From Velcro to Shoelaces

"Why do I have to learn how to tie my shoes?"  My seven year old son asked in a somewhat disgruntled voice.  "Velcro is lots easier."

"Because only children and old men wear Velcro shoes,"  I said.  "And you are moving out of one group and it will be awhile before you hit the other one.  Beyond which, it is handy to be able to tie a knot that you might someday be able to also untie."


"But Velcro shoes are so much cooler than tie shoes,"  Elliot told me.  "And I'll waste so much time every day tying my shoes when I could just Velcro them on."

It is an odd conversation to have.  I probably have wasted years of my life tying my shoes, at the same time, I can't imagine wanting Velcro shoes before my hands get to arthritic to tie a regular shoe.  And don't get me started on Crocs!

At the same time, I think there is inside of us something that resists learning lessons that we don't think are important.  It isn't just tying shoes, but also things like state capitals, algebra, and all sorts of other things that school children complain are unimportant.

In a sense, God is our teacher as we get older.  Only the lessons He chooses for us aren't very easy and the answers can't be written neatly in a college ruled notebook.  His lessons for us are often titled things like "Faith," "Patience," and "Humility." 

I've not always been good at learning these challenging lessons and all too often I think to myself that I know enough about this one subject.  "God," I have prayed before.  "I know you know best and I think you are trying to teach me something, but could we move on to another lesson please?"

He gently keeps working with me.  His goal is for me to be like Jesus and truthfully that is my goal too, even if sometimes I struggle with what it takes to get there.

Lessons are seldom easy.  Even ones that involve moving from Velcro to shoe laces.