Use Your Observances and Experiences to Build a Better You
You know how children’s curiosity is on the go nonstop. It’s runs wide open with no parameters. This is why as adults we have to keep them from touching a hot stove or chasing a ball into the street without looking.
On the other side, experience is a great education tool. Once you burn your finger you understand why not to touch that hot stove.
The 15th century proverb, children should be seen and not heard, originated in religious culture and was a part of that learning process. This was an effort to teach children to respect others, especially adults.
In Mark 10:13-15, Jesus tells His followers to not stop the children from coming to Him. This was an uncommon thing. At that time in history children were seen as non-persons until they became adults. They were to not be heard or seen.
Children shouldn’t be ignored or treated as adults…they’re children. They should be encouraged to be children.
As we grow up, we forget to keep this children’s eagerness to learn. We become stuck in the rut of life with our heads down shoveling our way forward.
We never look up to see God’s wonders that are all around us.
I see our relationship with God like a child’s relationship with an adult. He knows a lot more about things than I do. At the same time, He wants me to open my eyes and ears to the world around me. He loves it when I come to Him and ask Him questions.
We need to open our eyes and ears.
I approach my relationship with God as a mentor/advisor. Someone to ask questions of and get advice from, to help me build the best me. Too many people’s relationship with God is like children in biblical times. They try not to be seen or heard. This isn’t what God wants. He wants a relationship with us.
Pastor Lee shared some examples of billboards that show us God’s human side. Here are a few –
- “Come over to my house before the game on Sunday” …God
- “You know that “Love Your Neighbor” thing? I meant that” …God
- “Loved the wedding. Don’t forget to invite me to the marriage” …God
- “Keep using my name in vain and I’ll make rush hour longer” …God
Recently my niece Hannah was having a chat with God while on her way to work. As she was asking if He was hearing her, she saw the small end of a rainbow. Okay she thought…is He hearing me or is this my imagination? Then the rainbow got longer. As she continued the conversation, it continued to get longer until it became a full rainbow.
Oh, but God didn’t stop there. Before He was finished there were two complete rainbows, one above the other so bright that she said they were the most brilliant and bight rainbows she had ever seen.
But this story doesn’t end there…
Hannah shared this with Pastor Lee and what do you know. He was looking at the same rain bow at the same time.
Open your eyes and ears…you don’t want to miss out.
