Months ago, I was thinking about whether to join the Lego boycott. I realized that fasting was a more positive and appropriate response that I could choose. A Biblical fasting involves a period of abstaining from food to turn the full attention to godly pursuits. One can abstain from anything that might take their focus away from God. And so I began a Lego fast. Now I have nothing against genuine rainbows which represent God’s promise and eternal throne. Just like I have nothing against candy, but there’s a right and wrong way to offer it to children. There’s a parent-approved setting, and there’s an adult group making pillow talk public talk, so let each parent make the right choice. Anyhow, a fast is a great opportunity to take a timeout and reassess my desires. I admit I can be guilty of letting obsessions rob me of healthy things like relationship building. Fasting allows me to meditate on what, and more importantly, who I invest in. My heart and mind find myself in endless gratitude to the God who is responsible for my breath, my salvation, my family, my prosperity, and so much more. With the time I saved, I was able to spend more time with my family as we began the awesome adventure of raising a puppy together. With the money I saved, I of course spoiled the puppy. I also found out about an exciting new anime startup I have invested in, Gabriel and the Guardians. While boycotts have the negative focus of where not to invest, fasting is an opportunity to consider better areas of investment of time, passion, and money.
Gabriel and the Guardians is an example of a positive investment.
Adult Fans of Legos
Yes, adults are fans of Legos. So what about adults playing with Legos? Years ago, I might agree that this sounds foolish. Today, knowing all the open vistas these small bricks have opened, I would respond that it is a narrow-minded view to think of Legos only in terms of childplay. Even if I don’t want to spend $$$ on Legos, there are so many affordable alternatives, my recent favorite being Mecabricks. Legos have been used to build impressive sculptures, programmable robots, family bonding, motor-driven engineering, and the list of adult creativity goes on. So yes, I am an adult fan of all this. Brick-building is a great opportunity to promote a wide array of healthy traits, including patience, creativity teamwork, and problem-solving.1 Even as an adult, I can think of too many alternative distractions that could have the opposite effect on me, instead draining me of healthy traits.
AFOL for Christ and a fool for Christ.
Much like AFOLs might be misjudged for their passion, so might be the case of a fervent follower of Christ. As a Christian, I often reflect on the investments I make in God’s kingdom. Choices, actions, and sacrifices don’t apparently or immediately promise rewards in this world. However, if I’m honest, I can dreadfully imagine the chaotic ruination of my own life if not for God’s long arm rescuing me. One of my favorite authors, Randy Alcorn, has great book on Heaven that offers exciting hope for the next life. I believe we’ll be worshipping God from the heart, in a passionate not dutiful way. Studying His wondrous works in nature, I am in awe knowing that these wonders are still in their fallen state. Reflecting the divine creativity He has placed in us, I can easily see brick-building as a form of worship. It’s just hard to imagine what that will look like with unlimited inspiration, unlimited time and unlimited resources!
Jesus has offered a great investment venture, a period of suffering losses in this fading world for the eternal fulfillment of the soul.
“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Mark 8:35-37 NLT
I used to think of this passage in terms of survival, as if to say I’d live so much longer in spite of a boring existence sitting on a cloud. Except that the Bible speaks of the soul or pneuma as being “more than food” so more than mere survival, something passionate that does the will of God, and something able to prosper. I think of how my passions and tastes have changed since I was a child, and God knows all of these plus those waiting to be discovered in the next life. I have experienced a self-centered joy, the joy of helping others, and the joy of worshiping God. And I have found that a life that centers on selfish joy, although it seems to be optimal, is ultimately the least fulfilling. As they saying goes, JOY is Jesus, Others, then You.
In 1 Corinthians 4:10, Paul is comparing the worldly mode of pursuits versus godly investments.
“Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.”
An example of a seemingly foolish investment happens during a short squeeze, as in the case of Porsche and Volkswagen in 2008.2 In such a case, a huge number of investors had little faith in a company that was apparently independently owned. Then Porsche suddenly announced a large ownership in Volkswagen, raising its apparent value tremendously. For a time, Volkswagen became the largest company on the worldwide market. A short squeeze is considered legit in cases where a wise investor can discover the true value in spite of what seems to be a loss. For the Christian who diligently studies God’s Word, the true value of God’s kingdom is seen as priceless.
Volkswagen camper van by Scrubs on Mecabricks.
When I do go back to brick-building, Lego or other brands, I go forward with a refreshing awareness of all the other opportunities above and beyond myself. I hope I have encouraged others to consider and pursue the prosperity of the soul.
godbrix 