Sunday, July 22, 2012

This Is The Life

"This is the life."

...says Sam, sitting in the passenger seat of a 2011 Chevy Impala loaner with a biscuit breakfast sandwich from Burger King in his lap and silly grin on his face. It was the picture of ultimate contentment. Sam has a way of reminding me what that looks like.

This morning Sam (my 14-year-old bro) and I were charged with the privilege of driving this loaner car to church, compliments of our out-of-commission Chevy Blazer, out for break repairs.

Call us simpletons, but being able to control the radio volume from the steering wheel was like Christmas in July. The drive to church was spend marveling at the cherry finish framing the radio, the little snowflake marking the AC, even the digital temperature reader.

For once we wished the ride to church was longer. When we pulled into the church parking lot, we lingered a bit before getting out of the car and giggling like 5-year-olds when I locked the car from the keychain with the push of a button as we walked away.

The drive home only got better. With the Word of the Lord in our hearts, Burger King sounded good for our stomachs. Does it get any better? It was after we had our food and were pulling out of the Burger King parking lot in what may as well have been a limo, that Sam uttered his catchphrase: "This is the life."

Sam says this a lot. And what I love about it is how genuine it is everytime he says it. He really means it. He reminds me that this really is the life. It really doesn't get much better than riding home from church in a 2011 Chevy Impala with your best little bud and a cup holder full of hashbrowns. Or SyFy marathons on a lazy Saturday. Or getting to lay out on the front lawn on a night so clear you can see the milky way streaming through a sea of stars.

Being easily impressed can sometimes be viewed as pathetic. But really, it's finding joy and beauty in the simplicity of everyday miracles.

I hope I never lose that wonderment, that thankfulness. That's really what contentment is. Being able to see how incredibly blessed you are, and realize that every little luxury you have is a blessing. This really is the life. This family, the friends I've been blessed with, getting to drive a 2011 Chevy Impala to church with Sam. Thanks, Sam, for the reminder.

2 comments:

Joshua and Stephanie said...

I miss you my friend! And love to hear stories about your family!

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