Ortho-duties

Have you ever noticed how much a person can get done in the waiting room of an orthodontist's office? All five of my kids are in orthodontic care (thank you for your gasps of concern). That means I've seen it all. I've spied kids doing homework, teachers grading homework and even a few parents doing kids' homework.

Do I even need to mention how many cell phones I've seen in there? I wonder how many monumental deals have been won and lost from waiting room chairs. Other calls to friends and family- and maybe a few foreigners- have transpired from those chairs. The last time I was there, there were 12 people in the room and about 16 phones.

I saw computers there, too. Didn't I see someone making an E-bay bid? Someone else was actually working on a book manuscript. Oh wait, that was me.

The kids who weren't doing homework were playing video games. It won't shock you to find that there are always lots more kids playing games than doing homework, will it? How did parents get their kids to head for appointments enthusiastically before video games? Some kids have hit their history-making, all-time high scores between replacing broken brackets. The games have certainly made a lot of kids smile- and with exquisitely corrected smiles, I might add. Bite correction and finger dexterity exercises all in one convenient (if not cost-effective) location.

Life is actually pretty good in the orthodontist's office. It's certainly fruitful and I'm always amazed to observe the real-life lessons in multi-tasking.

Multi-tasking is a great concept, isn't it? And how about spiritual multi-tasking? For instance, did you know you can grow AND help others grow at the same time? Doubly fruity! The Apostle Paul taught Timothy in chapter four of First Timothy to keep on growing in ministry. Then he said to "Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! ... Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation." (verses 14-16, The Message) Immersing ourselves in the things of Christ will cause us to grow. And when others watch our growth, they're encouraged to grow along. It's enough to make you smile from ear to ear- with or without headgear.

The Thessalonians were given an example. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8, "You became imitators of us and of the Lord. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia- your faith in God has become known everywhere." (NIV) Multi-city multi-fruity!

Let's let the Lord's message ring out. Let's make sure we're modeling faith-building, grin-inducing growth. We can watch in amazement as the Lord uses our own spiritual growth to fertilize growth in the lives of others. That's the kind of multi-tasking that all Christians can sink their teeth into!

We might as well keep up the multi-task mania in other areas too. I think we might need to make a few rules at the orthodontist's office, though. As I was leaving the office last time, I saw one lady trying to wheel in her tanning bed.

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Rhonda Rhea writes for dozens of Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her newest books, "Soup for the Soul-Tastes Just Like Chicken", and "Amusing Grace", at your local Christian bookstore. "Who Put the Cat in the Fridge-Serving Up Hope and Hilarity Family Style", will be available in March. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through her Web site at: www.rhondarhea.net.