Anticipation

I sat at the stoplight Saturday, a beautiful and hot spring Saturday. I watched the cars go by, looking at the individuals in each car. One small truck had a dad and his son in it, all suited up for a Little League game. They take baseball seriously here, where we've had several boys drafted and playing in both the Major and Minor leagues.

I remember twelve years ago being in the same place as that dad and son. There was nothing like playing ball on Saturdays. Both my sons did the Little League and traveling league thing, and I coached. The sights and sounds, of spring in the air, fresh cut grass and the smell of leather. One of my sons said that "a bad day between the white lines was better than a good day anywhere else".

I saw the expression on the face of the boy in the truck. It was the same expression I saw on my boys' face. That sweet anticipation of playing in a big game, and knowing you'd spend the day at the ballpark. A smile, twinkling eyes and some butterflies. The kind of day a boy is made for.

And I have to admit, Dad had that anticipation too.

While I sat at the light and thought about those things, I thought of something else. Do we have the same anticipation when we go to meet the Lord in prayer or worship? Or do we do it out of duty or guilt? Do we await the Lord's coming and spending eternity with Him with the same anticipation a boy has for a Saturday ball game? We should be running to meet Him when we go to worship or prayer.

That's part of what the Word is speaking to when it says we need to come as little children. Isn't that what we are made for?