Missing the Point?

I'm waxing philosophic today.

Actually, it all started with Sex and the City. A lot of times, I can't explain why I watch the show, or why I like it, I just know that I do. Most of the time the content is questionable, along with the morals of the characters, but every once in a while, I agree with the point of the story line. The episode I'm referring to today, is the one where Charlottle gets married (for the second time) and is crying in the bathroom after a few things have gone wrong with the ceremony. Carrie goes in to cheer her up, and her basic message is that she married an awesome man, who loves her, and she's just beginning a very wonderful and happy new life and that she shouldn't worry about a little thing like a ceremony. That got me thinking how often in life we miss the point.

I was never the little girl that dreamed of a perfect wedding, with the perfect cake, dress, or music. Maybe it was because of all the disaster I'd witnessed at such an early age, but the only thing I really wished for was the perfect man. By that I mean, Josh. He's not perfect, but he's exactly what I'd dreamed of. When I think of a successful wedding, I think of two people who are really meant to be together, making it official. We didn't have a huge budget for the wedding, and I personally couldn't wait for it to be over so I could start living my life. (Not that I didn't have fun, I will remember it forever.) While I was planning the wedding, I used the internet, magazines, and bridal stores to get an idea of what I was supposed to do (since I'd honestly never cared before). They made it seem like a perfect wedding was a life or death situation. As though, if you didn't pick the perfect DJ, your marriage might collapse. Celebrities make a huge deal out of it every chance they get. Television focuses so much on the wedding price and style that you hardly ever see the couple. It's like they don't even matter, they're just puppets in the "Wedding show". But I ask you, what's the real point of a wedding?

It's hard to miss the point of having a baby, but I do think people miss the point of children pretty often. I have a friend who actually feels sorry for me because I'm pregnant. I keep telling her that I chose to have children with my husband, that though it may be uncomfortable sometimes, that's really not the point. But she doesn't get it. I'm not sure she ever will, honestly. I know she'll be the one who shows up when the babys' sick, or excited, or upset and she'll shake her head and say something really irritating like, "Remember when you were single?" Ugh. I'm hoping I can live by example for her, but I'm not sure she's paying attention. The fact is, most of the world agrees with her. Go out and have your own fun and your own life and then maybe, if you feel like it, have kids. While I find this position kind of annoying, I do realize it reduces the amount of stupid and selfish people that breed, and that's a good thing. I can't tell you how excited Josh is to experience everything for the first time, again. He can't wait to go to Disney World, or the zoo or even to the beach and explain everything to Riley. So, what's the point of having kids?

I think this might be one of the biggest things that annoys me about Christianity, or any religion, really. (Oh noes, here I go again...) I might be wrong, and admittedly, I'm not as educated in this area as I could be, but my belief is that God did not intend this to be as complicated as it is. In the beginning, it was all very simple. You talked and fellowshiped with God every day, took care of the Garden, and didn't eat the fruit. (and we even screwed that up.) I know that everything changed after the Fall, but wasn't the basic idea the same? God is unchanging, right? So, it stands to reason that His expectations of us also didn't change. Faith, belief, trust and love are the general ideas. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, so why put all the distractions of religion between you and God? When it comes to God, are we missing the point?

Not long ago, Josh and I were a part of a business team in PA. The business was a good one, it helped many people and when taken in the right context, could and has done many people a great service. The problem was not with the business its self, but with the ones who ran it. We clicked with the couple who introduced us to this business instantly. We felt like we could talk to them about anything, and because they were a couple years older than us, we felt like we'd run into some friends who could give us some caring insight on life. They were also a whole lot of fun. The feeling seemed mutual, and we'd often talk about being life time friends, who's kids would grow up together. When Josh and I felt God pulling us away from the business, we thought of all people, that this couple would understand. They didn't. Since leaving the business, we haven't heard from them at all (except when they wrote us an email asking for a book and some cd's back). Seems like their friendship was only contingent upon the fact that we were making them money. I don't think this couple are bad people, but I think they've missed the point. They talked so much about relationships, and how important they are, but what they meant was it's important to make people like you, and want a lasting relationship, so that they would continue to make you money in your business. Now that I've seen what the point was, I'm glad we got out as soon as we did. I was personally (and still am) heart broken that this couple, who had professed that we meant so much to them, dropped us like hot potatoes when we failed to do what they wanted. God taught Josh and I a very valuable lesson in this couple. What is the point of friends? Is it to enrich our lives, or to enrich theirs?

I've heard that God is in the little things, and that is one cliche I totally agree with. I think God makes a point of rewarding those who refuse to be distracted. When you take a look at the intricacies of the human body, even just one hair, or if you research what makes the sky blue or the mating ritual of the Emperor penguin, its not hard to see that God has a personality of details. (He also has quite a sense of humor, but that's for another post) People build up dreams of material things, and money that will enable them to do God's will, but what is often ignored is that, in the Bible, God used the little guy. Think of David, as the most obvious example. God only made certain things in this world eternal for a reason. Youth passes, beauty fades, you may suffer a stroke and lose your personality but what's really in your heart can't be taken away from you. As long as you pass that on, it lives forever.

I try to live my life one day at a time, and take off my shoes whenever possible. There is nothing better than the feel of the earth between my toes (especially sand). I don't care if my feet are dirty, if my nails are a mess and my hair is tangled, as long as I had fun doing it. A few years ago, (probably when I met Josh) I tried to close my eyes and burn an image of a particularly good memory in my mind as it was happening. I can't remember any of those now, but I know that at that moment, I wasn't thinking about anything else.

So what's the meaning of life? We'll never know, because we think too big. Maybe we're born knowing, then somewhere along the way some well meaning but over baring adult tells us that it's unimportant. God always did have a special place for children, and when you think of it, that has to mean something. Because we all start out as children, they're just potential little adults. Something about childhood is especially meaningful to God. Somewhere between birth and adolescence, something important is lost.

Maybe He'll tell us when we get there.