What Does It Look Like? - Considerate Inclusion (Part Trois)

What Does It Look Like? - Considerate Inclusion (Part Trois)

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. —Anonymous

RECENTLY OUR REGULARLY scheduled weekend routine was interrupted by life, so we missed our weekend bike ride. To get back on track with our exercise routine, Steve and I opted for an early morning ride around White Rock Lake that Monday. But it was a totally different scene from Saturday mornings.

At the crack of dawn on Monday morning there were no people! Just Steve, me, and an occasional biker or runner. But still there were the trees and water and swans and ducks and squirrels and clouds and . . . a sunrise. Yes, just as on Saturdays with all of its hustle and bustle, the park is still a fabulous place on Monday mornings.

As I rode that early morn through God’s creation, I was reminded ever so gently how he has considerately included me in his world.

On that morning, the holy Creator, who blew the thin, wispy white clouds over the rising sun to make a miraculous sunrise, considerately placed me on the west side of the lake to behold his artistic design.

A few miles down the biking path, the holy Creator, who placed the glorious bald cypress tree near the bank of the water, considerately drew my attention to it to take in its majesty. I had passed that tree a hundred times but had never taken the time to realize that I was included among its admirers.

Around the bend, the holy Creator, who designed the black prissy duck that walked flirtatiously onto the running trail, considerately placed me three feet away so that I could be entertained and tickled pink by her. That morning, God included me in the front row of her audience.

And as I was nearing the end of my ride, the holy Creator, the God of the universe with his crazy sense of humor who created this goofy little creature we call a squirrel, motivated that little dickens to dart out in front of me while I was pedaling my bike at 20 mph. He placed that squirrel in my path to remind me that I’m not in charge. I thank him for the reminder and for considerately including an excellent braking mechanism on my bike.

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (Romans 1:20)

So what do I want Ava to see as it relates to considerate inclusion? I want her to know that we are to be examples of considerate inclusion because our Maker has so considerately included us in his creation.