Training
Two isolated incidents have me thinking.
1. Last night my wife and I had a picnic in the park. It was fun and spontaneous. We sat on an old blanket and ate leftover sandwiches and fruit.
During the meal we had several visitors, some more welcome than others. The welcome ones were a dad and his daughter, friends from church. The unwelcome visitor: a dark-brown squirrel. A bold, hungry squirrel. Mr. Squirrel (for argument’s sake, this squirrel is a male) would not leave us alone. He got close enough that we could have touched him. It was uncomfortable, and…as odd as it might seem to say, it felt rude. We’d “scare” him back, and Mr. Squirrel would just return. I actually stood up and shoo-ed him away, but even that was only temporarily effective. Finally some dogs with their owners provided a permanent solution to our privacy.
Either Mr. Squirrel was born with more than his share of bravery genes, or he’s learned over time the easiest way to get food. He has been trained not to be scared of people, but to stay nearby for tasty morsels. Who knows how long he’s been in training at the park.
2. This morning I was biking down the Duck Creek path, trying to get my legs ready for a summer of riding. Lots of people were out, and sometimes we’d greet each other. Just before my half-way point, I was coming up to a jogger. She was likely a young mother, pushing her little boy in a stroller. The boy was probably about three years old. Right before I passed them, the little boy looked up at me, smiled, and said “good morning!”
What a beautiful surprise! What sweet manners! This little boy must have some pretty friendly parents, or some other gracious role models. In just his short life, he’s been trained to be kind and welcoming. If only all of us had such training.
Training. That’s the connection for me. A squirrel trained to be bold, a toddler trained to be friendly. Not to mention a wanna-be cyclist training to get in shape.
What are you in training for? A race or competition? A skill or hobby? A new job? I think training is a good thing. It’s good for us. Training gives us momentum, moves us into our future. In some way or another, we’re all in training. The Christian life requires training. Training in generosity and hospitality, training in how to serve and love. Are we training for the right things, in the right ways? Is your training shaping you into the person you want to be? How’s your training going?
posted by Rev Matthew Poock at
4:58 PM
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