REFLECTIONS

Swings, Slides, and See-Saws

Whether real or imagined, faint memories of entering the first grade still stir fear-mixed excitement. Among familiar faces melded with many I’d never seen before, I passed through the school door into a new adventure.

For four enchanting years Alamo School became like a second home. Children I knew joined those I didn’t to fill my classroom, the lunchroom, and the playground with new friends. We learned the “Three Rs” together there. And we learned about each other.

When I remember the playground today, I recall the recess bell seting off footraces for the swings, slides, and see-saws on a playground spacious enough to run freely and play other games. I believe that playground is where character was both developed and revealed. And on that playground, we began to learn how to manage our differences.

The swings attracted those with delight in the thrill of heights and the rush of air from speeding back and forth. There were those neighboring swings, but except for an occasional helpful push, there was little interaction with them. Swings seemed to fit those who found satisfaction in being alone and doing their own thing.

Slides provided a similar thrill, but sometimes while waiting in line for their turn, or when someone helped them after a landing went wrong, there were more opportunities for interaction with others.

Unlike swings and slides, see-saws require two people—two collaborative people. Each person alternates having both feet on the ground. When they thrust themselves up from that control position, control transfers to the other party on whom they then depend to return the favor. See-saw partners exercise trust as they alternate the positions of power and vulnerability. It requires the see-saw partners to:  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility considers others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Is a lesson there somewhere?

For a short time, that’s what the early church did.

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org

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