Dear Family,
The other night, after doing our prayers, and i finished giving Daniel his blessing, he asked the one question i have been expecting but also dreading that i wouldn't have an adequate answer to. You see, brothers and sisters, whether its true or not, i feel, when Daniel asks me a question, it is necessary i give him an answer, even if the answer is simply, "you know what, son, i just dont know."
Anyway. After his blessing, Daniel looked at me and asked, "Daddy, where is God?" I took a deep breath and replied, "God is everywhere. God is in you. God is in me." Daniel thought about that for a second and then answered, "But i can't see Him." I was done. I had nothing to respond to that. Then, i think he sensed my cluelessness, Daniel looked at me again and said, "I love God!" My heart melted. Daniel didn't have to see God, and yet, without even questioning God's presence or existence, Daniel says, "I love God." Oh to have that faith, that trust, that love. Oh to be a child again.
But how many times have we been told that children should be seen and not heard? How often do we silence our children, because they make a loud noise or appear to be annoying the sensitivities of someone next to us? And though we claim to love our children, unconditionally, why does it feel like they still classify as second class, at best, citizens in most situations? Sure we abhor abuse. We hold a strong disdain for those persons who hurt children, but do we really consider them equal? Do we seek their wisdom when struggling with questions of finances, family, or faith? No. Well not often anyway. We simply put up with them and if they interrupt our 'adult conversation,' we tell them, "Not now Daniel, we are having an adult conversation." As if they have nothing to add to our discussion.
If that is how we treat or view our children, why does Jesus tell the disciples that unless they live in such a manor that their lives and their faith mirrors that of a child, God wants nothing to do with them? If children are second class, at best, why does Jesus insist that we must demonstrate a faith that is childlike?
Could it be that like Daniel who doesn't need to see God to love God, a childlike faith is simple, beautiful, authentic. Daniel's faith is not predicated on what God can do for Daniel. It simply is. Daniel believes because as a child; he doesn't know any different. For Daniel life is immersed in God; it is we adults who ruin it. Our doubts and our fears take priority over a faith that trusts in the God of Creation to care for us, just as He cares for the sparrows or grass of the fields. But we can't do that. We can't.
We have bills to pay. Schedules to keep. Jobs to go to. All of these take priority over a faith that calls us to rest in the arms of our Creator. That call, to sit and spend time with God, is above and beyond what is sane. A child would never relegate God to the margins, but we adults cant wait to put God there. Perhaps a childlike faith returns the balance to creation that God intended all along? So why not invite God to move from the margins of our lives to the center of our being, once again? What do we have to lose? Amen.
Shalom,
jerry
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