As the Associate Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Hutchinson, KS, I write a weekly article for the newsletter article. I invite both members of the church and other visitors to my blog to share their thoughts!

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My office looks out on the edge of the courtyard on the south side of the sanctuary.  As I write this, Trinity Treasures, our after school program, is having a party out there.  No special occasion, but why you do you need one to have a party?  There are two of those big, blow-up “bouncy” things…  One of them is a huge obstacle course for kids to quite literally bounce through– complete with tunnels, giant bowling pins, and a slide.  They are running and screaming and having such a good time!

I love watching kids play, totally oblivious to the cares of the world.  It’s not that they don’t have problems in their lives, of course, it’s that they’re able to set them aside so easily and so completely to simply enjoy life.

When do we loose that ability, do you suppose?  I know I have to work hard just to escape the things I think are important for a even a few precious moments.  Personally I don’t think we loose the ability, we just get “rusty.”

When was the last time you set aside your cares and just played?  Children help, and I’ll bet grandchildren help even more.  It’s a beautiful gift God’s given us to be able to play.  We can play with each other, but I think we can also play with God.  What could be more wonderful than just setting aside everything around us to simply laugh and run with God?

Take a moment this week to laugh and run and scream– it’s good for the soul!

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 18:1-4

As always I welcome your comments at http://ministrygeek.net.