June 27, 2006

A Little Boy's Playground

My wife called me from the 7th floor of the Alden Street parking garage last Saturday evening. The sun had just set, the dedication ceremony was over, and the cement trucks were roaring into position, beginning to pour the foundation to the new Florida Hospital patient tower.

"There are trucks everywhere, and engines running loudly, and brilliant lights, and cranes, cranes, and more cranes!" Brenda ran all the words together with excitement. "If our son Jeremy were still a little boy we'd never be able to pull him away from here. It is a little boy's playground!"

"Must be a little like NASCAR," I thought as she described the scene.

There's something about the rumble of a good muffler, the odor of an oily carburetor, and the sound of gears shifting that brings out the little boy in most men. Add to that the beauty of bright red cement trucks traveling in convoy around Lake Estelle and it is almost spiritual.

Almost.

Add a couple chrome-covered air-brushed motorcycles and it would be perfect!

I used to think that it was sexist to believe boys preferred cars and girls preferred other things. Then our grandson came along and immediately fell in love with anything shiny, loud, and fast. That's OK. His dad has proudly taught him how to dunk a basketball, pound a drum, and race a trike. Mom, on the other hand, has also helped him fall in love with cats, teddy bears, and awesome food. Together, they have turned him into a great cuddler.

Some of who we are we get from genes. No choices.

Some of who we are we get from parents and teachers. Few choices.

But, much of who we are is the result of choices we make each day. We are what we choose to become.

Like our son Jeremy. If he had been in Orlando for The Pour he would have loved the trucks and the noise, but would likely have spent most of his time making friends with the drivers and the policemen. For him, people are #1-most important and fascinating.

We have each been crafted by God, filled with our parents' genes, grown in slightly crazy environments, and personally invited to live as one of God's Kids. "Come," He says, "let's keep talking. I'll lead you to a life of snow-white purity and resounding joy! It'll be like a playground filled with the finest of everything you've ever imagined!" (Isaiah 1:18...Jeremiah 29:11-14... Philippians 4:4)

Dick Duerksen
Assistant Vice President
Mission Development
Florida Hospital