A Way of Life

Sitting in McDonalds watching my kids play in the play area is a true joy. Not because of the noise, the empty tasteless calories of a Happy Meal; not because of the kids with runny noses who insist on rubbing it all over their hands and then touching every toy in sight; but because my kids laugh. They laugh with delight and giggle as other kids chase them. I love that.

Soon after I drift to watch the parents of the kids there.  Some of whom my children are chasing in a game of hide and seek.  Some single parents, some parents who this might be their only outing that day, and others who meet their friends for a quick lunch. I watch one pair in particular. A nice family. The father and mother along with their only child. I turn my head and no longer do I see the father there. The mother and 3 year old son finish eating their food and are waiting for something. Did Dad go use the restroom? Go back to order more food? Get something out of the car?  nope.

It’s raining outside.  The boy soon sees his dad right outside the window of playland, looking in. He pulls out a cigarette and lights up.    Mom and the son are waiting for dad to smoke his cigarette. Waiting patiently I might add. Dad stands there and looks in to see his boy; he waves, ….in the rain. That dad’s cigarette was more important to him than what his family wanted or spending time with them. He was worshiping. I couldn’t believe someone would stand out there to smoke and make his family wait for him to finish. He was worshiping.

As Harold Best points out in his book, “Unceasing Worship” we are never ceasing worshipers.  All the time, every where we go, we are worshiping. With our money, time and energy, we are saying to ourselves and to the world what is most important to us. This father at McDonalds cigarette, or more likely his need for nicotine, was more important than his family, more important than getting wet, more important than spending a little more time with his son, more important than anything else.  His need above all others. He was worshiping himself. He was god and he wanted what he wanted no matter what. Am I being harsh or overly simplistic? could be. But I’m right.  More importantly God is right when he says that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Is it wrong to smoke? Not sure and not the point. What is evident to me is that we all want what we want and don’t care too much about others if they stand in the way. Sure we can be patient but we eventually will get or do what we want.  Because  we are all born worshiping ourselves and our needs above everything else.  The question becomes, will we continue to worship ourselves, or worship Him who made the mountains and the seas?