Today

Today, I awoke early to the persistent, beeping reminder that Jody's phone had text messages waiting. Three of them. Having gone on a walk, Jody wasn't around to respond. So, I lumbered out of bed, silenced the inconsiderate phone, and decided to study in the quietness before my kids arose.

For 3 hours, I grappled through Romans 7 and 8, reading commentaries, Greek phrases, and chapter summaries. I took some notes on my computer in between my newly awakened children asking for breakfast or telling a pressing story. I meditated on "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" while Spongebob blared in the background. As I thought about sin, both as an action as as a personal force in our broken world, Noah declared that the Cleveland Cavaliers might possibly hire Byron Scott as their coach - a move that may entice LeBron James to stay.

I decided to finish my morning musing with the 11th verse of chapter 8: "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." I stopped at that majestic verse because I found my mind wandering to a weird sound coming from our new refrigerator. If I can't stay focused on that verse, it's time to hang it up.

The dog barked, apparently at phantoms (or possibly the fridge). My email inbox pinged to alert me to a message from a friend wondering how I was doing. My stomach growled. I noticed that I was still wearing my pajamas well after 10 a.m.

I got cleaned up. I fed the kids pizza for lunch. I made a lunch date next week with a pastor friend to pick his brain about church leadership. I asked Noah to feed the dog. I cleaned up the kitchen and threw in a load of laundry.

Then I tried to persuade my boys to go watch Toy Story 3 during the afternoon. One flatly said that it would be over his dead body before he would see that kiddie movie. Apparently he felt himself too old and mature for such things. One other son said, "Nah, I'd rather play my video game this afternoon. Maybe some other time." I shrugged and gave up my plans. My final son (of course) was then disappointed because he really wanted to go and "didn't ever get to do anything because of his brothers." Where, I wondered, is that "life" Romans 8 kept talking about?

Tonight - supper, vacation bible school and a baseball game (the final one I hope). I have a Netflix disc to mail, a book I would like to pick up at Lifeway, and a poorly judged, home improvement purchase to return to Menards. I need to fold a bunch of laundry and mow the yard, but the weather outside is begging me to procrastinate all of that and just soak up the sun. Maybe I'll pull the plug on my "video-game-crazy-kids" and shove them outdoors for some basketball or bike riding. Maybe I'll take them for a walk.

Sounds like quite a day, doesn't it?

I can't help but think that maybe, if I open my eyes wide enough (even on this mundane and monotonous day called today), I will see afresh that our "spirit is alive" because Christ is in us.

I believe that. So, today, as long as it is today, I will keep watching and living.