Who Paid For The Playground?

We’ve been watching some new playground equipment go up.

It’s one of those “big toys” with multiple slides and stuff.

As Shari and I stood outside the playground admiring the new big toy, she said: “Future generations of kids will enjoy this playground—children that Lance and Dorothy will never see.”

Who are Lance and Dorothy?

They’re the ones who paid for the playground installation.

They love the church.

They’re investing in things that will continue long after they’re gone.

Lance and Dorothy are in their 70‘s. They won’t be playing on the big toy.

Their children are in their 50’s. They won’t be playing on the big toy.

Their grandchildren are in their 20’s. They won’t be playing on the big toy.

Their great-grandchildren don’t live in the area. They won’t be playing on the big toy.

Lance and Dorothy choose to give beyond their own borders.

They see beyond their circle. They want to be a blessing to others—even those whom they’ll never know.

When the great cathedrals of Europe were being built, people dreamed, gave, and worked to create something that wouldn’t be complete until many years after they were gone.

Several years ago, I was in York, England, and toured the York Minster.

This amazing cathedral took 250 years to build, between 1220 and 1472…

And it is still there, 790+ years later.

Amazing.

I want to be like that.

I want to be like the builders of York Minster.

I want to give beyond my own borders, stretch outside my circle, see past my own lifetime.

I want to have been a blessing to future generations—to those I will never know.

There’s a funny line in the Bible describing people who can’t see beyond themselves and the immediate:

“…these flat-earth people who can’t think beyond today.” (Psalm 17.14 MSG)

I don’t want to be a flat-earth person.

I want to be like Lance and Dorothy.