Outstanding In My Field

Life Metaphor

07:05, Sunday, February 3, 2008 .. Link

CaraDD and I teach a middle school Sunday school class most every Sunday morning. Last Sunday we had no classes because of all the glorious snow and the week prior, we had finished up a series on choosing wisely. So this morning rolled around and I hadn't given much thought as to what to share with the little darlings.

I am in the process of (re)reading The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren. I'm not in the strict 40 day program, but I am reading no more than a day's worth at a time so it can rattle around in my skull for a while (like a BB in a boxcar). The chapter I read last night (I think it was chapter 5) talked about life metaphors. So that's what I had the kids do this morning.

Start with the words "Life is a..." then finish the sentence. Then add a few more to help explain the metaphor. You can't say "Life is like..." because that's a simile, and while useful, it's not part of the assignment. So I turned the kids loose with that. Some of their life metaphors were quite thoughtful.

Life is a toilet: What do you do when it gets plugged up?
Life is a skating rink: You may fall down, but you can get back up again.
Life is a square: School, sports, boys, and God.
Life is a chess game: It takes strategy. Wing it and you might lose.
Life is a roller coaster: You go up, down, and all around and then you die.
Life is a basketball game: You never know what play is coming up next.
Life is a blank page: You can't think of anything to write, even though you can write what you want.
Life is a mud puddle: Never clean and never clear.
Life is a freeway: You can travel two directions and you can choose which one.

I found all of these to be quite deep for middle school kids, except the blank page might have been somewhat of a cop out. Either way, I was quite impressed. So impressed that I decided to add my own to the list: Life is a tin of sardines. We're all of us looking for the key. Actually I stole that from a Beyond The Fringe skit called "Take A Pew"

Anyway, in Warren's book, he presents three biblical life metaphors. We only discussed the first one, namely: Life here on earth is a test. The bible uses words like trial, temptation, refine, and such over 200 times. God is interested in how we react to difficult situations. It's easy to love God watching a beautiful sunset. It's a different story altogether when a senseless tragedy shakes you to the core.

The good news is that life is a test that God wants you to pass. He says that He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability to bear. No matter what it feels like, when the time for decision and action comes, God is there with His strength, should you call for it. Most people fail the test because they fail to ask God for the way out. He doesn't make it available to you until you need it and then only when you ask. So what if you don't know if you need it or not? Maybe that's why it's suggested we pray without ceasing.

So what is your life metaphor?

Now where is that key?

~D

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