Our family recently went on a quick road trip to visit family. Driving in a car with a kid (much less four of them) is always an adventure. Planning potty breaks and meal stops is an art form, particularly in parts of the country where the scenery is beautiful but the gas stations and restaurants are few and far between.
I know you parents understand what I’m talking about. We can pretend that road trips are fun but in reality, they can be extremely stressful.
Our most recent trip was actually quite pleasant, aside from the “Are we almost there?” questions and the “What are we going to do today?” questions. I swear, I think my kids view me as their cruise director. I hate to disappoint them, but this mama isn’t here for their entertainment.
If left to their own devices, most children are able to entertain themselves, and truth be told, it’s good for them. It teaches creativity and problem-solving skills. Jonah loves to build so if he has a few Legos or Magnatiles, he is good to go and it might be hours before we see him. Vivienne is super nosy, so she’s quite adept at eavesdropping and contributing to adult conversation. (I’m not sure this is a great skill for an 8-year old to have but it might come in handy one day.)
Brienne is easily entertained by taking selfies and videos and sending them to her friends. I still don’t understand exactly how the teenage mind works these days.
(And yes, I realize I sound like I’m a hundred years old.)
(Don’t mind me, I’ll just be over here in my reading glasses trying to stay awake past 8:00 pm.)
Sweet Jillienne can also easily entertain herself, and boy am I thankful. My energy level has significantly decreased over the last decade and I’m getting too old to chase after a toddler all day.
Her ability to entertain herself was never more apparent than it was on our recent road trip. On the way home we stopped at Cracker Barrel (because, chicken and dumplings) and as I took a break from stuffing my face, I looked over at Jillienne for a second. She was actually drinking the pancake syrup. Like, turned-all-the-way-up, guzzling it. Peter and I looked at each other with fear and trepidation. This could only end badly, right?
For the remainder of the day, Jillienne was so high on sugar that there was nothing any of us could do. She sang the ABC’s and Row Row Row Your Boat at the top of her lungs.
Over and Over.
And Over.
I turned around at one point and the child had both of her socks in her mouth, dancing, laughing, and humming a tune.
One thing was for sure – Jillienne didn’t need a cruise director. She was her own entertainment.
I recently heard Dr. David Ireland ask this question and it stopped me in my tracks:
“Do you have a cruise ship mentality or a warship mentality when it comes to church and spiritual activities?”
Um, say what?
Do you go to church just to be entertained by your cool worship leader singing the latest music and your pastor telling funny stories?
When you arrive at church, are you asking, “What’s in it for me?”
When you leave, are you disappointed because you thought the sermon was boring?
Make no mistake – church is not a cruise ship and your church leaders are not your cruise directors.
Following Jesus means we are engaged in a battle every single day. A battle for our thoughts, a battle for our friends, a battle for our families. And the main way we fight this battle is on our knees in prayer.
So what type of mentality do you have?
Do you view church and your spiritual health as more of a cruise ship or a warship?
Obviously I’d rather be on a cruise ship. I’d rather have a variety of entertainment choices and all manner of foods laid out before me.
But life doesn’t work like that.
We don’t always experience smooth sailing. Devastating diagnoses, a loss of friendship, hurtful comments, wayward children – these things happen all the time, and we have to choose.
Will we sit back and wait for someone to step in and entertain us? Cheer us up?
Or will we step up and fight? Will we engage in spiritual warfare, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to fight for us?
It’s our choice.
What do you choose today?
