I Forgot My Age Today

I rushed home and through the front door at the speed I answered calls, wrote emails and ran reports at work today. Life has become so busy that I can no longer remember one day from the next and I usually begin catching my breath about the time I pull the blanket over my tired body. I am an adult with responsibilities: I have a wife, a child, and a full-time job. I have to balance the check book, worry about the bills and provide for my family. I have definitely become too busy to play, waste time or sleep in.

All of this changed today as I sat on the couch next to my 15-week old son. Britnie had sat him there while making dinner and he just stared at me with a curious gaze in his eyes. At first I was too busy unwinding to notice little Josiah until he made a few desperate sounds. I turned and looked at him, and saw him staring back at me.

“Hey there little man!” I said as I reached for his little body and sat him on my lap. I looked him in his eyes and made a funny sound with my lips. He stared back at me and tried to make the same sound with his lips.

I quickly made the sound again… and so did he.

We stared at each other for a moment and then Josiah began laughing uncontrollably. This caused me to laugh. I laughed so hard that I could not stop and tears were beginning to fall from my eyes. I cannot remember the last time I laughed this hard. Time seemed to stand still as Josiah and I looked at each other, still laughing. My heart was soon flooded with a simple joy that the riches and successes of this life could never produce. For a moment I forgot I was an adult; I forgot my age. Today, I experienced one of the greatest joys a father could experience. I felt the deluge of joy that I lost somewhere in my teenage years. I think society has become so advanced and so ambitious that we have all forgot to stop and enjoy life. I learned today that we are never too old to become carefree again. In fact it means more to me know then it did when I was young.

Candidates for Change

A hair stylist and my wife began talking politics last week when my wife was getting her hair cut. The stylist told my wife that he was voting for a certain candidate because he wanted change. He said he didn’t care if that change was good or bad as long as it was change. Now, both presidential candidates are preaching messages of change. All of this hunger for change sparked an interesting conversation in my mind.

Why are so many people obsessed with change?

And,

Why do so many people believe politics is the avenue of change?

While pondering these questions it occurred to me that this political pandemonium is a result of a nation who lacks a messiah. Life for many has become empty, routine and desolate. They know that life as it is isn’t as life is supposed to be. Whether one believes in Christ or not, people need a messiah who can save them from their poverty of soul and fading dreams. Without a heavenly Messiah, people are looking for an earthly messiah. This is why certain politicians, both Republican and Democrat, have been heralded as the messiah for change and reformation. People hope and pray that their candidate will get elected and fix the problems in their lives.

I have found myself repeatedly getting caught up in this circus of change, but today I was thinking about my Candidate for change. This Candidate earned my vote, not by lowering my taxes or guaranteeing homeland security. He earned my allegiance by dying on the cross and bearing my sin. All of talk about change leads us to one question: Who is your candidate for change?