Playing with Lego

One of the footpaths leading down to the river skirts the edge of the paper mill. Walking that way recently I noticed one of the lorries was partly loaded with pallets of recycled cardboard, and the next pallet was being brought out on a fork lift truck. As I watched, the driver swung round at just the right moment, lifted his load, placed it exactly where it needed to go, and turned to fetch the next one. 

I caught his eye as he turned, and called,”That was very neat! You must have been practising for years!” 

He laughed, and called back, “Natural talent – or playing with Lego!”

Now, I’m sure that playing with Lego is good for spatial awareness, and doubtless well-developed spatial awareness is useful for driving fork lift trucks, but I’m even more sure that he must have had a lot of training and practice.

Living the Christian life needs practice too. ‘Be diligent’; ‘Make every effort’; ‘Strive’; ‘Persevere’; ‘Do not lose heart’… As we read God’s word, mull it over, seek to apply it, may we learn to know Him better, love Him more, and follow Him more closely.

How can a young man (indeed, any one) cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. (Psalm 119:9-11)

When quiet in my house I sit,

Thy Book be my companion still,

My joy Thy sayings to repeat,

Talk o’er the records of Thy will,

And search the oracles divine,

Till every heartfelt word be mine.

O may the gracious words divine

Subject of all my converse be!

So will the Lord His follower join,

And walk and talk Himself with me;

So shall my heart His presence prove,

And burn with everlasting love.

-Charles Wesley