“Alright, everybody grab your items and circle up. It’s time for show and tell!” “Yay!” And then the mad dash to my locker would ensue, to pull out my favorite toy or stuffed animal or the perfect rock I found earlier on the playground. I swelled with pride as I strolled slowly by each classmate, giving them each their moment to enviously ogle my wonderful . . . whatever it was that day.
Wow, it seems like only a few days ago that I had enjoyed a joyous session of show and tell, rather than a few decades ago. Come to think of it, it was only a few days ago, at our Price Custom Homes staff meeting. Honestly though, we love starting each of our meetings catching up and sharing our favorite pics, stories, and whatnot from the previous week. There always seems to be a steady stream of comments like, “she did what?” and “I’m glad he didn’t get hurt doing that.” There has even been a spike in card tricks recently too for some reason. (Wink Wink. See previous blog, “A Little Trickery”) I anxiously look forward to our grown-up show and tell session every week!
I think we enjoy it so much because it’s a chance to step aside from all the seriousness of life, if even for only a few moments. With all the heaviness that surrounds us, the sickness, the cultural unrest, the depression and so on, life can feel pretty hopeless at times.
When we choose to focus our attentions on the little pleasures we’ve enjoyed throughout the previous week and share those with friends and co-workers, it can bring a levity and perspective we may not otherwise have tapped into.
After we’ve shared and caught up a bit, we always begin the business side of our meeting with a prayer. More often than not, after a rousing time of fellowship, that prayer is filled with a good measure of hope and gratitude. It’s as though our calloused hearts have been softened, and our over-worked brains have been refocused on what’s really important in life. A peace and calmness have been ushered in.
Romans 15:13 is one of my very favorite verses, and it’s prayerful exhortation sums up well what I believe happens in those moments, and is what I eagerly desire for us all to experience on an ongoing basis: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
My hope and prayer is that each of you would connect to a good group of like-minded, God-seeking friends, who regularly do a little show and tell as you spur each other on towards Jesus!
Let it be Lord!
~ Pastor Mitch