Playing Frisbee with Jesus

I ran into a friend today who was with one of his developmentally disabled clients, a guy we'll call Alex. Alex kept saying over and over again, "Want to play frisbee? Want to play frisbee? Want to play frisbee?". He has pretty severe OCD among a suite of other serious mental issues. But when I said that I didn't have a frisbee, Alex took off his hat to use as a frisbee. And we "played frisbee" for a few minutes, throwing his hat back and forth.

He was just bursting with joy! Huge grin on his face! Alex was so happy and also super intent on the simple game.  It seemed to be a sacred time for him.  

My friend said that Alex will be talking about this for days. And in a strange way, I got a huge joy out of it too. As if God were present, enjoying the action, thrilling in the joy as much or more so than Alex. In a manner that is difficult to explain I felt that I was playing frisbee with Jesus.

This is another "chicken suit for the soul" moment. Using the lowly, seemingly useless stuff of the earth for a blessing in somebody's life. In this case a knit hat that became a frisbee.  

The calculus of God's kingdom is not the same of this world's. Because today I experienced this equation:

2 minutes + 1 hat = HUGE joy

We have so much stuff, are often overwhelmed with blessing, that we commonly loose sight of the value of the things around us. We tend to focus on what we don't have and so always walk around with a deep sense of need.  Who knew that chucking a hat a few times would purchase days of joy for somebody?  And not just Alex. But me too. And I sensed that Jesus was present and smiling big.   

Jesus taught that even giving a simple cup of water can have eternal value (Matt 25:34-46).  Is throwing a frisbee hat much different?  And what else can be used for God's glory?  But lately I'm thinking that perhaps that's even the wrong question. Maybe the right question is, which tiny speck or insignificant morsel of his creation can't be used for God's glory?

How much do we need to remember that the Almighty God of the Universe powerfully uses the perishable stuff of the earth for blessing, and some of that blessing will last for an eternity!  Even the very little stuff we do have, or stuff that is everywhere and all around us always,  can be multiplied by the Creator a thousand  fold.  Loaves and fishes style.

At Pastor Grant's suggestion I've been reading Jean-Pierre de Caussade who teaches that God is ever present in each moment (his book "The Sacrament of the Present Moment" is a game changer). But I also get the sense that God is also always at the ready to partner with us as we use even the simple things of this earth to magnify His glory and bless others way beyond the typical earthly value. 

So was I playing frisbee with Jesus?  Perhaps. If so, why not hacky sack with the Holy Spirit? Or flag football with our heavenly Father?  Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill, talks about eating chicken wings to the Glory of God.  And why not?  I think Driscoll is exactly right about that.

So let everything we do, in word or deed, all be done in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17).

Have you ever had a similar experience?  Ever seen something simple used for great purposes? Ever seen God use something ordinary in an extraordinary way?  Do tell!