NEXT TO A SLEEPING BOY

This weekend I took my son, David, who is 7, on a Father/Son Retreat. My wife and I weren't sure it was going to be a smart thing to do. You see, I was also doing the music and worship leading at it as well. Overall, we had a very memorable time. It was probably the first time in many months that David and I have had such in-seperable time together. The first night as we were getting ready for bed he looks at me and says, "Daddy, I love you so much! I'm so glad to be here with you."
I melted into the bed after that.
However that is not the main subject of my post.
As we drove home yesterday, the poor tyke slept most of the way. I think the weekend peetered him out pretty good.
This quiet drive gave me a chance to think. I travel quite a bit which gives me a lot of thinking time.

I was thinking about ART and SPORTS. I have many friends, across the country, who are involved with Art in one form or another. When I was growing up in Northern Wisconsin, Art was basically an afterthought to many people my age. Most kids were respected and liked if they were either in sports or something connected to sports. Theater, Art , music were all considered extra-curricular activities that were good for those who weren't good enough to tackle, wrestle, dribble, or slapshot. I, myself, was a wrestler for 7 years throughout grade school and Jr High. I mainly did this so I could be like my older brother who went on to wrestle in Nationals at the High school level. It wasn't until my Jr. year that I realized it wasn't for me. I completely quit sports all together and poured myself into music and theater. There was no turning back. Now I am 34 and it seems like the Arts have made quite a stride in the teen culture since my own adolescence. We have quite a few high school kids coming to the Camp I work at and it seems that Art, in some ways, has surpassed sports as far as numbers of kids that are involved. There are more poems being written, more bands being formed, more paintings being painted, etc....This camp, however, is located in small town Northern Wisconsin where, to the locals, sports is still the religion of the day.
Before I drove home yesterday from the retreat, I was able to watch the 2nd half of the Packer game where the Vikings bitterly won with a field goal with only 2 seconds left on the clock.
The statistics in Wisconsin are that domestic abuse goes up after a Packer loss.
Which brings me to my point.

It's amazing to me the things in life that we make an "end in themselves". I am obviously thinking of 2 areas, Sports and Art.
I am a Christian. I believe in the passage in Colossians that says .."For by him (Jesus) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
This tells me that there is only one entity that has an end in itself, God. Therefore, everything else, in order to have meaning, has to somehow come back to Him. Not that it has to be explained as such but in truth and content, it has to correlate with His essence and truth. I know this is controversial with some, however, it is the only concept that makes sense to me. I have come to the conclusion (on paper) that there is no worth in anything unless it eventually points back to Christ and truth. (which are one and the same) The contradiction of that would be that Jesus has His own little compartment that He stays in called religion and that it's only one facet of many this life has to offer. I know many people who live this way. Sunday is good for religion but they don't think it should affect the rest of their life. That completely go against the idea that He is before all things and that in Him all things hold together.
So here's the rub. When I see myself not living it. Irecently read a passage out of Chronicles about an 8 year old King of Israel deciding to follow God and of how he cleansed the land of the Asherah poles and High places of idol worship. He got rid of the things that people found as and end in themselves besides God. Many kings were unwilling to do such things because the culture of the day wouldn't let them.
My conclusion, Art is goodif not great thing. Sports are good, if not a great thing. But they are not ends in themselves. Only gods can be and they are not gods. I pray that the one true God will continue to give me the wisdom to get rid of the High places in my life.
As I glance over at my son, sleeping next to me in the passenger seat with his favorite little blanket wrapped around his lap and his favorite stuffed dog in his arms, I can't help but be embraced by meaning. And it leads me to worship.

Let me add an important annendum. I am not promoting or excusing lack of quality in Art and/or un-inspired creativity. There is art out there that is not excellent and some of it even is conncected to God and Jesus. I know that God knows the heart of an individual and that He might be pleased if it is the best they can do. But most of the time, bad art is influenced by agendas that, in my book, acoomplish very little.

LOST

What an intriguing show! It's been a long time since I was hooked on something of this nature. There are just so many mysteries and the characters are so interesting! I'm not sure which one is my favorite. Of course my wife likes Sawyer, as does every woman. He's the total anit-hero. Common sense hard butt with a carefully concealed tender side. I like him a lot as well. But I think my favorite is John Locke. There's a lot of transparency with him. He's very child-like in his fatih. Of course, we're not sure what his faith is in quite yet. Quick blog, here. If you don't watch the show, go get season 1 on DVD and enjoy the ride. If you like it, comment back and tell me your favorite character.

Phooey on Moth and Rust!

I sat in my Lazy Boy this evening, folding a mound of clothes, watching the Packers lose again while my wife lays on the couch nearby feeling the discomforts of being 8 months pregnant. Folding clothes is the least I can do for her in the state she is in. She finally makes her way to our bedroom which is across the hall while my 3 year old daughter, Anna, makes her way quietly down to the TV room to see what Daddy is doing. I warn her to whisper because if mom catches her up she might get in trouble. She sits on my lap and watches with me as the Packers actually do lose even after a phenomimal 4th quarter. My daughter tenderly plays with the buttons of my shirt and I realize, in a forlorn way, that nothing on this earth is forever.
Oh, I've known that for a long time. Nothing real profound there. I was taught it in Sunday School when I was a wee Hoff. I was warned not to invest in too many things where "moth and rust" might destroy. But there are moments when it hauntingly becomes a reality.
My favorite quarterback, that I have watched play football for almost 14 years, will now probably hang it up this next year minus the flames of glory from a winning season. (However if he continues to play like he did in the the last 7 minutes tonight, who knows.)
I see the big brown eyes of the little girl on my lap and I see no wrinkles. But someday, she too will grow old and begin to age. She might experience heart break and sadness. She might have times of feeling alone..and I will not be there to help her.

You're probably thinking, "Dude, take your medication." No, I'm allright and I don't mean to depress anyone. It's these moments that I am forced to put things into perspective. There is only one constant and that is God and I have to stay in tune with Him. That is my greatest hope on this green and blue ball hanging out in the middle of nowhere. Things are only new for a while here but someday I am going to live in a place where nothing will grow old or decay and where I will never be lonely.
For those of you that read this blog and pray, please pray for my wife as she delivers Hoffland #4. Her pregnancy experiences thus far have all had their challenges. We are thankful for the little ones God has given us. Thanks.