Left behind

2 December. Day two.

Earlier this evening my daughter and I were playing with kinetic sand. If you don’t know what this is, it is sand that has been bound together, but not into a solid mass, rather into a flexible and moldable substance that can be squeezed and squished and shaped into various things.

As we were enjoying the texture of the sand protruding through our fingers, I said to her, “Tonight we are going to read Luke 2.” And she responded with, ” yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah!” I was thrilled! She was anticipating the next part of the story and I couldn’t wait to read it together.

After reading the passage this evening, the portion that lingered with me is near the end, namely verses 41-50. It’s the part where Jesus’ parents leave him behind, and head off home after attending the Passover Feast. When they realize he is not in their convoy they search for him and eventually rush back to Jerusalem to find Jesus sitting in the temple, in his Fathers house, by His Fathers work. He was content. He was secure. He was purposeful.

The brief moment of enjoying some time together with my daughter, focusing on the substance we were manipulating, having some small talk conversation and just being together, was focused, we were content and we were doing something purposeful (trying to create something from the sand before it toppled over). We were not anxiously looking for the next thing to do. We were not rushing to complete it so we could start something else. We were just content, secure and purposeful.

This whole idea of FOMO (fear of missing out) can rob us so quickly of priceless purposeful moments. Jesus was left behind. He was not part of the group heading off again. He remained. He chose to be in His Fathers house, by His Fathers work. He chose to remain content, secure and purposeful.

How about remaining this season, or being left behind this holiday, or not rushing off again to the next festive event. How about embracing a heart attitude of being content, secure and purposeful in all that we do! And how about being in our Fathers House, by His work and being content with that!