Playground Boombox

Playground boombox….

1985.

Dusty dirt playground.

Sweat bands.

Sweat pants pulled to the knees.

Scrunched socks.

5th grade PE.

I remember that year with particular fondness. It is filled with many good memories of childhood friends and iconic events. You may remember some of these as well.

The first successful artificial heart.

The release of Nintendo and Super Mario Bros.

Every movie villain was from Russia.

Coke introduced a new formula - “New Coke” (Wow. That was awful!)

Everyone knew all the words and sang along to “We are the World.”

Our phone service was a shared party line.

We loved Michael J. Fox and Back to the Future.

Some of our favorite shows included: The Cosby Show, Growing Pains, The Facts of Life, Moonlighting, and The A-Team.

And the mullet was a popular style for men AND women.

There were lots of things going on that year. But today, for whatever reason, I keep thinking about one thing in particular. It was around this time that the break-dancing trend was so big.

Just imagine… awkward, immature, sweaty 5th graders on the school playground. All gathered around as some of the boys showed off their break-dancing skills. We watched and cheered as the boys spun around on their necks and gave the crowd a few robotic poses.

As an adult now I can only imagine what the teachers must have been thinking!

During this time I kept my eyes on one boy in particular. He was cool and we were good friends. In fact, this friendship lasted throughout school. For many of those years I was secretly crushing on him and eventually we did go out. But, I think he would agree that at that point it kind of felt like going out with your sibling! (Adam- If you happen to be out there reading this… I hope you are doing well!)

In that 5th grade PE class, he was the guy who always brought a giant boombox for the break-dancing show. One day, he looked my way and CHOSE ME to hold the boombox. It sounds so silly now. But then, it was a big deal! The fact that I can still remember it 36 years later is certainly evidence that it made an impression on me.

Today, this little random memory has me studying more about what it means to be CHOSEN.

According to Google, chosen is an adjective that means “having been selected as the best or most appropriate.”

Throughout the Bible there are many references to being chosen, but the most noted would be Jesus’ choosing of disciples. Have you ever really thought about who he chose? He chose the most unlikely of leaders. They were fishermen, a tax collector, a thief… they were just ordinary, imperfect men.

So why would Jesus consider these men to be “the best or most appropriate” choices?

Maybe it was because they were relatable. Maybe it was because it was evident that it would take a miracle to make a change in them.

Or maybe it was because they were willing.

I have no idea why Adam chose me that day on the playground to hold the boombox. Maybe it was because we were friends. Maybe I happened to be in the right place.

Or maybe it was because he knew I would.

The fact is, anyone could have held that boombox. And anyone could have been chosen to be Jesus’ disciples. The truth… we have all been called to follow Him.

Today I am humbled and thankful that God CHOSE ME.

He has CHOSEN YOU too! Are you willing to follow?

John 15:16 - Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Matthew 16:24 - Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.