Jan
16
2019
64 Crayons Kind Of World
Posted in Daily Living 4 Comments
I remember how excited I was to get my first box of crayons.
I do not mean the kind of box that only had eight crayons.
The box I got was the large one that came with its own sharpener.
This box had 64 crayons.
I could not wait to get it home.
I could not wait to open the box and stare at all the colors in front of me.
There were shades of blue, shades of red, and shades of green.
I could still mix colors if I wanted or I could use the appropriate crayon right out of the box.
I took such good care of my crayons.
I never wanted to use the sharpener.
I would rather peel back the paper to expose more of the crayon myself.
I only did that when it was absolutely necessary, since I thought the crayons were beautiful.
When the school supply list would come home in September, I was always disappointed.
A box of 64 crayons was not allowed.
Only a box of 24 crayons could be brought to school.
How could you ever color a picture the right way with only 24 crayons?
This was not up for discussion.
Everyone had to have the same box of crayons.
It felt bland, plain, and frankly quite boring to me.
I loved vibrant color then and I still love vibrant color now.
I never liked to break a crayon, as I so often did.
It was always my favorite colors that ended up breaking.
After a while, an old tin held my crayons.
There were halves of crayons, full sized crayons, and pieces too small for my fingers.
I actually did the same thing when my children were young.
We kept crayons in a large plastic tub with a lid.
I can still see that large tub in the center of the table.
I can still see little hands reaching in to grab just the right color crayon.
As artistic ability grew with my children, we added markers, colored pencils, and paint.
Still, getting out the crayons meant creating something all their own.
Getting out the crayons meant that there was a zillion possibilities at their fingertips.
That plastic tub had a lot of wear and tear; it was a faithful friend.
I listened as my husband watched the news.
He and I differ on our appreciation of nighttime news.
He seems to enjoy it.
It is nails on a chalkboard to me.
I remember the days of Walter Cronkite.
And that’s the way it is, was Cronkite’s signature sign-off.
I remember an interview where Walter Cronkite explained how that sign-off began.
The president of the network did not like the sign-off and wanted it gone.
He told Cronkite that by telling people, That’s the way it is, there is no room for error.
In fact, as journalists, they could make mistakes, despite thorough checks and rechecks.
After a few days, people let the network know how much they liked Cronkite’s sign-off.
The sign-off stayed; though Cronkite admits that his boss was probably right.
I am usually writing in the kitchen while my husband is watching the news.
Even though I am not in the room, I hear it in the background.
It does not matter what network is on, the rhetoric is the same.
The tone is the same; the finger pointing is the same.
Before Christmas, I had reached my limit.
I asked my husband if he could refrain from watching the news each night during the holidays.
There was such much unkindness on the network news.
There was not a hint of compromise; no one listened and everyone talked over each other.
My husband would change channels occasionally but the other networks were no better.
To his credit, my husband did what I asked of him.
We would not allow people to talk that way in our home, I said firmly but kindly.
Why are we allowing that kind of talk to come into our home through the TV?
I got more and more agitated as I listened an entire room away.
I heard the labels people gave to each other.
I heard the, I’m right, you’re wrong, argument.
I did not like what I was hearing.
There was absolutely no civil discussion.
There was only heel digging on each side of the fence.
I actually found myself thinking of my large crayon box.
There was a life lesson in that box of 64 crayons.
What if I had gone to the store and bought my box of 64 crayons?
What if I came home, opened the box only to find that all the crayons were red?
Where were all the wonderful colors that were supposed to be there?
Where was the variety?
A box of 64 red crayons would boring.
I would miss the vibrant blues that reminded me of the sea.
I would miss the peaceful greens that reminded me of springtime.
I would miss choosing just the right color for the picture I was drawing.
Most of us would be disappointed with a box that contained only red crayons.
Yet, listening to our national conversation, we are offering just that.
To be able to civilly disagree seems to be a lost art.
It is not enough to have our own opinions; those opinions have to tow the line.
Who set the line?
Who decides that a box of crayons can only be red?
Who made it impossible to disagree without being labeled the enemy?
What has happened to us?
I want variety.
I want to be able to educate myself on the issues and form my own opinions.
I base my opinions on the Truth of God’s Word.
However, I often talk to people who do not hold those same beliefs.
Jesus sought people out who were radically different from Him.
He ate meals with them.
He came into their homes.
Jesus never compromised the Truth He came to preach, yet He consistently loved people.
The world Jesus inhabited was a 64 crayons kind of world.
Jesus interacted with people with whom the news anchors would argue profusely.
Jesus befriended those who would be considered, them, not us.
If that was fine for Jesus, why is it not fine for you and me?
Do you want a box full of only red crayons?
I want to have conversations so that people can hear the message Jesus came to preach.
I want to have conversations so that people can see the love of Jesus through me.
The Kingdom of God is near.
What a colorful, glorious Kingdom it is.
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9,10)
Well done Gina! If only all of our politicians, no matter what side of the fence they are on, could be required to read this and try to abide by it. Jeff
Wouldn’t that be lovely, Jeff!
We can Hope…
Gina
Yes! You wrote it ! It’s 64 ‘crayons ‘ for me also.’ And that’s the way it is ‘. Wonderful conversation yesterday Gina. Blessings to you my friend who like me is not monochromatic .
Linda, I enjoyed our time together! As God allows, you and I will keep His glorious colors evident for all to see! Blessings, friend!
Gina