When I was a kid I loved to swing. I loved to go high, as high as I could - to almost touch the sky. For some reason I always felt happy when I was swinging. Like I could leave all my troubles on the ground, and fly. Like I was free.

Actually I've never stopped loving it. I still take any opportunity I can to swing. I still love it, I still love to let my feet touch the clouds.

We went to a park yesterday, to get some time alone with God. Walk around, sit, do whatever... I headed straight for the swings. Kicked my shoes of and walked barefoot in the sand; it was freezing! But I didn't care; I was gonna swing. And I did, leaving all my troubles on the ground and just focusing on the Lord. Just thinking about Him and letting the thought of His greatness fill my heart.

As I sit there two families come walking by. Two teenage guys with their skateboards, a girl and a little guy, their moms and a grandma. They are talking, laughing, showing no intention to stopp by the swings. Then suddenly the grandma looks at me, and after a while she smiles. She is from India, wearing their traditional dress, one in red and gold; she looks gorgeous, so elegant and... worthy. She smiles, and then, without saying a word to anyone, she leaves her family and walks towards a swing. Slowly she starts swinging, like she hasn't done it in a long time. A few times she looks at me, and smiles. Almost like we have something in common, something just between the two of us, a secret, a joy that only we know. The rest of her family stops to, some start to swing, some hang around and talk. When grandma is ready, they all leave. When she has finished swinging.

I couldn't help but smiling when I saw her. When I saw the sparkle in her eyes as she made up her mind. When I saw her triumphant smile - like a child, her daughters surprise and laughter, her dress in the wind.

Then God reminded me. It was something I read a while ago, in Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell (an amazing book!). He talks about christianity as a trampolin, and how it's all about Inviting others to jump. Or in my case, to swing. It's not about all the theological stuff, all the things you do, what others think or what others do, how you measure up to others or if you're approved by others. It's simply about living. Living your life with Jesus - enjoying your life with Jesus - so that others want it to. Inviting people to live fully.

The grandma simply saw someone swing. No one told her how it would be, no one insured her that her dress wouldn't get soiled, no one needed to explain how it worked. Nothing complicated. She saw it, and she wanted it.

 The only thing I did was enjoying myself.