Jesus didn't have "slinky's"...

So, my soon-to-be 12 year old taught me a lesson tonight. A lesson about just how complicated life really is now...

MeMa bought Alex a slinky. He was playing with it on the floor tonight. I asked him to stop playing with it and help fold up the tent. He obeyed. As he was folding up the tent, Natalie grabbed the slinky. Alex flipped out. "She is going to ruin it" he begged. I said "Alex, really, I will watch her, it isn't that big of a deal." He kept it up "Come on Mom! I don't WANT her to play with it". I said "Come on Alex!" And then, just to be a bit of a wise guy, I asked "What would Jesus do?". He stood up, looked me right in the eye and said "Mom. Jesus didn't have a slinky". Hmmmmm....

I know he was just being sarcastic at my attempt to be witty, but it really reminded me about just how many more trials, tribulations, obstacles, and choices we have now. We have this beautiful gift of advancements in technology. I mean - heck- that is the way I can keep in instant contact with all my family...even across the country. But with it comes confusion. I mean, how much is too much? Having the internet has now created a new definition of "cheating". Is it *really* cheating to talk to the opposite sex in a chat room? To me, yes. But is it to everyone? What about pornography that pops up when you are trying to innocently browse the web? Our kids being raised to think "that stuff just happens".

Let's take this stock market crash that is happening all around us. How, as the great nation of America, have we gone from "independence" to SUCH dependence on everything? How many people do you know that have 3 months salary just put away? A year's salary? If the world went to poop tomorrow, would you know how to sow a row of corn? How long could you feed your family if all you had was the food in your pantry? What about water? Do you have a backup for electricity? In a world where it is the norm to just run to the "convenience" store...we have lost all sense of accountability and responsibility for a real crisis. Brian mentioned the Amish that live in our area. How interesting it is to me that their life continues on with America facing an international crisis. I am pretty sure that not only are they NOT affected, but they quite possibly have no clue that it is going on. In this case, at least for me, ignorance is bliss. How I wish my TV didn't carry CNN right now...or that CNN didn't have an up to the minute website that publishes the stock market points every 10 minutes. How beautiful would life be without that complication? Again, I ask...how much is too much?

Sorry. Off my soap box now. I guess my lesson learned is that God didn't plant the complications, but he allowed us the free agency to choose the paths we take. If we put our minds and hearts back on track as to what is really important in this life, we will have a much greater understanding as to the blessings that God intended on us to have. If we put as much effort into God's plan for us as we do into the stock market...how much different would my priorities be today?

As Proverbs 3:5 reads:
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.