Some families make a summer of going to different, local VBS programs. One day, I thought of what it would look like if there was a VBS critic, much like a movie or concert critic. That inspired my “How do you rate vacation Bible school?” cartoon.
Seriously though, if we’re going to host a big program like VBS, we need to consider how effective it is and how we can improve it. And if the volunteers have to eat the snacks, we would like them to be palatable to grown-ups too!
No matter where you are, there is always a kid on the playground that will test the boundaries of the rules. Some will be blatant about it. Some will subtly test the boundaries until someone notices.
The same kids grow up to test boundaries. You see every day on the highways. Speed limits are conquered, red lights are beaten and accidents happen.
Cartoon of a business man jumping off a swing. The caption says, “Playground tester, Cyrus Kolter demonstrates his graceful form as he jumps off a swing.”
My dad is an insurance guy. He spent his career as an underwriter. He sees safety hazards wherever he goes. Sometimes, that didn’t make trips to the playground fun. I didn’t realize the curly slides could be such a death trap.
All the same, he taught me to pay attention to my surroundings. Too many times, we assume a playground, a school or any public place is safe. While officials like Cyrus Kolter do their best to make these places attractive and without hazards, It’s always a good idea to pay attention and survey the area instead of plunging right in to that merry-go-round of misery.
Have fun, people! But play it safe too!
Cartoon of a boy holding a frisbee. The boy says, “They say start with achievable goals. Today, my goal is to catch this Frisbee®.”
The funny thing about goals is they can motivate you to get moving. But if you aren’t motivated, it’s hard to set goals. If you are down in the dumps, it can be easy to moan, “What’s the point?”
If you find yourself in this predicament, I’ve found that setting small goals can help get the momentum back in your favor. And yes, they can be a silly as catching a Frisbee® if that is important to you (and I find that to be an especially good goal if you can catch it behind your back or between your legs).
Often, I can get overwhelmed if I try to reach an unreachable, lofty goal. If you find yourself in such a situation, break that big goal into little, reachable goals. Each positive step you take can get you moving in the right direction.
The other night we had green punch at our church for a Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. The kids were drinking it as if it was going out of style. And you know what happened, don’t you? That’s right… green lips! It led to a condition we all know as “leprechaun lips.”
Some kids started grinning from ear-to-ear, and then show their big, green tongues. Other kids decided to give their best duck faces. The kids were having a blast, but the older group didn’t know what to make of it. The senior citizens that witnessed the mess looked on with bemused, puzzled glances.
I love this about kids. Something as simple as green punch becomes a fun activity. Meanwhile, anyone older than twelve in the group wouldn’t dream of showing their newly created, odd appearance. It wouldn’t be proper, right?
What makes you inhibited? Are you afraid of acting like a fool? Are you more concerned with how you will look to people instead of having a little fun? Let it go! Have some fun with the kids today. Don’t worry about how other adults will perceive you. They are secretly wishing they could have some fun anyway!
