Bowling

Mel made the arrangements and reserved two lanes at the end of the alley, ordered a great buffet and the fun was on. One lane was for the kids and one for the adults. The kids had never been in a bowling alley so we weren't sure how this was all going to pan out, oh but how we were surprised. The whole bowling experience was a hit, from the fitting of the shoes to picking up the ball, to the big screen videos, to the music, to the food, to the automatic overhead scorekeepers with their names on it to the actual bowling. They squealed, jumped up and down, gave high fives and cheered every time even one pin went down. Catherine is 3, William is four and Blake is five and even Sam had his name on the roster and pushed the ball down the lane a couple of times. He was not so fond of letting the ball go though. Molly, the baby sat and watched from her bouncy chair and Jon, the girls, Jennifer and Jamie and Mel and I competeted at every turn. Mel prevailed! Jennifer got the award for best starter each game, but to no winning avail, and Jamie was clearly the most improved. Jon and I just took our turns in hopeful expectation.

Our lanes were of customary structure...gutters on either side. And for the kids lane, what used to be blown up gutter pads have now been changed to rubber guard rails that are raised from beneath. So each time the kids threw a ball it bounced from one side to another and ended us satisfactorily nudging at least one pin and knocking it and often times some of its companions down, much to the sheer delight of a watching audience. The guard rails prevented the balls from ever going in the gutter. It didn't matter how the kids went about moving the ball from the staring pin of the lane down to the pins, they quickly realized that as long as they tried with conviction and hope the path was protected and the course of the ball was funneled to its rightful destination.

Guard rails, oh how many times I feel like I can do whatever is before me without any help, and I end up with gutter balls and getting way off path. I considered the purpose of a 'guard'...any kind of guard, and a guard is stationed a point to protect either something from getting in or something from going out. It is a set up as a shield of some sort. Well, guard rails are just what God has offered to each of us. His shield is a set of instructions that guard us and keep the good stuff in and the bad stuff out or in the case of emotions or careless words or unnecessary and unkind responses etc., the reverse. God's guard helps us, if we allow it, to accomplish His goal of keeping us on his path.

The deal about the guard rails in bowling is that if we were to use them as adults, we would laughed at, and with great certainty people would contend that we needed to grow up. Too many times we push God aside or refuse his assistance because we don't want to be perceived as immature or needy or weak. It is a natural bent to accept the challenge of life on our own without need of God's sufficiently or his sovereignty. For we don't want people to think we need a crutch to be able to perform successfully. And not only do we not want others to perceive us as needy but we ourselves tend to want the accolades of accomplishments to fall upon us rather than give God the credit and glory that he rightfully deserves.

I don't think the kids really realized that they had a crutch, they just thought it was a rightful set up, and accepted the rails as part of their
tools for success. Isn't that what God offers us? Guard rails...a built in conscience established by his Holy Spirit that keeps our desires, our words, our temptations, and our deeds at bay, and on His track. We will always remain his children and be needy of his sideline help. And we shouldn't be embarrassed before others when they see we have become dependent on the sideline crutches that God offers. What a blessing that we have been chosen as recipients of his word, his way and his love. Nobody wants to land in the gutter, and when we allow God to set up his guard rails as we bowl through life, that is where we will find success, His success through us and for us but always to his glory.

And this is my lesson for the day. As long as we have God's guard rails flaking us on every side, then chances are not matter how we bowl through our circumstances, we are going to score. Oh what a blessing of delight it was to watch my little friends have such a joyful time....and we too had our fun as adults. It was filled with a joy, as only God can give!

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
2 Timothy 1:14
Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you-guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Dear Lord, I know that I do need your guard rails, each and every moment of every day. For without them, I have seen what happens and gutter balls are a familiar occurrence. Help remind me each day to set them up and be prepared with confidence to bowl through life this day as you would have me do. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!