Monkey Bars

"Life is like a set of monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward." – C.S. Lewis

The big issue, it seems, is choosing to move forward at all, and seeing life as an opportunity to progress toward an emerging identity. In reality, we often protect (or manipulate) our days in order to resist change as if it were the plague, or at least a very bad case of poison ivy. In that case, we end up focused on preserving what we already have and know rather than opening ourselves to change and becoming new creatures in Christ.

I’ve been thinking about my own experience and how easy it is to progress through a revolving cycle. As little children we depend on others for just about everything, and yet very much want to grow up. Then we believe we know it all; feel entitled; scramble to build a life and settle in, realizing time is fleeting, health is precious, and relationships are paramount. Eventually we look back and realize Growing Up is really a matter of Letting Go and Reaching Out for the Father’s hand…like a child.

I see how everything flip-flops – sort of like when you read a book cover-to-cover, and then find yourself on page one again looking back over the whole thing. When you flip through the pages a second time, your underlinings and scribbles in the margins make more sense – and the Author is easier to trust – and you’re more willing to spend the majority of your time in that first chapter just zeroing in on what Jesus meant when He used little kids as examples of greatness.

These days the monkey bars keep calling me to lessen my grip, to flex and/or release, and to keep moving…always moving toward childlike expectancy.