Tag! You're It!

Acts 8:26-40

Someone recently told me that at Flatirons Athletic Club that have instituted a RECESS for grown-ups.  The old childhood luxury of stopping your lessons and going outside at school to just play.  The recess at Flatirons involves some playground games like kick ball and dodge ball...  I also heard recently of a dodge ball tournament held at the Pepsi Center.  What is it about those childhood games that sticks with us?

All month we are going to be looking at those classic childhood games and what we can learn from them about leading, about following, and about being in relationship with one another as we seek to bring about the reign of God.

This week's scripture reading is the story of Philip and the eunuch.  The eunuch is reading from the prophet Isaiah and Philips asks him if he understands what he is reading. The eunuch replies, "How can I, unless someone guides me?"  And Philip then shares the gospel with him and the eunuch is so taken by it that he stops at a pool of water and asks Philip to baptize him.  Then the eunuch, too, began to spread the good news, because Philip, according to the scripture, "was snatched away."

Just like tag... someone is "IT." Someone is chosen as "the one."  And it is that person's responsibility to go tag another. Then that person becomes it.  Now, there are different kinds of tag... the traditional game is you don't want to be "IT" and you try your best to tag another person as soon as possible. There are versions though where you link arms with the person you tag and you become a 'tag team' going in search of others to tag.

Spreading the good news is like tag.  Someone has the news.  They shouldn't keep it to themselves, but should go out and find someone to 'tag' with the news... so that they can go out and 'tag' someone... the message is supposed to be spread, the good news that the love of God is always here for us needs to be shared.

We receive God's grace all the time. We are more aware of it when we come for Holy Communion. As you come this week, know that you are called to "tag" someone else this week with the love and grace of God. Let's play tag on Sunday!

What are your memories of tag?  Did you like recess? What are your thoughts on the story of Philip and the eunuch?  Email me or click the comments link below.