Faith Style

Walking into the front foyer I was met by an obnoxious, red, inflatable ‘jumpy castle’. You know the ones that are usually outdoors at birthday parties? Not this one. I could barely get around. It took up the WHOLE foyer. I smiled. Looking to the right, what would be a ‘living room’ was actually a living room. The pool table covered in toys, books everywhere. If I was 3 this would be heaven. 31…turning 32 on friday…and this was heaven. Most ‘living rooms’ are never LIVED in…more like museums, you can look but dare not touch. I’ve never understood that. It actually makes me cringe. Don’t even get me started on plastic coverings for couches. We can’t handle clutter, toys strewn everywhere gives us anxiety. A jumpy castle in the foyer? The neighbours??…what will they think? When we impose our own beliefs, what we think is right/wrong on our children…the wheels of their dream wagons slowly stop turning. If we can create space (even just a bit) for our discomfort to be, well, uncomfortable…what was once obnoxious, red, inflatable and subject to gossip…now becomes possibility. The WHO that really matters get to be the dreamers, explorers and adventurers who IN their castles, believe they can do anything. No boundaries, with the freedom that they can build their castles anywhere. Life lived by museum rules of NO or don’t touch, creates limits, restrictions and ideas. Children become discouraged to even ‘try’ new things. They no longer dream or even believe they are capable of anything. When WE begin to let go however NO becomes ‘try this’. Encouragement empowers failure. We learn from our mistakes. Let your own beliefs be just that, you’re own. The idea of how YOUR world should be (I bet) has held you back from enjoying what truly is important. The messy, juicy-ness of life. Cake batter on the counter, toys in every corner of the house, socks on the floor and for those of you who are really brave…a jumpy castle in the foyer…