Meditations on Lent - # 7
Jesus is said to have suggested that unless we become as little children we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3). Other stories of Jesus call attention to his easy relationship with children. Many of us spend the first part of our life aspiring and pretending to behave in a way we learn to think of adult,. We spend the next part of our life in this adult costume. In the later part of our life many of us reclaim the simple joy of doing what makes sense to us – exploring the world, opening to new experiences and allowing love to direct much of our behavior. Young children are not racist, sexist, homophobic, easily embarrassed, shameful or afraid to make mistakes. They experience the world through their senses of taste, sight, hearing and touch. They explore what happens when they interact with various parts of the universe. They are quick to express displeasure and joy. They forgive easily unless one is withholding something they don’t yet understand why they cannot have; what they want now. In many respects young children are very giving and in other ways they can be very self-centered. They have not yet learned how their behavior affects the entirety of the universe.
I suspect Jesus was not suggesting that we give up some of our adult ability to take care of ourselves and others. I do suspect that he was suggesting:
When I think of the promise of the kingdom of heaven I am again reminded of children who seem to instinctively know that heaven is experienced in the moment and encompasses the universe. Children do not experience time as adult do. There is only the moment. When a child opens himself or herself to the fulness of the moment he or she is experiencing being a part of all of creation- a creation which knows no limits, withholds no passions, and cannot distinguish the whole from the sum of its parts.
In this Lenten season perhaps, we could practice giving without keeping score; practice loving without comparing sins; practice embracing every human regardless of gender, wealth, position, pedigree, sexual orientations, or religion; practice being free with “I’m sorry” and practice celebrating the wonder of mother nature.
A young man with $40.00 in his bank account called me this afternoon. He was in a store when the woman in front of him was attempting to count out small coins to pay for a $5.00 purchase. He quickly, without thinking about how poor he was, handed the clerk his bank card and when I talked to him had no regrets. This same young man is living in his vehicle. He sometimes forgets to use some adult skills and ends up with new challenges, but his heart is intact. He did not attribute his action to any religious dogma or philosophical belief system. He simply knew the right thing to do was to hand over his bank card to the clerk. This young man is at that moment as close to my concept of heaven as possible – as connected to the universe as any adult who has allowed himself or herself to become as a little child.
Written March 13, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
Jesus is said to have suggested that unless we become as little children we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3). Other stories of Jesus call attention to his easy relationship with children. Many of us spend the first part of our life aspiring and pretending to behave in a way we learn to think of adult,. We spend the next part of our life in this adult costume. In the later part of our life many of us reclaim the simple joy of doing what makes sense to us – exploring the world, opening to new experiences and allowing love to direct much of our behavior. Young children are not racist, sexist, homophobic, easily embarrassed, shameful or afraid to make mistakes. They experience the world through their senses of taste, sight, hearing and touch. They explore what happens when they interact with various parts of the universe. They are quick to express displeasure and joy. They forgive easily unless one is withholding something they don’t yet understand why they cannot have; what they want now. In many respects young children are very giving and in other ways they can be very self-centered. They have not yet learned how their behavior affects the entirety of the universe.
I suspect Jesus was not suggesting that we give up some of our adult ability to take care of ourselves and others. I do suspect that he was suggesting:
- Don't take oneself so seriously.
- Stay open to embracing life on life’s terms.
- Experience life passionately.
- Forget all the isms which artificially divide us humans.
- Be delighted with yourself, others and all of nature.
- Forget many if not most of the adult rules for “proper behavior”
- Don’t complicate love.
- Don’t hold on to anger or judgments- be quick to forgive.
When I think of the promise of the kingdom of heaven I am again reminded of children who seem to instinctively know that heaven is experienced in the moment and encompasses the universe. Children do not experience time as adult do. There is only the moment. When a child opens himself or herself to the fulness of the moment he or she is experiencing being a part of all of creation- a creation which knows no limits, withholds no passions, and cannot distinguish the whole from the sum of its parts.
In this Lenten season perhaps, we could practice giving without keeping score; practice loving without comparing sins; practice embracing every human regardless of gender, wealth, position, pedigree, sexual orientations, or religion; practice being free with “I’m sorry” and practice celebrating the wonder of mother nature.
A young man with $40.00 in his bank account called me this afternoon. He was in a store when the woman in front of him was attempting to count out small coins to pay for a $5.00 purchase. He quickly, without thinking about how poor he was, handed the clerk his bank card and when I talked to him had no regrets. This same young man is living in his vehicle. He sometimes forgets to use some adult skills and ends up with new challenges, but his heart is intact. He did not attribute his action to any religious dogma or philosophical belief system. He simply knew the right thing to do was to hand over his bank card to the clerk. This young man is at that moment as close to my concept of heaven as possible – as connected to the universe as any adult who has allowed himself or herself to become as a little child.
Written March 13, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
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