Welcome to Pastor Jack Buckley's weekly blog and podcast.
You have three ways to hear his weekly message:
- Read Pastor Jack's GODblog.
- Listen now to an audio of the scripture reading and Pastor Jack's sermon.
- Listen anytime. You choose the time and place. Download Pastor Jack's GODcast to your MP3 player.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
What the Children Know
Mark 10:13-16
"Shoo, go 'way. Don't bother Jesus with those kids." Or words to that effect.
It was those disciples again, doing their best to keep things decent and orderly.
Jesus was busy doing his Messiah thing, teaching great truths, and probably healing a few people, too. So when some parents brought their children up close for a little bit of blessing, Jesus' men sprang into crowd control mode.
"No, no," said Jesus. "You've got it all wrong."
In fact, he said, it's children and people like them that have the easiest access to what God is up to. So, he said, if you want in with God you'd better act like a child yourself. Regardless of your age.
Hmmm....
What about children, do you suppose, did Jesus have in mind?
I think of three things...
1. Children are of necessity pretty modest. I mean, they're small. Most everything in life is up for them. That leaves little room for arrogance. So humility is a built-in attribute for kids. Jesus says it's the right attitude for all of us to assume. After all, it is God we're dealing with -- like Supreme Ruler of the Universe, Maker of Us All. In comparison, yup, we're small.
2. Children as a result are pretty realistic. Oh sure, once in a while a kid jumps off a roof with a blanket tied like a cape, hoping to be Superman! But one thumping fall cures that delusion real fast. No, looking up at everything and every body breeds a kind of honesty about life's limitations. Then there's the matter of sniffing out phoniness, at which kids are curiously adept. If you like them, they sense it. If you're up to something, they'll smoke you out. How nice if we all regressed to that simple kind of perception.
3. Children are thus quick to trust trustworthy people. Like Jesus, for instance. Once the disciples backed away, those kids glommed onto Jesus in a flash. They knew he was the real deal. Mr. Rogers in spades. So he held the little ones, high fived the bigger ones, and clearly loved every one of them.
I think of two practical applications...
1. Years ago we played a trust game, where you let your body fall straight back so a person could catch you just before you hit the floor. Most adults find that very hard to do, taking half a step back partway through the fall for a bit of insurance. Most children will flop backwards as if they could fly. They know you'll catch them if you said you would. Why wouldn't you?
If God is as good as Jesus says, then we can trust God just like that. After all, in the Bible it's the devil who plays all the dirty tricks!
2. Author Frederick Buechner spent about 50 years grieving his father's death without resolution. He wrote about it over and over again, processed it several different ways, but the loss and pain remained. A therapist suggested he have an imaginary conversation with his father, call him up from the grave for a man-to-man talk. "You're a writer," the shrink said. "So write out the conversation. And do it with your left hand." Goodbye control, hello illumination! The exercise didn't take very long, but it went deep, right to the heart of the matter. Trusting that his counselor meant only good for him, Buechner tried something completely different (and a bit strange) -- and found his way to forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation with his long-lost father.
God is as good as Jesus says, completely worthy of our trust. Even when God calls us to risk something new or different or even scary. Only good surprises, guaranteed.
posted by Jack Buckley at
3:54 PM
<< Home
|
|
 |
|
|
