Playing in the Sprinkler 

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” ~Pablo Picasso

A few days ago I noticed that my waist was expanding and my pants were not, so I headed off toward the track to walk laps and run bleachers. On the way I noticed a few children in a nearby house playing in the sprinkler and water hose.  It was the perfect summer activity to beat the heat. Part of me wanted to pull over and run to the house and play in the water with them, but I figured that might prompt a call to the police or the funny farm. So I just smiled and kept going, a little jealous at their homemade water park.  At the track, it was the usual suspects. Housewives needing a break from the kids.  High school athletes trying to impress their girlfriends. Older men trying to regain some portion of their youth. And me of course. 

It was around 7:30PM so I noticed the automatic sprinklers were on watering the football fields. One of the sprinklers was not aimed correctly, which created a 10-foot spray onto the track. I noticed the errant sprayer after I had just passed it, so I wasn’t able to enjoy a cool relief from the heat. My next thought was: “I’ll catch it next time around.” Sadly when I returned, the timer had shut off and the watering session was finished for the night. My chance at a cool mist reprieve had passed.

As usual I wanted to make sense of the life lesson found in these two incidents.  It took me a few days to piece it together, but it finally came to me.  Why was I jealous of the children? I could easily turn on the sprinkler at home and dance around the front yard (most likely prompting a few snickers as people passed by). I believe what I was jealous about is the reality of my youth that has passed me by. The innocence and freedom that a child possesses can never be repeated or duplicated as we age.  But I believe we can learn a few lessons from the children. I think we are never too old to enjoy the spray of a sprinkler, eat a sno cone, make a loved one laugh with funny voices, or giggle at a Looney Toons marathon. 

Sadly, we wait too long to make moments of our own and share those childlike experiences with the ones we love. Like the sprinkler on the track, time passes before we know. The kids grow up. Your mom grows older. Long distance relationships with high school friends fade away.  Memories become a distant reality. Life passes by and doesn’t wait for us to catch up. I pray that we would not miss opportunities and realize we can never recapture a moment when it passes. Take time to stop and let the sprinkler come to you.

When we review memories made with those we love, how refreshing it is to not have any regrets when we look back at our lives.

Take the time to play in the sprinkler….no matter how silly you look and no matter who is watching.