A sunny summer day with bubbles! I’m glad I slowed down enough to catch this moment. You see, for those familiar with the Enneagram, I am a 3. This means I always have a running list of “productive” things that must be done. I was right in the middle of cleaning out yet another closet, when this little man asked me to go outside and blow bubbles with him.
To be honest, my first reaction was to say, “I’m sorry, but I don’t have time. I have a million things to get done”. But, I am in the middle of reading The Path Between Us, by Suzanne Stabile, and she suggests that 3s too often sacrifice relationships for achievement. Convicted of this tendency, I decided in this moment that the better choice was to put away the mental “To Do” list and engage in a frivolous moment of childhood pleasure.
Paul writes to the Philippians, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you”. (4: 8-9)
What could be more true, honorable, lovely or commendable than spending a lazy summer day chasing bubbles in the backyard? Because I chose people over productivity, the “God of peace” was certainly with me, and my afternoon was unexpectedly excellent.
Today, no matter what your Enneagram number, let’s take the advice of Paul and Suzanne and slow down, sometimes choosing what is excellent over what is good.
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