Being childlike

I glanced around our church one recent Sunday morning as we joined together in singing songs of praise to God. The place was packed, with all ages represented. During the service, the children and younger teens have their own programs but usually wait until after our praise and worship time before leaving. When they do, it is like a mass exodus, as many young families attend our church.

This particular Sunday, I was especially glad the children were still with us as we worshipped together. At one stage, two little girls who looked like sisters skipped down the aisle to the front, held hands and began dancing. One looked about six and the other about two. Round and round they danced, laughing and having a joyous time. A few moments later, a third little girl joined them – another sister, it seemed, perhaps around four years old. All three continued to dance – and, at that point, two things happened for me.

First, a scene from the gospels came clearly to mind, along with some words Jesus said on that occasion.

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ Luke 18:15–17

Yes, I thought, as I watched the children, surely this gladdens Jesus’ heart to see these children here dancing with joy as we praise God – and surely seeing them is a lesson in humility and childlikeness for us all.

Then I noticed a friend seated at the end of a row near the main aisle, not far from these children. She too was smiling in delight at them as she sang. Now I happen to know that this lady is eighty-four years old – and I also knew that, during the past week, one of her best friends who was eighty-two and also a member of our church had passed away quite suddenly. These two women usually sat together in our service, but now there was an empty seat beside our friend. I had invited her to sit with us but she seemed determined to stay in her usual spot, even if she had to be by herself. And there she was, smiling but also looking a little bereft and alone.

Earlier, this lady had told me how much her friend had wanted to go to be with Jesus and also be reunited with her husband. ‘I know she’ll be rejoicing in heaven right now,’ she said, ‘so I’m happy for her.’ Yes, down through all those years, both these women have held onto their childlike faith in their loving heavenly Father. In recent times, they might not have been able to dance on the outside, but right now, one at least is dancing in heaven – and the other surely will one day too.

May we all keep trusting Jesus and rejoicing wholeheartedly in him like those little children I saw but also look forward to the day when we will finally see him face to face.

Read Full Post »

Close calls

I know I am old-fashioned with some things in my life. Although I use my laptop and mobile phone so much, I still keep a paper diary for my day-to-day commitments, including speaking engagements. With the latter, I always record them on my laptop as well where I include the time, date, place, topic, length of input and the name and phone number of my contact person. Yet recently, I discovered even this system is not foolproof!

I have often joked how I fear that, one day, I will turn up to speak somewhere on the wrong day or at the wrong time – although hopefully earlier rather than later! I am thankful that the speaker convenor from most of the community groups where I go usually checks with me at least a week beforehand to see if I am still available to come. So far, I have not missed any speaking engagements – and I have had many over the years. But recently, I experienced two close calls that have certainly alerted me to be more on my guard.

The first involved an event at our own church.

‘You don’t need one of these invitations, but take it anyway,’ the lady who runs our seniors’ ministry said one recent Sunday as she handed me a piece of paper, ‘You’d better turn up because you’re the speaker!’

I laughed – but I did not laugh when I read the invitation at home later and saw the date on it. I had thought this meeting was on a Thursday, not Wednesday, as the invitation said! Oops – and in our own church too!

Then one recent evening as I began getting things together to speak at a community group the next day, I felt I should check the address again – and I am sure this was the result of a gentle prompt from God. In my mind, I had an image of another larger club owned by the same people – yes, surely that was where I needed to be? To my horror, however, I discovered I was wrong. Instead, I actually needed to head to a different, smaller venue a little further away. I breathed a sigh of relief that I had discovered this the previous night and not when I arrived the next morning. Phew!

Yes, these experiences caused me to stop, take stock and vow to be more careful in the future. I had been a little too overwhelmed with everything else happening around me and had lost my usual alertness to such things. But … had I become less alert in other aspects of my life as well? Had I become far too preoccupied all round? Was I as open to those prompts from God as I needed to be? And was I still alert to and ready for that day when I will meet Jesus, whenever that may be and however it might happen?

It is so important to be wide awake and alert to Jesus’ voice each day. Yet, beyond that even, how vital it is for us all to be watchful and prepared for the day of his return! May there be no ‘close calls’ then but, instead, great rejoicing for us all.

So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:42 NLT

Read Full Post »

Hoping …

My heart sank as I queued up at the checkout at a nearby supermarket. I could see the staff member there chatting at length to each customer – and I was in a hurry to get home. So when my turn came at last, I did not feel particularly charitable towards her.

‘Well, I missed out on the Powerball jackpot last night,’ I heard her tell the customer before me as they said goodbye, ‘so I had to show up here again today!’

As she began to reach for my groceries, she continued chatting.

‘Never mind – at least it was fun to think I might win. You gotta have some sort of dream in life, don’t you? You gotta have something to hope for!’

Despite my negative mindset, I began to feel sorry for her if all she had to hope for in life was winning the Powerball jackpot. But … what on earth could I say in response?

‘I agree, but I’m not sure I like the odds of your winning Powerball!’ I said in the end.

‘I know,’ she replied, ‘but you gotta think you might! What else is there to hope for otherwise?’

I could not resist, despite still feeling grouchy.

‘Oh, I certainly think we all need hope – for this life and the next, don’t you?’

She was quiet for a moment and then muttered something I could not fully catch about kind of agreeing with what I said, although she seemed a little lost for words. Again, I felt sorry for her.

‘I think it’s great to have dreams in this life,’ I went on. ‘I became a writer in my late fifties – and that fulfilled a long-held dream for me. I’m still writing today and it’s been wonderful.’

‘Oh, that’s so good!’ she told me, brightening a little.

‘But I do believe we need hope beyond that too, including for the next life,’ I said again.

This time, there was only a vague response and I had to leave it there. At that point, I felt my comments had been so inadequate and trite. I had not even mentioned faith in God at all – I had not explained who could give her the hope she seemed to be searching for in life. The moment had now gone, but, as I trundled off with my trolley, I found myself praying a desperate prayer on behalf of this girl. ‘Oh, Lord, I’m sorry my words were so bumbling and inadequate – and I’m sorry for my attitude too. But please speak to her somehow. Please give her real hope and help her realise there’s something more to life than winning Powerball!’

At least this girl was honest enough to put into words what many others in this world seem to feel about hope and life in general. Yet here I am, having been given such a wonderful hope through faith in Jesus – a hope that needs to be shared, don’t you think?

In future, may I be much more compassionate and listen to God for just the right words to say that offer true hope to those whose paths I cross.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15b

Read Full Post »