So I was babysitting some of my favorite kids in the world on Saturday afternoon while their parents were at a funeral. We were playing outside when the little girl asks if her boyfriend can come over. I was a little confused because this girl is four, but she explained to me that she has two boyfriends because she likes them better than all the other boys and they hold hands. She has a neighbor, who is not her favorite boyfriend, but he is her neighbor and they're both four, so they date too. This kid's playing outside to, so I say he can come over and we're all playing and then this kid asks where their parents are
The six year old boy says they're at a funeral but this kid doesn't know what that is, so he explains: "A lady was old and sick and then she died."
"So they went to help her?" the younger boy asks
"No, she already died."
"So what are they doing there?" (Which, if you think about it is a very fair question, especially if said questioner is four.)
"Um, she's in heaven."
"So what are you parents doing?"
"Do you know who Jesus is?"
So that made me laugh a lot, because it's such a modern Christian answer. Here's this kid, seeking to understand something about his world and here's a leader of sorts who doesn't have the answers, so he tries to distract by making him wonder about his faith in Jesus when all this kid really wants to know is why some random chick is hanging out at his girlfriend's house just because some lady is already dead! I mean, at first I just thought it was a really funny story, but I was telling it to some of my Christian friends, and all they liked about it was that the kid was evangelizing... And I'm not criticizing this kid or his parents or his church (which is also my church), I just feel like it's funny and the sort of thing that could be used as a fantastic metaphor by a marginally talented Museist writer.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Kids and God (sort of)
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2 comments:
haha, no problem! (would that make you Diana Mallon?) I met him at Gonzaga in April, at GEL Weekend. I had a sample class with him and actually learned something in the 50 minutes (we actually went over) we were graced by his presence. It was amazing. He was amazing. I was amazed. :D
Love the story Diana. I like how you left the names out to protect the innocent. There is nothing wrong with not having all the answers (especially when your 6). What impressed me about this story is that this child new that there was one essential answer to life and death and that is do you know Jesus. I don't look at it as distracting from the issue, but actually bringing the true issue to light. Not that answers shouldn't be given, but should we not press on to the essential questions of life.
I didn't know you started a blog. I wish you would start blogging again. Take care and don't worry about your GPA. A high GPA doesn't make you a better person, nor does it make you any more acceptable to God or man than a low GPA.
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