Grass Stains and Muddy Sneakers

"Play 60" is a campaign that the National Football League is promoting to battle childhood obesity by encouraging vigorous, but fun, outdoor activitity.  It is a program that uses the allure of popular athletes as motivation.  The idea is not new, however.  In my youth, children were also encouraged to get outside and play for substantial periods of time.  Only the method of encouragement was different.

 

"Shut the television off right now and go play outside.  It's a beautiful day!"  That was what our encouragement sounded like, though the tone and use of "colorful" words varied from family-to-family.

 

Parents in our day knew that outside activity was good for kids, so they encouraged it.  They know it today as well, but because many moms and dads are working away from the home, they are not always present to encourage the shutting down of computers and televisions in order to experience live-action playing.  Society, as in the NFL and others, also understands the value, however, and have stepped in to use their clout to encourage good, heart-pumping behavior.

 

There are consequences to going outside to play, however.  And while we focus on the positive aspects, there are things that are less-than-appealing.  First, we are going to get dirty.  There is mud to get on our shoes and grass stains waiting to besmirch the knees of our pants.  There are rocks to trip over and friends that are not going to be nice or play fair.  There are bikes to fall off of.  And there are competitive games waiting to embarrass those of us who are less skilled in the "physical arts."  And perhaps worst of all, if we play too hard, we might end up out-of-breath.  The outside world is filled with undesirable things.

 

But parents still insist that their children go there.  They are well aware of all of the things that I have just mentioned, but they know that the positive benefits far outweigh the negatives.  They know that children can't get stained knees until they experience the soft, beauty of grass.  They know that their shoes can't get mud in the tread until they have traveled to mysterious, new places.  They know that their children can't get their feelings hurt by anyone until they have interacted with others.  And perhaps most important of all, they understand that they cannot impact the world until they have made themselves a part of it. 

 

The positive results that come from getting outside cannot be attained without first stepping out.

 

I think that sometimes God might be saying, "Turn off the spiritual television and go outside."  I think He might get tired of us watching and expect us to interact.  Certainly He is aware that when we do, our knees will get stained from falling down.  He also knows that dirt will attach itself to the bottom of our shoes.  He understands that our feelings will get hurt and we will be treated unfairly.  But He also knows that we will get fat and lazy if we don't exercise.  He knows that we will become selfish if we don't interact with others.  And He knows that we won't be able to impact the world if we aren't a part of it.

 

I think He's willing to let us get a little dirty, tired, and mistreated if ultimately we are able to take His love outside, into a world that really needs it.