“You have g o t to be kidding me…” We turn swiftly out of our neighborhood and my car encounters the main thoroughfare haltingly. The entire road has been torn up, lanes closed. As we turn dust and dirt rise in the air.

“Mom, it’s j u s t like the Wild West!” I glance in the rear view mirror and my o w n lens adjusts. What I see as a sheer annoyance, my six-year old embraces as slap-happy, thrilling adventure. It’s a theme; I forget the unseen possibility for joy blinded by my own time-lined agenda and supposedly sophisticated understanding.

“Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15. Our family vocation is a call to bring the kingdom–which makes it ingenious. To be the reflection of salvation, of saving truth that births joy. How many times does the child remind me in small but sure ways of the reality of j o y?

Hans Urs von Balthasar, a Catholic priest and theologian wrote a series on the “theo-dramatik”

He delineated the concept of Theo-drama vs Ego-drama. We have been given the gift of free will. But if we see this gift through the lens of our self-centered ego we will insist on our own projects, plans and narrow agendas. In a sense we invite anxiety, stress and even depression to creep in if plans do not line up to our script. In contrast, if we see our will as being a chosen role in God’s adventure of epic joy the thrill begins. We do not know the circumstances unfolding on the road ahead, but He does.

But what will we mama’s do with the gift of our will in the small family moments that add up to the days and weeks of our lives? Mary played the most grace-full, pivotal part in the Theo-drama. She seized her moment; “Let it be done!” She responded without full understanding of all the details. We too are called to play a part in salvation history. Mama Mary, Pray for us!

As we faithfully feed and clothe our little ones may we cultivate a feast of daily joy – the awareness of the thrilling adventure of God working through all things.

In the splintering details of the daily crosses God longs for our wills to be surrendered to His incredible purposes – this is the Gospel. He is building “oaks of righteousness” (Isaiah) with the very splinters. Let the dust fly – they don’t call it the Wild West for nuthin! It IS an adventure. This indeed makes me slap-happy aware too :).

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposes.” Romans 8:28