“When I was a child, I spoke
like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child”
We’ve all heard St. Paul’s words before. This is a well-known passage
from Corinthians, causing us to recognise the joys, and limitations, of
children.
We love children, don’t we? Their energy. Their enthusiasm. Their imagination.
Their energy. We love what they represent: purity. Innocence. Simple joys.
Untapped potential and promise.
That being said, sometimes kids can drive us a little nuts. They can’t
sit still, they forget the simplest of tasks, they say the darnedest things,
they ask the strangest (sometimes inappropriate) questions. There’s the litany
of Why? Why? Why?
And we’re called to love them for that. We’re called to love them for
speaking like a child, thinking like a child, reasoning like a child. It’s a
tough task, and God bless all of you who are parents or in a care-giving role
with these beautiful children.
Let’s go back to the positives though, shall we? Kids are determined,
They’re loyal. They’re focused – how many times do we have to ask them to put
away the toys for bedtime? They are creative (they *will* find a way to get
that cookie off the counter!). They believe – strongly.
So now I challenge us to consider how St. Paul continues his discussion
in his letter to the Corinthians:
“when I became an adult, I
put an end to childish ways.”
In some ways, this is a good thing. As adults, we have a better
understanding of what is appropriate when we speak, how we think, how we
reason. We develop social skills and attain knowledge that bring us out of the
childish world. We see the benefit of not having all the cookies we want, we
enjoy the rest of a good nights’ sleep (seriously, friends, why oh WHY did we
fight naptime when we were kids?!). We comprehend that limitations are there
for our own good, that the world does not revolve around us, that there is a
time to question and a time to integrate answers into our lives.
And yet, we sometimes overcomplicate things. We lose our ability to see
the beauty in the world around us. We lose the enthusiasm and trust of
childhood. Moreover, we can put down children for their childish ways, seeing
them as faults to be outgrown.
However, we’re called to remember the potential and innocence of our
younger days and to integrate that into our adult lives. Imagine if we, as
adults, demonstrated child-LIKE ways when we engaged the world? Not childish –
no temper tantrums, please – but pulling out all those great realities of youth
and making them part of our spiritual practices now?
Imagine if we were loyal to one another, whether or not we agreed with one
another’s actions? Children will stand by their best friend no matter what – we
can learn from them.
Imagine if we questioned structural norms, trying our best to understand
if these systems were truly serving the purpose they set out to. And, if they
were not, imagine having the determination to call for change? Children will
declare if something is not fair, and will often be inspired and courageous
enough to demand change – we can learn from them.
Imagine if we were focused enough on Jesus to not be distracted by crowds
or things or events, if we were to put being an active worshiping community at
a higher priority than, for example, a football game? Imagine if the crowds in
today’s Gospel had been more focused on Christ’s message than on the manic mob
mentality – they would not have tried to run him out of town; the very fact
that he slipped past them shows that their attention was on being popular and
being part of the crowd. Children will keep their focus on what is important in
their lives – we can learn from them.
I believe we’re being called to remember our child-LIKE ways – all of
those good things we recall from our younger days, those positive realities our
young friends remind us of: the strength of faith, the loyalty, the determination,
the focus. We’re challenged to learn the difference between childISH ways and
child-LIKE actions; to put the emphasis on the purity of the emotion and
strength of faith. We’re called to realise that sometimes life doesn’t have to
be as complicated as we make it, that sometimes the simplest solutions are the
best ones, that the “Speak to me like I’m 4” moments can be a way to bring out
an uncomplicated truth.
We’re called to celebrate the basic faith that lives deep within us. We’re
called to love – simply, whole-heartedly, just as a child would. We’re called
to remember that God will use us as we are - even as children. As Jeremiah
reminds us – even as children God guides us, directs us, accompanies us, and
delivers us. Even as children, we are God’s – known, consecrated, and anointed.
Especially as children, we are God’s.
The scripture promises us this child-like
acceptance and love. Let’s embrace it, celebrating that “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your
hearing.”
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