Serendipity

Serendipity is a funny word. I always think of "Zippidee-do-dah" when I hear it. Which is funny because one follows the other. Donchathink? Stay with me on this. When there's nothing to do, what do you do? You take a walk. Right? Well....when you talk a walk, what two things do you do? You look around and you sing. OK? When you're walking and looking and singing, what song comes to mind? Right. "Zippidee-do-dah, Zippidee-yah, my oh my what a wonderful day!" When you're walking and looking and singing what usually happens. Right! Something unexpected! Which leads me to Serendipity: a pleasant surprise. So what does this have to do with anything.
Well...Sunday morning was a normal, everyday church service. I'll have to admit I was on autopilot. Letting the music wash over me. Singing but not worshiping. I was most likely thinking about the flurry of activity we are going to experience this week. The fact that I can't remember specifically what was distracting me should tell you just how important it was. So, there I was floating in a haze of mundanity, mouthing the words to one of my favorite praise songs when something caught my ear. A high, clear voice floated to me through the texture of the music. It was angelic like only the voices of young boys can be. As I focused on it, I realized ...it was Patrick. I turned and looked at him sitting there. He was looking down at nothing and singing with the music, every word to the song ringing like a chime. The sound of his voice seemed to float upwards from us. The significance of the moment electrified me. A bolt of...something...adrenaline, excitement, awakening...I don't know what...traced a path from my head to my toe. My son...was praising God. I desperately wanted to sing with him, but I was too choked to continue so I simply listened.
I once heard someone say that the highest responsibility that parents have is to bring their children to a saving knowledge of God through Jesus Christ. We go to church, participate in programs,have sporadic family devotionals, pray for our children, and generally put them in God's way all in the hope that they'll see what so many miss: the Glory of God.
After the song was over, we prayed. I thanked the Lord for this private little moment of serendipity. I'm sure it was arranged by Him as a little spiritual cuff on the back of the head. Sort of a, "Hey, wake up to the wonder around you. The new generation is already running ahead. Catch up, buddy!"