Boring, but Safe

The December 15th issue of The Week referenced a USA Today story reporting that in seven restaurants, McDonald's is testing high-tech mini-gyms for kids. They'll include exercise bikes that play videos only when pedaled, and dance pads that display the kids' moves on a nearby screen.

The other day a friend and I wanted to have a conversation. The Boy was with me, and our Chick-fil-A (with a play area) isn't open yet. We drove around to check it out, but we have to wait a few more days for the Grand Opening. As we pulled away, The Boy suddenly called out the dreaded alternative: McDonald's!

And I caved.

I know, it's hypocrisy. But I was a cold and lonely mom in need of an uninterrupted conversation with my good friend. The Boy could play and we could sit and sip bad coffee. It was less than adequate, especially when we arrived to find we were surrounded by at least 35 high school students pausing on their way to a field trip. But my friend and I managed to get our beverages, the high school crowd eventually dispersed, and The Boy finished his pancakes and had the play area to himself.

While we were there, however, three adults came in to study the play area. One of them measured this way and that. They conferred. They pointed and nodded. They appeared to talk for a while about the space, though we were too far away to hear any of the conversation--besides, we were having one of our own. Then more measuring, more nodding, some note-taking and agreement, then they finally left.

I didn't think much about it at the time--maybe they were going to put in new flooring or upgrade some sections.

Then I read that article about the high-tech gyms and thought, "Hey, maybe we'll be one of the test markets!"

I used to think this was kind of cool until my brother, who is in advertising, pointed out that we're often the test market because we're so average. Or maybe he said it's because we're somewhat resistant to change, and if a product can make it here, it can make it anywhere? I can't remember now that I'm trying to write it out.

But either possibility is true--we're both average and resistant to change around here in Middle America.

Which reminds me of another story: just the other day I was at the library sitting near the checkout counters. I overheard a new patron with a rather loud voice interact with one of the librarians. "Well, I have to say it seems like a safe place to live," he observed. "I've noticed that!"

"It's safe, all right," the librarian agreed. "Boring, but safe."

And I thought to myself, "That is so true."

And then I thought, "Do I want to continue living in a place that's boring, but safe? As a mother, I like the safe part, but I'm not so sure about the boring part."

And then I thought how sad it was that it never occurred to me to defend the city. I don't know where the man came from before moving here, but I thought how sad it was that my first thought wasn't to point out important, positive, outstanding or impressive aspects of this place. I simply agreed: Boring, but safe.

I've been thinking about it all week. Boring, but safe. Is that how life is to be lived? Or should we live with a degree of risk?

And then this week I came up with a Christmas connection to this theme. It's a bit of a stretch, but not too much.

Work with me here. I'm guessing Galilee might have been described as boring, but safe (at least by First Century standards).

Right there in her sleepy town, Mary was presented with a risk. A big risk. A risk to her reputation, her body, her future. Who knows if she ordinarily preferred things to be predictable and safe, even if that meant boring? We do know that she embraced the risk that presented itself.

"Be it unto me according to thy word."

Not boring. Not safe.

It came right to her.

Right in her otherwise boring, safe community.

I don't know if we can draw any generalizations about a one-of-a-kind moment in history. After all, there will never be another Annunciation. But it got me to wondering, maybe we don't have to leave boring, but safe in order to experience risk and contribute something meaningful to the world.

Sometimes it comes to us.

We just need to keep our eyes open and be willing. When risk shows up at our door, we should probably embrace it.