JUST "CHILLAX!!"

     It was July 2011 and I was in Friend, Nebraska on a mission trip. Our Kids in Missions students and leaders spent a full week there helping a church there run a Vacation Bible School program. I have to say Friend, Nebraska is a very peaceful place! It was definitely hot but very quiet and peaceful. The pastor of the church there, Jerry Gill was a former children's pastor at one of our FCA (Fellowship of Christian Assembly) churches in Seattle. It was great getting to know him since I only knew a handful of children's pastors in our fellowship. After we did our VBS program each morning, we would always reward our team with an afternoon of fun activities. They deserved a break after working so hard. We always met as a team after our VBS to discuss what our plans were for the day. I will never forget a phrase Pastor Jerry used that I had never heard before. If we went to the community pool or spent time at a pig farm (yes, a pig farm) he would always say to our team, "Let's take time to chillax!" Chillax? I liked hearing that. So what does it mean to chillax?

     I am not even sure "chillax" is a real word or if it's been added to the dictionary. It's basically a combination of two words. Chill and relax. We all remember in the 1980"s saying "Chill out!" I remember being in England on a missions trip and during our training a fellow American guy was trying to teach a Korean guy to some English. What phrase was he teaching? "Hey, Chill out!" It was a funny moment. Getting back to "Chillax," There are times in life we need to Chillax. There are also times we should NOT tell people to Chillax. For example, it is inappropriate to tell someone who may have tested positive for Covid-19 or lost a loved one "Hey, just chillax!" I recently heard a story about a Mom who lost her 20+ year old son and who is still grieving hear someone say to her, "Hey, just move on already." You can't say that to someone who lost a child. I can't imagine ever experiencing that and I'm grateful I have not experienced that. Thank God. There are times you can tell people to "Chillax." Working with the general public at Chick Fil-A and Home Depot, I can give you some examples. Trust me when I say people have had enough of this pandemic. They are getting angry and unfortunately take it out on "Essential Workers." At Chick Fil-A, we have a limited menu where sandwiches have no lettuce or tomato. People have called up yelling that their sandwiches have no lettuce or tomato on them even after we explain we don't have those items. We have also had people complain that they have to wait on a long line at the drive thru. "Hey, just Chillax!!" At Home Depot we have been limited on our supplies in the Garden Center where deliveries have been less and less each week due to truck drivers feeling burned out. We have been out of black mulch, pool salt and topsoil. When it comes in, it sells quickly. People have become agitated, angry and rude when these supplies are not in. Although I know I you can't take it personal, you seriously feel like saying "Hey, just chillax!" I am not insinuating that we should ignore this pandemic or become lackadaisical in our lives. What I am saying is let's trust in God and learn to "Chillax" in his presence. Let's learn to rest and remember that He is in control!