Daddy, can I?

I recently had the honor of taking part in an event with my church called “Project|One”.  The idea behind it was inspired by the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina a few years ago.  As soon as disaster struck, groups of men and women from the church loaded up tools and supplies and made their way down to Mississippi to help rebuild a small town called Bay St. Louis.

Scott Wilson, an active member of the church, felt a profound calling from God to extending to our local community the idea of serving others in this way.  So was born Project|One.  1000 people on 1 day with over 100 projects – helping our neighbors in practical ways. Together, we helped those in our community who are either financially or physically unable to fix, clean up, paint or construct some aspect of their home or non-profit facility.

This was my fourth year to help (I wish it could be more often) and I feel more and more blessed with each project.  This year, our’s was to help re-side and insulate a wonderful gentleman’s home.  He was physically and financially unable to get it done himself. So, together with a fantastic crew of seasoned professionals and others (unskilled, but willing to lend a hand), we did just that.  I know he is going to really to see a difference in his heating bills this winter as he had no insulation there before, and what skirting was on the home was rotting out and very thin.

As I worked alongside some amazing people, I was particularly struck by the kids. They were so eager to help out in any way they could (for better or for worse).

Something very curious struck me that day that I couldn’t let go of.  The kids were so eager to help out in any way they could.  With enthusiasm and wide-eyed curiosity, they were in complete abandon of their fears in getting their hands dirty.  I overheard a few of them constantly asking their fathers if they could help out.

“Dad, can I hammer the nail that in for you?”

“Dad, can I paint that?”

“Dad, will you let me use the glue gun?”

I had a profound moment of revelation as I listened to them as they kept saying, “Dad, can I…” I was struck by wondering just how often in our relationship with our ultimate father do we find ourselves saying, “Dad, do I HAVE TO…” instead of being like these children and asking “Dad, can I…” I know that I am often guilty of this, usually without even noticing my selfish rebellion.  I can only imagine how many lives could be touched, changed, and blessed if we all approached God’s calling with such childlike enthusiasm.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” — Matthew 19:4