Can life get anymore hectic?

I wrote an entry the other day; I didn't have time to check it, so I hit "Save as draft" and ran off to whatever event I was off to. When I came back to check on it, it was gone! Can't find it, have no blessed idea where it could be - somewhere out there, as Fieval Mouskatwitz would (probably) say.

Right now I'm reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell with my students; it's proving to be very interesting wee read, lots that I can relate to. In the first chapter he uses an illustration of a trampoline, you know the big 15 footers, like the one the Kelly's have. So Bell drops into the conversation a time when he and his son were jumping together. They discovered that if his son timed his bounce with his bounce, that his son could bounce much, much higher than bouncing on his own. While speaking in terms of the understanding of our faith, our doctrine, etc. Bell expresses that everyone has faith, regardless of where the faith stands, faith is the belief in any particular object(s)/person(s), or the non-existence of anything, still a belief in something/nothing, right? It is not limited to a faith in God, but all mono/polytheisms, blah, blah, blah. He continues...

The springs of the trampoline are not noticed until they are missing, but without springs what use is a trampoline? Our springs can be anything, bible study, dance, drama, band, chorus, mission, evangelism - all build a better church, but, without God, what use are they? Without God, you are just any other historical scholar, any other didn't quite make it dancer, any other would be actor, any other trumpet player at the orchestra audition, any other singer, any other good hearted soul, any other psycho trying to sell me your religion like Bob sells his furniture. God's the mat that we jump on, the one that catches us, throws us further into the air that we though possible in our lives.

Last summer I blogged about the Kelly's 4th of July BBQ. It was a great day, I love that house, love those people; so I was in a good place. The sun was shining, the food was good, the company - already covered that, the pool was a nice escape from the heat, and the trampoline, it had a line to get on! Once the wee ones had had their fill of the trampoline, the big ones got on; first the ladies and then the gents. It was a new trampoline, so the mat was very tight because the springs hadn't had a chance to loosen off. You had to really work at jumping, your whole body was involved, it was a good work out and ridiculous amounts of fun. Well, Chip called that the food was ready and everyone headed back to the porch, ran to the bathroom, etc. you know the deal. After lunch, the wee ones commandeered the trampoline once more. I didn't get back on the trampoline until the sun had started to set. Noah called Caryn and I back on; we obliged him, but when we started to jump, it was a very different experience than before. The mat was slack, the springs were looser - they must have been because the trampoline was much easier to bounce on, and somewhat safer.

I really loved Bell's illustration, it fitted perfectly with my experience on the Kelly trampoline. God is much harder to understand when you are trying to understand Him through your own eyes, but when you jump with others, or after others, as in this case; it's not only easier, but safer. You are brought balance from the experience of others. Their wisdom is invaluable, not to mention, much less lonely.

Anyway, Velvet Elvis, by Rob Bell. Give it a read.