Fighting over Table Scraps

From blog

We recently took our family on a trip to Playdium, Mississauga as our final family trip of the summer.
It was a great time riding go-karts, playing mini-golf, and enjoying hours of gaming in the arcade.
The boys and I are particularly fond of video games and so, for days before we left, I was greatly anticipating this trip. The boys, however, didn't really know what to expect. Warning after warning to, "be good," "you don't want to lose this trip," etc. seemed to fall on deaf ears. When the day finally arrived the boys were tired by the busy-ness of the previous week, the driving to get to Mississauga, and, well, they were just cranky. Our oldest son in particular was a bit out of sorts and was clinging to his Nintendo DS as his escape from having to listen to his parents. Despite warning after warning, strikes 1 and 2 being handed out he just could not get his head out of his DS and focus on the prospect of the giant arcade looming before him. So wrapped up in what he was doing, right here, right now that he almost missed the huge blessing set before him. So caught up in the temporary moment. So enraptured by this ordinary game he owns and plays all the time that he was sacrificing this incredible, one-time, spectacular event in comparison.
If you haven't been to Playdium, played a DS, or have any interest in video games, this post may be lost on you but those of you who understand will catch the point.
Sometimes we are so wrapped up in the temporary moment, the present desire, present crisis, suffering, or spectacle that we miss something bigger, something better that could be or could have been ours. Some of us live with the regret of things we've lost in this way.
I tried to illustrate to him that his fussing over the DS game was like fighting over pennies when he was standing in front of a million dollars...he started at me blankly...it is like fighting on the floor over table scraps under your seat at a King's table! Missing the mountains for molehills as the old saying goes.
Isn't that what the last few days of Quiet Time has been about? Psalm 104 reminds us that God is sovereign, powerful, Creator, Sustainer, Giver, and One who cares. How often do we keep our eyes on the trial, exercise our minds with worry about a moment, focus on the temporary, ordinary things when God has abundant life, blessing, and eternity held out before us.
May this remind us to get our eyes off the 'here and now' and get them on the One who has control and power over the 'here and now.' Don't miss out!

As an addendum:
Our oldest son finally gave in to the pleading and wise counsel of his parents (this time) and did not miss the fun.

Also, don't miss out on the incredible upcoming WOL Local Church Ministries Superbowl events held across the country. This all-night event in Ontario on November 5, 2010 will be held in Mississauga and will include a trip to Playdium.