Faitherhood – Sin, Sweat, and Swords
aley So there I was standing at the door of my new home. Well it is almost a year old. But the street still smells of 2×4’s being cut and nailed together. That woodshed smell. Like something is coming to life. So I still get to call it new. It was 95 degrees outside. But I just stood there.
The day had weighed on me. Heavy conversations sat on my shoulders while my response to these talks ran laps around my head. “I should have said…” “Man I sounded like an a**” “If only I would have shut up”. I was about to walk into my house carrying everyone I had spent time with that day. And Heather was not expecting company.
So as I stared at the little peep hole on the door, I could see myself. Only upside down. I still can’t figure out why it does that. I looked tired. Worried. Hot. Worn. Old. On the other side of the door I could hear Heather asking the girls to pick up their Polly Pocket toys. I could tell by the tone of her voice that they were not listening. I selfishly hoped Losiah was napping. I could not hear the hum of the AC so I knew that I would not be greeted by a whoosh of cold air as I opened the door. “Why does she not turn on the freaking air?” I thought. There is nothing worse than arguing with your wife in your head before you even get in the door. I took a deep breath and turned the handle.
I don’t quite remember the next few minutes. I am sure they were filled with the humdrum of a father getting home from work. Trash going out. Milk being poured. Hugs being given. Bills being stared at.
But before I knew it, there I was. On an alligator infested island. Wendy was screaming at me to please hurry and rescue Jane. She was about to fall off the boat and be eaten by the alligator. So I dove off the island and swam toward Jane. She was screaming for me to save her. The alligator was close behind me. I could feel him catching up. I swam. Swiftly. When I got to the boat I told Jane to jump. She did not want to. I told her she had to trust me. So she closed her eyes and leaped. I caught her and carried her back to the island. Wendy was thrilled. The alligator was licking my left toe. We all jumped in the water and tickled the alligator till he farted. Then we just stared at the clouds and sighed. Another adventure. Finished.
I took a break from staring at the clouds and peeked over at Seanna. I wanted to know what she was thinking. Did she know that the island was a sofa? That the boat was a coffee table? That Jane was her sister Sohaila? That the alligator was Losiah? That she was, in fact, Seanna?
“Thank you Peter” she said.
“For what Wendy?” I responded.
“For saving my sister from the alligator.”
I was still hot, a bit grumpy, and tired. But for 9 minutes, I went toe to toe with a Korean alligator and won.
Tomorrow I won’t take quite as long to open the door.
Los
Check out this whole series on Faith, Family, and Fatherhood here
RAIN IT DOWN
As I read about this experience, I had that weird, tingle thing that heats up the backside of your skin…I feel this all the time. I come home with a stomach in knots from the goings on of ministry, trying to shift gears in my head to the goings on of the family, the household…when did we become a household? But it always seems like I become the prince who slays the dragon within 3 minutes of being home. I stand there wearing a silver sequined robe and holding a plastic sword, and I am rescuing the 4-year-old sleeping beauty from the dragon. Muscles relaxing. Mind slowing. Eyebrows unfurling. Thanks for helping me remember that. She turns 4 tomorrow.
excellent.
Ragamuffin stuff!
That was really great.
Wow. Nicely done. Amazing photo too.
I love reading your thoughts and sharings of life and see sometimes my own life and struggles, but seemingly more often an image of how I wish I could see things more like you. Seemingly so much more clearly than my own.
Yeah, the worst thing of ministry is how hard it is to leave ‘work at work.’ It just seems to follow me around everywhere I go, which I suppose some should since our ‘work’ is to lead people publicly to worship. I’ve gotten to the point of silencing the phone for the first couple hours home, not opening the computer for emails, and simply enjoying snack and Hanny Manny or Lil Ine-sine and jumping off furniture and chasing the white dragons that look like cats at our house.
And yet, I read your post and am reminded of how important that is, and sometimes I overlook it! I think I’ll pick up Chloe early today and try to beat my wife home!
A) Great photo. One day, I’ll take the time to not only open the door, but take pictures when I step inside.
B) This is an encouragement to stop and enjoy the adventures I am invited into daily. Frankly, my kids imaginations confuse me. The live there. They dream something up and stay there, including me in the dialogue that takes place there. And I mostly refuse to interpret and instead ask them to join me in realityland. I don’t even enjoy realityland, why would I do such a thing.
C) You’re a great dad. Stand outside that door and remember that.
Most dads struggle with make believe – I still remember the impact it had on me to have my dad participate in our make believe – your kids will remember that as they grow. It will be a good memory. You’re doing a good job – keep up the good work.
Awesome story Los. God gives us the wonderful treasures in our lives that can have such an imagination! I just got back from my gig. Ashton is probably asleep beside our bed. Why he sleeps there I don’t know. Heather will just throw a blanket over him and he sleeps right there on the carpet. I’m going to go upstairs and watch him sleep for a bit till I fall asleep.
Man you just made me cry, in my office, during a working day as i reflected on my own failures and victories.
bless you buddy