Bored? Climb a Mimosa Tree!

“I’m so bored!” Famous words from kids during their summer vacation even with all the technology gadgets they own – they still get weary from the same-o, same-o!

Did you complain of boredom when you were a kid? I did. My Mom’s reply to that – “Go outside and play. Make some soup.” WHAT? Oh, I knew what she meant. She wanted me to go outside because that's where we had lots of "play-grounds and play-gyms" that resolved boredom by offering great opportunities for imagination and adventures. My playground and gym was a mimosa tree in our front yard that I climbed and pretended I was in a fortress from all my enemies and when I got hungry, I made a delicious soup to share with my friends.

Those memories came back to me when we were at Beaver’s Bend this spring and mimosa trees were everywhere. I pointed them out to my grands! I still think a mimosa is the prettiest tree in the world. Its leaves are like ferns. Its flowers are pink puffballs. And it blooms in summer when few other trees do and when the puffballs fade, the tree grows hundreds of 6-inch long, bean-like, brown seedpods which hang from every branch.

As I said, not only did we climb my tree and ward off evil pirates from my “tree ship”, but we would take the bean pods from it and break it up into a big pot. We’d add the leaves, seeds, pods, and flowers from it, and add a little dirt for seasoning. Then, we pretended to cook it and enjoy our scrumptious pot of mimosa stew! BTW – I just found out in writing this post for today, that we could have actually boiled up the flowers for a real mimosa healthy drink. Both its flowers and bark were traditionally used as a sedative, specifically for calming and lifting one's spirit. HOLY MOLY! I could use a jug of it right now in dealing with my Animal Kingdom here in Austin!

We also pretended to be school teachers and mothers and sometimes we did some things that required bravery – like riding our bicycles with no hands or jumping off the high diving board. Sometimes our imaginations went too far. I’ll never forget the trouble my friend and I got into when we wanted a swimming pool and dug an 8 ft X 8 ft X 1 ft hole in my backyard. We were caught when we were adding water to “our luxurious mud pit”.

I’ll bet you can remember some wild and crazy adventures when you were a kid. Those adventures sure did break up the boredom. I talked about adventures in my post yesterday and it seems I’m on a soapbox for living life to the fullest, with no room for boredom. In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you change and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” What exactly does that mean….especially when you’re as “mature” as I am? Of course, God wants us to come before Him as children, because children are innocent, and trust with a pure heart. To go before God as a child is to go with wide-eyed wonder that comes from total faith. Our Heavenly Father – our great Creator was an Adventurer par excellence (just think about all the adventures He directed His kids into – water-walking, water-parting, boat rides on stormy seas, giants tumbling with a mere stone from a shepherd boy’s sling, falling into pits and landing up in a palace). It sure seems like, as His children, it should be just “natural” to be adventure seekers because of the childlike faith we possess.

Here’s the thing -- God didn’t create us for boredom! We are always being “pushed” to be more, do more, experience more, celebrates more, live life larger than ever before. Here’s another GREAT verse. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing and they will do even GREATER things than these because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

So, why sit in the recliner of boredom, complacency, and idleness when there's so much to see, so much greater things to do and so much to experience? This world is the greatest "playground". Why should we be "dead men and women walking", instead of people who are alive, imaginative, creative AND adventurous? I’m already planning my next adventure. How about you?

Go Outside and Make Soup

“I’m so bored!” Famous words from kids during their summer vacation. Did you complain of boredom when you were a kid? I did. My Mom’s reply to that – “Go outside and make soup.” WHAT? Oh, I knew what she meant. She wanted me to go outside and play, because that's where we had lots of "play grounds" that resolved boredom. Playgrounds that offered great imagination and adventures. We had a Mimosa tree in our front yard. We kids would take the bean pods from it and break it up into a big bowl. We’d add the leaves, seeds, pods and flowers from it and other trees, and add a little dirt for seasoning. We didn’t eat it, but we had so much fun pretending we were cooks. That little pretend scenario was one of many we imagined. We pretended to be school teachers, and sometimes we did some things that required bravery – like riding our bicycles – no hands, or climbing trees to get into our "club house". Sometimes our imagination went too far. I’ll never forget the trouble my friend and I got into when we wanted a swimming pool and dug an 8 foot by 8 foot by 1 foot hole in my backyard. We were finally caught when we were adding water to “our pit”. I’ll bet you can remember some wild and crazy adventures when you are a kid. Those adventures sure did break up monotony and boredom.

Even more so as adults, we know that adventures break up monotony and the same oh, same oh routines. That’s why our family loves fishing in lakes, ponds AND in oceans.

"Boredom” isn’t a word used in my vocabulary any more. I seem to be flying by the seat of my pants….quite regularly. In a moment’s notice, you might find me hitting the road to go see my kids in Texas, or taking off to a fun location or venue with friends, or volunteering for yet another ministry outreach.

Here’s the thing -- God didn’t create us for boredom! In John 10:10, Jesus said “I have come to give you LIFE, and LIFE more abundantly!” The question is “Are we taking Him up on His offer?”
We are always being “pushed” to be more, do more, experience more, celebrate more, live life larger than ever before. Here’s another great verse. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing and they will do EVEN GREATER things than these because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

So, why sit in the pit of boredom, complacency, and idleness when there's so much to see, so much to do and so much to experience? This world is the greatest ";playground". Why be "dead men and women walking", instead of people who are alive, imaginative, creative AND adventureous? After all, this ABUNDANT LIFE is ready for us to enjoy it to the fullest.