Yesterday we held our fourth annual Backyard BBQ. (We have hosted 3 of the 4 BBQs. The second year it rained and we were relegated to the youth room.) This has become one of my favorite family events of the year. We invite all of the families in our LifeStage to our house for an afternoon of food and hanging out.
Around 1:30pm, approximately 130 people invaded our backyard with lawn chairs and side dishes in tow. By then the burgers and hot dogs were already on the grills and the aroma was filling the air. (Thanks, Brenden for being the grillmaster.)
It seemed like in a matter of minutes everyone had staked out their spot under the famous shade tree and they were ready for an afternoon of good eating and visiting. The next three hours were filled with laughter, games of volleyball, conversations, and fun. It was a great afternoon!
I wondered why over 100 people would hang out in our backyard for over three hours on a Sunday afternoon, and then it dawned on me...
Most of us are too busy and very seldom do we have three hours to just sit and talk to other people. We run from activity to activity, event to event, with little time to just sit and visit. This event is more than a BBQ. It is almost a mini-Sabbath in the midst of scores of crazy lives. For a few hours on a sunny Sunday afternoon, people can take a break from their hectic lives and build relationships.
Yesterday in the high school class we were talking about our purpose in life. In the midst of a discussion about the 10 Commandments, one of my students asked about Sabbath. We talked about creating space in our lives for God and other people. Sabbath is something we struggle with as extremely busy people. We have a hard time slowing down long enough to rest or reflect.
However, yesterday afternoon, over 100 people had a chance to slow down, sit down, and remember what it means to be human.
shine!
Jason
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