Planting Trees We Will NOT Climb and Building Slides We Will Go Down
In Central Church’s generosity initiative, IMAGINE, one of the phrases used when talking about building Central Park (but really the whole point of the generosity endeavor) was “we are planting trees we will not climb.” It was another way of saying, “We are sacrificially giving today so the church of tomorrow will be strong.”
Maybe we are “Planting trees we will not climb,” but there are “slides I will go down.”
The snail-like playground installers are constructing the Central Park play-scape (one of our IMAGINE priorities). They started in September of 2021 (No, they started a week and a half ago—it only seems like 2021). Each day I drive by to see the progress and every time I think, “I coulda swore (of course I don’t swear) that I saw workers yesterday.” When you are talking about playground safety, we want the installers to take their time and do it right. I shouldn’t make fun.
Assuming they get the project done before I retire (in 2028 or so), I can’t wait to go down the slide. It won’t be the maiden voyage down the slide. Some neighborhood kids will do that when they should be in bed with sugar plumbs dancing in their heads– that’s Christmas lingo, but, at the current rate, the playground construction may still be ongoing in December (making more fun of the slow progress. Sorry).
To be fair, the very able construction crew informed us that it would look like nothing is getting done as they were pouring cement and prepping the area. It takes time to build a quality play-scape. A 10AM “Start time” and three-hour lunch “hour” may also play a role (I can’t help myself).
Be that as it may, I look forward to going down the slide. As I do, I’ll be IMAGING a future of boys and girls from our church; the Boys & Girls Club of Flint that use our facility; the children from the Fenton Lawn School across from the park; and the kids from the neighborhood swinging, sliding and having fun in Central Park. I hope moms bring their kids. I hope those children with handicaps (yes, there will be some handicap accessible areas) will likewise have fun. I hope the old, barely used softball field, will now be a center of activity.
Jesus would go to the areas where the people were congregating. He would teach, heal and bless. My prayer is Central Park is a similar place. A place filled with laughter and joy! Church and community gathering together—I can’t wait. You can be sure, I will squeal a loud “Yipppeeeee,” as I zip down the slide. I look forward to seeing all of God’s children doing the same! Remember it was Jesus who said, “Let the children come to me, and do not forbid them” (Matthew 19:14). I hope Central Park embodies that sentiment.
Now, get out of my way, I might go try out a not-yet-completed slide! As all good Nazarenes are aware: Only feet first sliding– no backsliding!
