It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life."
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As soon the.children stream down the aisle in pursuit of the altar, I break into smiles. Each Sunday service includes a children’s time, where the children sit and talk with the pastor for a few minutes. They are invariably all over the place, full of energy and joy. The mood is conversational, with lots of back-and-forth between the pastor and the children. It takes a lot of skill, I think, to ‘herd cats’ in this way – to share an engaging spiritual reflection for the children to digest, while inviting their questions, and moving the lesson along efficiently. All the while, the pastor is balancing the children’s wiggles and moods and unexpected tangents. I am awed by his patience; he seems to truly enjoy the children, and never seems to mind their time together going a bit sideways.
Today, I am still smiling from a simple misunderstanding by one young child, and can’t help thinking her confusion makes a good message all on its own. I wrote a poem to share the story:
Isaiah 61:1 on Sunday a child misheard the reading and asked bewilderedly insistently understandably perplexed why but why why why has the spirit of the Lord annoyed me? brilliant forthright out of the mouths of babes are we bringing good news to the poor? the brokenhearted? the prisoners? perhaps to be anointed we need to be more annoyed truth to power rise up
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Maureen,
This reminds me of hymns and verses I misinterpreted as a child. “Would he devote that sacred head for such a worm as I”? Wut? I’m smiling as I think about the memories and chaotic children’s sermon.
Maureen, Oh my, I love the way you describe the children at your church and how the children message is delivered. Your poem is fantastic and shows the situation well. Thanks for sharing such a delightful message today!
Maureen, I’m laughing so hard. These are the best moments of all when words are misheard and a funny spin comes out. The spirit of the Lord annoying me brings laughter and joy, and it does give such a wonderful opportunity to explain the difference – – a teachable moment for vocabulary words, indeed! Thank you so much for sharing this, and I’m so glad it inspired a poem. A true slice of Sunday life.
Thanks for sharing the misunderstanding of the young one in a way that also shows her wisdom.
Maureen, how precious. Such a truth. I love the last two lines. Yes, to being annoyed with the injustice of it all. Let’s rise up.