The word these days is flow. We need to be in the flow, or to focus. We should be dedicated and engaged in our cause with purposeful intent. I do not disagree, that is all good. Yet, my final life principle for this week is that of being a pinball. Do you ever remember playing pinball in an arcade?
The game starts with a plunger in which a steel ball, the pinball is rocketed into a maze of lights and sounds. The pinball is bounced around by bumpers, flippers and other instruments. Usually there is a theme, music playing and a voice taunting you. You have some control over the flippers, but not much. The ball just bounces around until it works its way down to the bottom where you have a final attempt to save the pinball and get it back into play, or start over with a second pinball.
I never liked playing pinball, but some kids really got into it. In the 70s pinball became somewhat of a pop culture symbol, and seemed to fall right into the roller skating craze that came shortly thereafter. In fact, I vaguely remember a movie where a popular girl was playing pinball in her roller skates. There you go, I cannot explan this phenomena, but alas, the I suggest you play at least one game of pinball in your lifetime.
So what do I mean about being a pinball? This is not a everyday concept, this is an occasional one. The idea is to not resist being “bounced around” but rather allow this to happen and just see what happens. Another way to look at this woudl be the way that Jesus or Gandhi taught. Instead of heading to a destination, they would walk there and along the way run into followers and seek for teaching opportunities. Being among the crowd, or in the crowd became hallmarks of this method of teaching and is documented very well. The concept is to “go with the flow” or to just “go where things take you.”
For much of my life I fought this, preferring to always have an organized plan before setting out into the world. However, my parents taught me growing up that you can often find gems hidden along diverse paths. Their preferred method of vacationing was to just “leave the house and head east.” Who knows where we might end up, or what path we might take? Does the destination really matter at all? When you drive across country and you see an interesting sign, do you stop? Or do you just keep going because you are trying to “get there.”
For some, this lack of plan is really frustrating. I am sure it is, especially if there are deadlines involved. Yet, occasionally, this lack of plan maybe just what you need. Instead of a course of action, choose to wander. Rather then plotting a path, just pick one and start walking. When you meet someone, stop and talk a while. When you see something interesting, investigate. Just be a pinball for awhile and see where this day takes you. You could end up on full tilt before the end of the day, or you could be hitting a high score. Who knows?
Every great idea, and most of my unique experiences occurred when I was wandering. Whenever I have felt those, “walking blues,” come to me, I do not fight. I just pick up and go out and see what happens. Sometimes having no agenda, no stress, no deadlines, no destination is what your mind needs to be set free. You will be suprised at times what voices that God has been trying to get you to hear, but you have been to busy to listen. You have been begging for help, but not willing to see the answer. Every once and a while consider taking a day to just wander, free from encumbrance and see what is in store for you.
Be a pinball.
