Mining Jewels in the Jefferson Gym

I took a break from digging for treasure in the diaper pail last week, and I mined some jewels in the gym; the Jefferson Intermediate School gym, to be precise.  I showed up over the noon hour in crazy green and white striped knee highs and a hunger for victory. The big day had finally come! It was time for the parent-kid dodgeball match.

One of the highlights of being a fifth-grader is the opportunity to participate in weekly intramural games over the lunch hour. Packed into a sweat-stenched gym, the students AND their teachers compete for bragging rights. Throughout the course of the school year, the students have perfected their dodgeball prowess. Last week, they were ready to test their skills against their parents. 

Thankfully, the teachers, who usually play with their classes, joined the parents in the match-up against the kids. No novices to the dodgeball scene, these totally cool educators led the adults to victory.  Without their spunk and expertise, parents would have been lying in the dust, pelted to death with foam balls flung from the hands of merciless fifth grade boys.

As I watched the experts knock off the persistent opposition, I decided that the Apostle Paul would have liked fifth grade intramurals.  After all, the lessons one learns from watching a dodgeball battle in a school gym are similar to the lessons learned by believers caught in the midst of spiritual battle.

                                                                       Ephesians 6:10

While the majority of parent players got knocked out quickly, the teachers survived until the game’s end.

And young Miss Abele may teach fifth graders about reading and writing, but she could have taught kindergarteners about Mr. F and his fast feet. With a glint in her eye, she weaved in and out of the action with the swiftness of a fox. Obviously a favorite target of the opposing students, she ducked the balls aimed at her head, jumped those flung at her feet and dodged the ones beamed at her middle. It appeared that no dart took her by surprise. Fortunately for her team, Miss Abele was ready for whatever bullets came her way.

 

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you wil be fully prepared.

-Ephesians 6:15

 

I may not slip on a pair of silly striped socks and play a round of dodge ball again until my next child reaches the fifth grade. But I will certainly slip on my ARMOR today as I dodge a few unseen bullets. Then, like the zany fifth grade teachers, I’ll embrace the chance to play the game and pray that when the battle’s done, I’ll still be standing.

 

Today’s Treasure: 

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will be standing firm.