Cheap Substitutes

We had a great, long drive South today. We left home a little before 7am. As we loaded the car K looked at the dark sky and said, "Wow! We get to stay up early today!" Nine hours later we arrived in Orlando. The children were incredible troopers on the drive down considering they were all awake the entire time. They were, however, completely wired when we finally got out of the car. They were wild, silly and loud! We let them blow off some steam at the pool (where K slipped and got a black eye--ugh!) before heading in to bed.

As we were trying to wrangle them upstairs to our room to settle down for the night they wanted to play in the lobby, especially once they spotted an arcade. We tried to explain that their experience at the Magic Kingdom tomorrow was going to be so much more incredible than the arcade, but they needed to rest in preparation for all that was in store. It was clear they did not get it. Tomorrow is an unknown. No matter how we describe it, they are drawn to the cheap flashing lights of the arcade in front of them, more than the prospect of a wonderful place they have yet to see or experience.

Again, I am reminded of my own life. I am ashamed of how often in my almost 34 years I have settled for the right now that I can see rather than hold out for the true prize that was uncertain! It is a tragedy of our human nature how often we settle for cheap substitutes. In this Summer's study of No Other Gods, Kelly Minter commented on the subject of counterfeits. She explained that people who deal with currency are trained to spot counterfeits by becoming intimately familiar with the real thing. By studying the real deal they become more able to spot something that does not measure up.

This is why we must school our children in truth constantly--so that they will never settle for anything less.