RLRLRR LRLRLL

For some this will require an explanation, for others it’s painfully obvious, we’ll get back to that.

In life there are elemental rudimentary things you can’t get beyond. But the temptation is to get beyond them and get beyond them as fast as possible. In basketball everyone wants to…make a basket. So youth basketball is filled with little kids developing horrible shots because they lack the strength to make it happen. While all along their ball handling skills are as important but less interesting. No body asks how many times did you dribble tonight, they ask how many points did you score. In my opinion 3rd grade basketball should be about dribbling challenges, setting them up for things more interesting.

If your an artist, you start off with the basics of drawing shapes, in math you recognize numbers, then add, then subtract then multiply and divide. Then fractions, you know 7/5ths of people don’t understand fractions. We start off with the simple and move forward to the more complex things like double paradiddles so we can switch dominate hands.

Double paradiddles?? Yeah RLRLRR LRLRLL. Every drummer knows about double paradiddles. Right Left Right Left Right Right etc. They are part of a system of rudiments for learning to control your sticks. There used to be 13, then 26, now I see lists of 40. Rudiments are to drumming what scales are to the rest of the instruments in the band. Learn how to do the basics well, you now have the muscle memory to accomplish about anything (as long as you have rhythm).

You watch a craftsman who seems to be at ease in the use of their tools, it’s impressive. When you try to do the same thing, you realize, you’re just a noob!Like me and technology in the last month!!

We start with basics but there is no doubt that our society longs to complicate things. Bigger, better, faster, more is the common wisdom. Learning simplicity is in conflict with our humanity. Martha needed to be busy, she was the hostess, Mary just wanted to be with Jesus, leave some chores undone, serve a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and use paper plates. Jesus rewarded the simple, profound choice. Martha’s desire to complicate the situation left her frustrated.

What are the basic rudiments of Christianity? Is it a list of tasks to get done, a list of theological doctrines to wrap my mind around, is it lighting candles and listening to favorite worship music? If I dare write out an exceptionally simple answer, I know the back lash of “you forgot to mention, you failed to say, blah, blah, blah…” But I’m all too familiar with our longing to complicate it.

If I was to sum up with a simple idea of Christian basics it would be awe that a sinner like me (someone far away), could be loved and reconciled in to be called His son. And to be overwhelmed by a love that compels ( way different than coerces) me to see, act, think the way God does.

Jesus gave us two rudiments ( the Jews in Jesus day thought there were several hundred), “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor the same way you love yourself.”

The thing about basics is they are so basic, they might get dismissed, not deep enough, give me something deep here Terry. But everything comes off of the basics, so know them and do them and don’t forget them. Be overwhelmed with the love of God and live in the joy of honoring Him, you know RLRLRR, LRLRLL. Rinse, wash, repeat.