Caine’s Arcade

This video, Caine’s Arcade, has been all over the Internet lately. After watching it a couple of days ago, I can’t stop thinking about how inspiring this story is. Caine, a 9 year old boy, spent his entire summer vacation creating an elaborate cardboard arcade inside his dad’s used auto part store in east LA. This video is well worth eleven minutes of your time.

What I can’t stop thinking about is Caine’s passion and dedication for creating his arcade. He worked diligently and thoughtfully, never discouraged at the lack of customers, and always excited to make his arcade more elaborate. Caine’s work ethic is admirable, especially when so many kids his age spend their free time with video games or TV. Caine chose to use his mind and hands to make something of meaning.

At the end of the video, I can’t help tearing up a little when all those people come to surprise Caine and play at his arcade. Caine’s work drew community together. Caine wasn’t working for the fame or the money or to get ahead – he was just doing what he loved. And his passion drew out people’s excitement to be a part of his work.

The sweet simplicity of Caine’s story is a good reminder to all of us about how we should work for the glory of God and how to teach our children to work. Colossians 3:23-24 says:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is Lord Christ you are serving.”

When we work with zeal, passion, and creativity, it honors God – for He sees if our hearts are in it. Perhaps this might be a good video to watch with your older elementary children and talk about what it means to “work at [something] with all your heart…for the Lord.” What might this kind of work look like for your children? What skills, talents, and passions has God given them? Whether they are playing sports, helping around the house, painting pictures, writing stories, or walking the dog, the work children do does matter to God. Caine’s arcade is a reminder to all of us to work passionately and joyfully with our whole hearts.