Staying Calm When I Didn’t Want To
A Dad’s Unexpected Adventure: Popcorn and Pikachus
Parenthood can feel like riding a rollercoaster with no brakes, am I right? Finding calm amidst the chaos of parenthood is a challenge many of us face daily. Let me tell you a little story about the time I took my five-year-old, EJ, and my three-year-old, Jax, to see Detective Pikachu. I should have known better. Really, I should have. What was I thinking, taking two toddlers to the movies? (Note to self: never again.) What should have been a fun outing turned into a chaotic scene of popcorn showers and wind sprints down the aisle.
In my last blog post, Leaving the Comfort Zone: Abraham’s Leap of Faith, I explored the biblical story of Abraham and how he stepped out in faith, even when he didn’t know where he was going. But this experience in the movie theater was less about faith and more about dodging flying popcorn ā my own unexpected crash course into the wild ride of parenting.
The Movie Adventure
Picture this: The anticipation was electric. We’d spent the morning talking about PokĆ©mon, practicing our Pikachu voices, and hyping ourselves up for the big screen experience. The theater lobby was a wonderland for my boys, filled with buzzing games that promised excitement and, of course, the coveted claw machine that dispensed fuzzy dice and cheap plushies with their tiny, stitched arms teasing the claw. We secured our tickets, grabbed our beautiful, butter-drenched souvenir Pikachu-themed popcorn bucketāthat practically screams ‘share me’āand made our way to our seats, strategically positioned near the aisle “just in case.”
Everyone was happy. Pikachu was on the screen, dazzling us with his electric charm, and for a glorious moment, life was good. Then, with a glimmer in his eye, Jax grabbed the popcorn bucket with both hands and, in a move that would make any quarterback proud, launched the entire contents over the heads of the people in front of us! Popcorn rained down like confetti, blanketing unsuspecting moviegoers in a salty avalanche.
Now, these folks were incredibly cool. They brushed off the kernels, chuckled good-naturedly, and we even managed to get a refill, naively hoping that was the end of our big adventure. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
Not five minutes later, I noticed the look once more in Jax’s eyes; he’d had enough of sitting still. He leaps from his seat, his short legs pumping furiously as he races down the aisle, bobbing, weaving, and juking like he’s a character in the new Madden game. I hear gasps and nervous laughter as I scramble after him, apologizing profusely while trying to maintain my balance.
I’m hot on his trail, dodging legs and bobbing and weaving through a landscape of spilled Coke and popcorn shrapnel, praying with every fiber of my being that I don’t trigger a chain reaction of tumbling bodies, taking out entire rows of innocent moviegoers in a shower of popcorn and flailing limbs. We get back to our seats, catch our breath, and then, fifteen minutes laterā¦ the boy does it again.
That’s when I knew it was time to cut our losses. I scooped up Jax, popcorn still clinging to his hair, and made a beeline for the exit. We made the most unsubtle exit since Moses and the Israelites, leaving a trail of popcorn kernels and bewildered onlookers in our wake. But as we fled the scene, I felt a tug on my shirt. It was EJ, his eyes wide with anticipation. “Dad?” he asked, “Can we go to the claw machine now?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. Even amidst the chaos, my kids had their priorities straight. “Yeah, bud,” I replied, “we can go to the claw machine.” As we made our way out of the theater, bested once more by the mirage of a machine, I reflected on our day. A day of chaos is now a cherished memory that gives me the realization that, while Zebedee in the Bible had the ‘Sons of Thunder,’ (Mark 3:17). I have the ‘Popcorn Projectors.’ As I replay the scene in my mind, I can’t help but see parallels between my popcorn-filled fiasco and a far more significant storm faced by Jesus and his disciples on the Sea of Galilee.
Setting the Scene: The Disciples and the Storm
In that moment, as the weight of spilled popcorn and parental embarrassment settled upon me, I felt a wave of frustration and defeat. I questioned my decision-making skills and wondered if I was cut out for this whole parenting thing. But as I looked at my sons’ faces, flushed with excitement and oblivious to the chaos they had caused, I realized that these were the moments that matteredāthe messy, unpredictable, and ultimately hilarious adventures that would shape our family story.
I realized that these were the moments that matteredāthe messy, unpredictable, and ultimately hilarious adventures that would shape our family story.
And isn’t that a bit like life itself? A series of unexpected storms and popcorn showers? As I reflected on our chaotic movie experience, I couldn’t help but think of another story about a different kind of shower, one found in the Gospel of Mark, where the shower wasn’t popcorn, but something far more consequential.
The Storm and the Savior: A Lesson in Trust
In the fourth chapter of Mark, we find Jesus and his disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee. A sudden, violent storm erupts, threatening to swamp their boat. The disciples, seasoned fishermen accustomed to the unpredictable nature of the sea, are terrified. They frantically wake Jesus, who is sleeping peacefully in the stern, and cry out, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38).
Their fear is palpable, mirroring the anxieties that often plague parents. We worry about our children’s safety, health, and well-being. We question our abilities and fear the unknown. Just like the disciples, we can feel overwhelmed by the storms of life.
But Jesus’ response is both comforting and challenging. He calms the storm with a simple command, “Quiet! Be still!” (Mark 4:39). The wind dies down, the waves subside, and an eerie calm descends upon the sea.
Then, Jesus turns to his disciples and asks, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). These words cut to the heart of the matter, prompting us to examine our own trust in God amidst the chaos.
Jesus doesn’t promise a life free from storms, but He does promise to be with us in the midst of them. He calls us to a deeper faith, one that anchors us in His peace even when the waves crash around us.
Practical Tips for Finding Peace in the Parenting Chaos
- Pray: Make it a point to start your day with it. Don’t just pray when things get crazy. Invite God into every moment, even the mundane ones. Philippians 4:6
- Take Breaks: Take a moment for yourself. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re not Superman. Chill. Even Jesus took time to rest. Matthew 11:28
- Seek Support: Lean on your community ā whether itās family, friends, or your church. Parenting isn’t meant to be done alone. Galatians 6:2
- Keep Perspective: Chaotic moments are fleeting. Find the humor and joy in the mess. Remember, this too shall pass. 2 Corinthians 4:17
- Focus on the Bigger Picture: Trust that God is absolutely, most assuredly, 100 percent, USING YOU, even in the small, seemingly insignificant moments of parenting. Romans 8:28
Conclusion: Weathering the Storm
Just like Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, we too can find peace amidst the chaos of parenting (and life’s many popcorn showers). It’s not about avoiding the storms, but about learning to navigate them with faith, trust, and a whole lot of graceāboth for ourselves and our little “popcorn projectors.”
So, the next time you find yourself in the middle of a parenting hurricane, remember you’re not alone. Take a deep breath, say a prayer, and remember that even the most chaotic moments can be opportunities for growth, laughter, and unexpected grace.
And who knows? Maybe you’ll even find a few kernels of wisdom hidden in the spilled popcorn.
What about you? What are your “popcorn preview” moments? How have you found peace in the midst of parenting chaos? I’m anxious to hear your stories in the comments below!
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