I'm not sure when this "goofy" experience became a lesson for me but at some moment between deciding if I would push back, walk away, give up or just enjoy the chaos surrounding us, that's what it became. I heard my frequently spoken words "it's adventure" shouting back at me.

Gene and I took the boys to Chicago on Saturday to see the Disney Parade and the lighting of Michigan Avenue. At 3p.m. after a brief Disney show that we struggled to see through the crowd - kids on our backs and shoulders - we decided to find a spot to watch the parade. The festivities were to begin at 6p.m. so, we had a bit of a wait. We got snacks and camped out in front of the Starbucks (they were giving away dixie cups of free hot cocoa). Some of you who are parents are already smiling - 3 hours on Michigan Avenue with two boys ages 5 and 7... even free hot cocoa was not going to take up that much time. Well, we made it to 6p.m. - Gene taking one boy then the other to the bathroom while I waited with the other "saving our place". 6 p.m. arrived and the crowd began to press in - literally. By the time the parade began, Sam and I were balancing on the edge of a planter on the sidewalk, shoulder to shoulder with many others hoping to get a glimpse Mickey Mouse. Gene had to hold Spencer who by this time had given up on seeing the parade and was squirming in Gene's arms making his 40+ lbs seem more like 100.

As the music of the parade approached the crowd began to press in tighter, people pushing themselves and their children forward to get a better look. The balancing act became more challenging and Sam's excitement was interupted by concern for his safety. Gene bailed, taking Spencer out of the crowd and finding shelter in the doorway of Payless Shoe Source. The man behind me began yelling at a family who was mercilessly pushing his young granddaughter back into the crowd. As he began yelling out threats, the woman in front began yelling back. It is now that I begin to see the humor, the adventure, the silliness in this experience.

I came with expectations - happy people having fun, families, kids, Disney, Christmas parades and lights, fireworks, the grandeur of Michigan Avenue - what I was experiencing was very different. I did not anticipate what we would have to endure to get to experience glory. Was it worth it? We were cold, tired, hungry, and we couldn't see much of what we came to see - was it worth keeping the kids up late at night for, was it worth the 2 hour drive, the 3 hour wait?

Once the parade ended and the fireworks (that we saw only glimpses of) were over, it was time to leave Michigan Avenue. People just began to look at each other like "now what are we going to do" or "well, someone has to make the first move". Some pushed others took shelter. We joined hands and darted between people. This is when the whole experience began to be really funny to me. The four of us holding on to each other for dear life winding through a tightly packed crowd on Michigan Avenue. We would hit a clearing and Gene would run with Spencer and Sam and I would run to catch up, laughing all the time.

Several time we did evaluate our current circumstance and made the decision to stick it out anyway. We stayed for the parade and the fireworks, we endured the crowd.

Was it worth it? Well, it turned out the glory was not found where I expected it to be found. It wasn't the parade or the lights that made it worth it. The togetherness, the laughter, the relationship shared was what made it all worth it. In the holding hands and running down the street. In the moments of acknowledging with Sam and Spencer - God made all these people, He is so creative. He loves all of them. The time spent with Ryan earlier in the day, sharing a meal. Watching as Ryan would boost one of the boys to his shoulders and their faces would light up.

We endured some challenge together and we experience the glory - even if it wasn't where we thought it would be. Life lived in the Kingdom, serving Jesus, finding out why we endure the challenges we do...it's all worth it.