Credo 8-25-2020
Today I
wanted to share about living and about what we are called to do to enter the
kin-dom of heaven. Coffin offers two insights about life. The first is “The
trick of life is to die young as late as possible.” The other is to offer an
insight as to what Jesus had to say.
If it’s immature to be childish, to
remain childlike may be a function of maturity, for as Jesus said, “Whoever
does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will not enter therein.” Discussing
this passage, biblical commentators like to dwell on the natural humility, the
basic obedient and trusting quality of children; and I have no quarrel with such
emphasis. All of us could profit from being a little more humble, trusting and
obedient, although Christians have to recognize that obedience to God has more
to do with being love abiding than law abiding. But, why, I wonder, don’t these
same commentators talk about the natural idealism of children? It’s children
who want to save the seals, the whales, and all the rest of us to boot. It’s
kids who sell cookies for causes, bake bread for brotherhood [also sisterhood},
save pennies to fight pollution. It’s kids who have walkathons against the war [or
is sues such as racism]. And of course, we encourage them. We believe in being
generous. But it’s also true that we encourage them to outgrow it, as though generosity
were a pair of short pants. Do you think Jesus would bless that view of growing
up?[1]
I sometimes
wonder about telling our children and our youth to grow up. Yes, we must mature
and learn, but can we do so without losing our sense of wonder and curiosity. I
believe that we could all benefit from talking to a 2-year-old about their
sense of the world. For it is through a toddler eyes that we can catch however
briefly a vision of heaven. It is one of the reasons I believe that Jesus came
to us as a baby. That at age 12, he was teaching the priests in the temple. Throughout
his ministry, in his teachings, healings, and feedings, he maintained that
wonder of God’s creation. Sometimes, I am concerned that we train children away
from that wonder and creativeness. “Draw with in the lines, you have to do it
this way, etc.” I know that there were times that I told my children, “You need
to grow up and take responsibility.” Which may be true, but did it stifle them?
I am
also aware some of the greatest innovations occur with those who kept their curiosity.
I think of Einstein, Tesler, Edison, Jobs, Gates, Buffet, etc. Who did not just
do the things that others told them to do but were willing to color outside the
lines. Think of the greatest artists, musicians, poets, and writers. Even in churches, one can encounter the same
type of concerns. I have heard from well-meaning Christians, “We have never
done it that way. We only like hymns written in the late 1800’s or earlier. We want
traditional services, etc.” This harkens back to the comments on tradition,
which is important to help us, but it should not be our only definition. I imagine
what the Pharisees might have said to Jesus as he defied their traditions. It is
about abiding in love not law.
That is
a lot to mull over. Take time to be with children and to learn from them that
it is ok to color outside the lines.
Shalom
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