A Christian Worldview from Silicon Valley

Summer is here, and the kids are out of school. Yay. Oh, the bliss.

Yesterday, I planned to stay home and get things done around the house. Let the kids OD on Star Trek reruns for a change. But toward the end of the day, my 12-year-old son got an attack of the whines. “Let’s get out of the house. I need to get out of the house and go DO something!” Oh really?

Today, I planned a day of errands, mostly to get the same son prepared for his backpacking trip next week. We were away from home for hours as we attempted to get Boy Scout medical forms signed by doctors; purchase hiking pants, neoprene socks, freeze-dried dinners, walking sticks, and duct tape from a variety of shops; sign up for swim lessons at the desired pool; have a Chipotle’s lunch to revive our flagging energy; squeeze in a haircut for my daughter; and reward everyone with a stop at the library and the pizza shop.

Guess who had this to say at several points along the way: “Let’s please go home. I just wanna go hooooome.”

Even when we get what we wish for, it’s rarely what we truly want. There’s always something more, better, different, and just slightly out of reach that would make us perfectly happy — right?

Last week, I had an x-ray done. It was routine, nothing to worry about. I was ready, I was comfortable. The lab technician was just about to start the x-ray, when she said, “Now don’t breathe!” Suddenly, I felt a great urge to breathe deeply, as though I’d run out of oxygen. What changed? I hadn’t needed extra oxygen 2 seconds before.

Today, I checked into the Cardiology department for an EKG. Again, just a routine procedure, not for any particular concerns. Easy peasy. I’m laying there, with these glued tabs all over me, and wires connnected to the stickers. I was totally comfortable. Truly. Until she said, “Now don’t move!” Huh? Why can’t I move? I need to move. I really, really need to move, and now. Okay, at least I need to breathe, and deeply.

The good news is that I did control myself in these two instances, not breathing and not moving, at least enough that they only had to repeat one x-ray of the four they first took. But what made me feel so compelled to breathe and move when just before I wasn’t even thinking of those things?

And what does that say about my ability to live under national law, God’s law, any law?

Most people have heard of those WWJD bracelets, reminding Christians to follow Jesus’ example in their daily lives.

But what are Christians known for doing?

I just read “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society,” which I enjoyed very much, but I was surprised at the Amazon reviewers who felt it was anti-religious, mainly because one Christian woman was portrayed as self-righteous and judgmental.  Unfortunately, despite some Amazon reviewers’ claims that they have never met anyone like that in their church community, I think the stereotype of Christians is often negative.

Our Wed PM kids class just finished discussing “Do Hard Things : a teenage rebellion against low expectations” by Alex and Brett Harris.  One of the sections was titled “Be known for what you do (more than for what you don’t).”

Aren’t Christians often known more for what they don’t do (e.g., dancing, drinking, sex before marriage, etc.), and for frowning on those who do those things?

But as Alex and Brett wrote, “We’re not just supposed to avoid sinning; we’re supposed to pursue righteousness in a way that others will want to imitate.”

“Do Hard Things” is full of examples of young people thinking outside the box of their insulated lives about how to be salt and light to a broken world (e.g., providing for the homeless, digging wells in Africa, fighting modern-day slavery).  They are living out their faith in world-changing ways.

Imagine a world where Christians are known for what they DO, instead of what they don’t do.

What is Jesus calling you to DO for Him?