The Excellent Way #9
“Weston, God doesn’t mind how we come to worship Him…He wants us to come.”
He heard the first of grandma’s reply, but not the end. Weston had punched Boone in the shoulder as he got out of the pickup. Then he had run down the sidewalk to the side door of the church. Boone had taken off after him and caught him at the door. Grandpa and grandma were thankful there was no one else going into church at the time. Boone grabbed Weston in a headlock and rubbed his head with his knuckles. Weston let out a screech. It was Noah who restored order. Grandpa and grandma watched with delight as Noah put his hands on Boone and Noah. He steadied the two tussling boys. Grandpa and grandma couldn’t hear what was said, but they watched as both Boone and Weston straightened up, stopped wrestling and stood still waiting for grandpa and grandma.
As grandpa walked up to the three boys with Sarah and grandma, he said, “Excellent.”
Sarah got a puzzled look on her face. As they walked down the hallway of the church, she put her question in words.
“Grandpa, what do you mean, when you say “excellent?”
Grandpa reached for Sarah’s shoulder and put his hand on it. He gave her a gentle pat.
“Sarah, it was excellent what your brother Noah did to help Boone and Weston get their behavior under control. I think they forgot they were standing before a church door. Oh, Sarah, one more thing about “excellent.” When I say the word, think of the word love. “Excellent” and love mean nearly the same thing to me.
Sarah watched Boone, Weston and Noah fast walking toward the worship center. They we not loud or out of control as she watched them go. When they stopped before the doorway into the worship center and turned to wait for the rest of the family, Sarah couldn’t help herself. These words came from her mouth.
“Those boys really do know how to act in church grandpa and grandma. They are waiting for us, I thought they forgot about us.”
Soon all six members of Boone’s family were sitting together. The worship service was well done. The music prompted even Boone who usually never sang to add his voice in worship. Sarah was pleased. The six of them talked about the pastor’s message as they drove home. He had spoken on the two greatest commandments: “Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.” The discussion became quite lively. Weston wanted to talk about who his neighbor was.
Noah added his comments. “Loving God with all your heart is really hard. What do you think Boone? Do you agree?”
Boone was quiet for so long that Noah spoke his name again, “Boone? Are you there?”
Boone’s answer surprised everyone in the pickup.
“It’s much easier for me to love myself. Who doesn’t have a problem with self? What helps me is time outside. Grandpa, we used to call them “power checks,” didn’t we? Anyway, hearing the wind, watching clouds form and drift into the distance, seeing all the colors, hearing all of the sounds…I feel surrounded by God’s love.”
Grandpa thought it was a good time to quote from the Bible. He had memorized a verse that spoke about the love of God being seen in what has been created.
“The Bible tells us that Gods love is clearly seen outside. Paul said it this way in Romans 1:20: “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God.”
“What does divine mean Sarah?” Grandpa asked.
Sarah paused, tilted her head a bit and then her face brightened. Grandpa knew she had an answer.
“It means Godly or God. And grandpa we know what the nature of God is. God’s nature is always love. Love first.”
Noah chimed in; his question showed how well he was listening.
“So, this verse means that when we are outside, we can see the power and love of God? Is that what you understand grandpa and grandma?”
“Yes. Isn’t this a beyond wonderful thought? Go outside and be surrounded by the power and love of God.” Grandpa spoke those words with emotion in his voice. No one listening could argue he was not serious. Weston did have something to add to the conversation.
“Grandpa, I agree. The love of God is in the wind on my face. His love is in the scent of the Basswood trees in early summer. I hear the love of God in the rustling of the Cottonwood trees in the neighbor’s backyard. But I have a question, can it feel like I’m surrounded by the love of God when a hundred mosquitoes start biting?”
The seriousness of the moment was broken by laughter…Boone, grandpa, grandma, Noah, Sarah and Weston all enjoyed a laugh at the thought of a boy being surrounded by mosquitoes.
“Weston, I have no idea why God made mosquitoes or why He allows them to be such itchy pests. I do believe they are part of God’s creation…and God does not make mistakes. Perhaps we’ll know the answer when we get to heaven. But we don’t have to know everything now you know. That’s what sovereignty is. God is over all-He’s sovereign…and since He first loved us, I can put up with mosquitoes. God knows and He loves us.”
Weston was quiet for a few moments. Grandpa drove the pickup into the garage and turned off the engine. The quietness went on. Boone was first to break the silence with a single word.