Childlikeness

Thursday, November 19, 2009 -- Week of Proper 28, Year One
Elizabeth, Princess of Hungary, 1231

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 992)
Psalms 105:1-22 (morning) 115:23-45 (evening)
1 Maccabees 4:1-25*
Revelation 21:22 - 22:5
Matthew 18:1-9 *found in the Apocrypha

"Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."

One of the qualities that children exhibit is a ready willingness to trust. Children trust their parents. They depend upon parents to give them whatever they may need. Children freely let their needs be known, trusting that a parent will provide. They "pray" earnestly and intently to their parents. And they live in a relationship of absolute trust upon their parents who care for them.

One of the reasons we find children so attractive is that they radiate that trust toward everyone. An infant will look with interest upon any face that may appear. A toddler will run up to strangers and engage in instant rapport. At least they will until they are taught not to trust some people. It is great fun to watch older people in a park as they watch children playing. Sometimes a child will approach an unknown spectator, and if not warned away by a parent, the most delightful interplay may occur.

A major leap in our spiritual journey happens whenever we may come to the place where we decide that we will trust God with a quality that has some childlikness in it. A part of that shift in our spiritual consciousness includes the conviction that life is ultimately trustworthy. Because it is created by God and given to us, ultimately life is trustworthy. Part of that shift is to look at creation and to say that it is good -- because it is created by God and it is the stage for God's ongoing work of love, life is good.

We make that leap of trust with full awareness of the brokenness, suffering, and evil in the world. Regardless of the darkness, we choose trust over suspicion, hope over despair, love over defensiveness. There is something childlike in that choice. Maybe there is some naivete involved, but it is to me a post-critical naivete. After we have seen the violence, oppression and suffering that so tragically scars the earth and its creatures, nevertheless we find beneath it all a beauty, mystery and love that transcends the evil.

Some have said that to come to a place of trust we must forgive life. We must forgive life itself for all its hurts and dangers and sufferings. At some level, for most of us, that also must include forgiving God. We look at all of the injustice and suffering, even recognizing the part that human will plays in all of that, and we realize that pain and death and accident and suffering are woven into the very substance of the creation that God has made. When we turn to God as the source and sustainer of it all, we can turn in outrage and accusation, or we can turn in a grateful accepting trust that somehow includes a willingness to let God off the hook for all of the hurt while we embrace God in gladness for all of the love. Like children, we may again be able to see the creation as being full of mystery, a profound playground of wonder and possibility. When our trust is deep, we can again see the stranger with open, defenseless curiosity and welcome. There is something about this childlike way that has the flavor of the kingdom of heaven.

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas