today so you can do what you want to do tomorrow. Work honestly towards your career instead of advancing through dishonest gain. Invest in the relationships that matter, and reap a wealth of love. Put down those donuts and pick up those running shoes if you really want to get in shape. Stop making excuses about your painful past, and find your way back into a healthy church. 

Most importantly, don't feel bad if you've fallen in the muck and are currently on the wrong road. We've all been there at one time or another. Allow God to wash you off and sprinkle you with his love and forgiveness. "Even if you haven't done what God wants, you're still the one God wants." And remember, He works ALL things for the good of those who love him...eventually you may be able to look back at that rough path you took and laugh at yourself and your foolish choices.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matt 7:13-14