Friday Words
My companion and I publish a weekly journal for those that prepare the children’s sermon. Our work is based on the Lectionary readings. The journal finds its way to the inbox of those that subscribe each week with a few words in the email. I call these Friday words. Sometimes they are more information than encouragement, more gratefulness than theological. Here are the words from the last two weeks.
June 17
“There’s a difference between a philosophy and a bumper sticker.” (Charles M. Schulz)
I do not know the context for Mr. Schulz words, but given the work that I do with children, youth and the adults that work with them, it resonated with me. Pop-culture and Pop-Christianity work to reduce living to a bumper sticker size worldview, a cliche, a phrase, but living it is not that simple. Philosophy, theology, and wisdom are lifetime experiences that shift, change, and mature. Sometimes we are the teacher (master) and sometimes we are the student (apprentice). So, don’t rush when you are with children and youth. As best as you can, try to provide questions rather than answers which, I think, is the significant difference between philosophy and most bumper sticker or billboard wisdom that I see these days.
Jesus summarized his religious philosophy this way, LGLNAS.
love God and love neighbor as self
June 10
It is unimaginably hard to do this — to live consciously, adultly, day in and day out.” (David Foster Wallace)
As you work with and serve the children and youth in your midst I trust that you are aware of your own consciousness. The busy nature of post-modern life can distract a person from their own consciousness. People are now beginning to do “mindfulness” exercises. This can take many forms. For some it is prayer, meditation, or simply turning off all your electronic devices and sitting quietly. During the summer I spend a lot of time in my car visiting all the camp experiences that the Oklahoma Region offers. That first 30 minutes in the car after a day of photos, laughter, walking in the heat, problem solving, and conversations is my “mindfulness” time right now. No radio . . . no phone. Just the hum of tires on the road, bouncing off potholes from time to time and the sound of rushing wind past the car. I remember: thankfulness for the adults volunteering their time at camp; and for congregations that found money to help support the children and youth that attend.
I trust you find a quite, mindful, conscious time during the summer months that can help you center: on God, on your discipleship, and on the ministry to which you have been called.