Month: December 2009

Yesterday was Sunday. Generally viewed/treated/participated in as a “Sabbath” by most of the contemporary Christian world. Approached a little differently by me, simply because of the “work” (that I love) it sometimes involves. Nevertheless, I still try to approach the day differently from the other 6.

This time, I was on vacation. Far from home in Decatur, IL. Surrounded by people loading up into their mini-vans with tucked in shirts who have no clue I’m usually with them in a church on Sunday. Being seen by those others who generally spend Sunday morning relaxing in bed, or at a nice breakfast out. a.k.a – today, I didn’t attend a church, though I did spend time in Sabbath, and in worship.

Yes, I missed/miss my church family. Being where our lives connect purposefully, rubbing shoulders just in case we’ve not had a chance in the past week. Looking for ways we can become the Kingdom proclaiming/building community God enables/calls us to be.

Here in Orlando, there are plenty of other people on vacation. I imagined some of the others around me having similar thoughts. Missing their church back home. Or perhaps, relaxing while not having to get the kids ready and hoping they don’t interrupt the preacher’s sermon at inopportune moments. Maybe for many, vacation Sabbath is more Sabbath than most.

In any case, it was a good day all around. We ended the day by rubbing shoulders with a fast-paced visit to “CityWalk” at Universal Studios. A free, outdoor shopping/eating center basically…with some fancy hype to make it feel theme-park-ish. It was fun. One of those goosebump-ish moments where you pray in the beginning “God, give me your love for these people, even the strange ones who dash in front of the stroller I push”, simply to survive.

But God responds, by randomly filling you with a “Whoville” type of experience where you want to just grab a random stranger near you and hug him because you’re experiencing just a sliver of God’s immense love for each of these people. Yup…it was neat. 🙂

In the end, I didn’t hug any strangers, but I didn’t get too upset when they cut in front of me either. 🙂 And caught just a glimpse of the (creative/energy/joy/experience/taste/smell) Kingdom in the midst of commercialized a-musement (non-thinking). 🙂 Shalom Shabbat.

One of the things that used to be great about vacations seemed to be the ability to “let go” of yourself in many ways. After all, most of the people around you in this faraway land are either locals whom you’ll never see again, or travelers from other distant lands, also looking to get away from the routine of their lives for a bit.

Sure, you’re expected to be cordial. Practice an adequate level of hygiene that says “you can sit next to me”, but not quite “you’d desire to sit next to me”. And what you wear? Who cares. As long as it covers you legally, and you feel comfortable in it.

I remember coming to Disney World when I was a kid. Gaudy clothes, fanny packs, bad bed head, and mismatched socks seemed to be the “I’m on vacation” uniform. Perhaps it’s an unfair statement to make, reminiscing as if those were the “good old days”, when actually it’s quite possible that the images I remember WERE actually the style of the day.

But as I’ve walked around the crowds of people, with each individual seemingly walking as if the world was created for THEM, (never mind other people and strollers, and 3 year olds walking, thank you very much) I’ve noticed a notable difference. PEOPLE SEEM TO CARE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE. Seriously. WAAAAAY too much. You’ve paid way too much money to walk around staring at fictional cartoon characters, the popularity of which goes up with how silly they talk and how many talking inanimate objects their movie contains. And you’re still going to try and act tough/sultry (not sure what “sultry” means really, but couldn’t think of a good female version of acting “tough”).

Meanwhile I’ve got a pretty good shiny patch of drool on my shoulder, courtesy of Ruby. I’ve got an even shinier and hardening patch of snot and something else, courtesy of Sophie. At any given moment, I can be seen making a pretty ridiculous facial expression, courtesy of Addison.

All of that to say, I think more people need to experience being a parent. Not simply “having kids”. But actual parenting that becomes a practice in letting go of self. Not in a way that I become nothing, but in a way that my meaning and worth come from somewhere other than me, and what advertisers have conditioned/sold me on.

Now if only I could remember all this in the moment….:)

# 0 – ask my wife. She was pretty much awesome at researchin’ and planning it all out. But for real, if you only have one day, and wanna fit as much as you can/care to into it….and with a 3 year old, an almost 2 year old, and a 7 month old….this is how you do:

#1 – In line at 8am, board mono-rail at 8:45, head straight to Dumbo. Seriously…don’t get distracted by all the stuff they throw at you when you walk in. Even the picturesque etc. etc. Take a split second to laugh at families getting their pictures taken with stuffed animals…seriously.

#2 – After Dumbo, you have options. Several kid-oriented rides surround you. If you opt for Snow White, take caution that the word “Scary” IS actually in the title. Seriously…not a ride for 3 year olds really. But they can survive it. 🙂 Enjoy being able to drop your stroller off with all the others outside nearly EVERY ride! (don’t leave valuables, so you don’t worry)

#3 – After 2 or 3 kiddie rides, and maybe a trip through the Haunted Mansion, you may wanna take a break. Both the Philharmagic and the Country Bear Jamboree (if your kids would rather clap and laugh than sit and stare with glasses on) are in walking distance.

#4 – You’re probably hungry by now, and the kids ask for a snack in EVERY line….so get something here. No need to be fancy, just fuel for the tank. Go cheap and fast. 🙂

#5 – Head to Toontown. In just a couple hours you can: 1. play in a pretty nice, contained toddler play area. 2. tour Mickey’s house and get a private picture audience with Mickey & Minnie. 3. Have an audience with Cinderella, Belle, and Sleeping Booty all in a row at the Hall of Fame!!!
#6 – Leave the park and get a nap. Blasphemy, or wisdom? For us…it was definitely wisdom.

#7 – Head back in time to see the (around Christmas) lighting of Cinderella’s castle. Pretty sweet. Then lock a spot for the parade while you alternate shopping, snacking, and dinnering. Make a few friends with other parade-waiters. Watch the parade, and catch the fireworks from the mono-rail back to parking. 🙂 You’ve survived!!
ps. Try and go with a ridiculously awesome family who helped make it all happen, and happen more smoothly than I would ever dare to try on my own. Who sacrifice time spent in other places doing other things….thanks everyone. 🙂 It was “Magical”.