On Sunday there were a dozen kids in church --fourteen if you take into account the two in the womb. It wasn't bad for a summer worship service and most of them came forward for the children's time.
I was trying to explain how Jesus is with us even though he is not physically present. Tough one. A little girl who can be a handful at times (all kids can be) was, as usual, right "on message" to use a popular phrase. She told me about her bear book and how it says that we can be alive in one another's hearts. She even illustrated with her own hands over her heart. I've noticed that she almost always understands what I am trying to convey and offers her own insight and commentary. Why not?
In Tuesday's Globe and Mail the Essay was by a father whose daughter asked "Daddy, what is God's phone number? Cute? Yes, and an important theological question. How do we communicate with a God who can easily be perceived as distant, yet is loving and personal?
The essay writer offered this observation:
Listening to children's demands is a special talent. Their spontaneous, innocent and thought-provoking questions are nothing short of miracles. They challenge you from all fronts. They demand forthrightness and honesty; they possess no political malice; and they tolerate little ambiguity.
Amen!
As the father of the child you refer, thank you for the smile that we got from that reference. I could tell you more of the things she brings up and thinks about, such as whether Jesus was actually adopted!
ReplyDeleteChildren in general constantly amaze us with their perspective on things and insight. As someone about to start teaching grade 1, I am preparing for lots of such interesting insights!