Little Children

I really like to think. (I blame med school) But, sometimes it's really nice not to think about anything. Profound, right?

This morning I woke up and read Mark 10:13-16 on purpose because the idea of being a kid sounded especially nice. Kids are so good at not thinking. It says:

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "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." And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

The Message translates Jesus's words:
Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.

So after I read that, I tried to blog about it. But couldn't think of anything to say. Then I went to Blacksoil. Which I could talk a lot about in and of itself, but I'll leave it at it's a church body in Lansing that is full of children that aren't confined to a nursery or Sunday school. And tonight, instead of being a distraction, they prefectly portrayed these children in Mark 10.

This was one of my most favorite memories from our time Haiti. We danced to music on an iPhone with these kids for so long...I guarantee you that for however long we did this, I didn't think. I was just really, really happy.
[Photo courtesy of Kyle Martin]

Whenever I feel overwhelmed, one of my favorite things to do has been to close my eyes and picture God, arms open wide, and me, running into them. Like the children with Christ in this story. I don't know if that will actually happen in heaven, but I hope it will. Francis Chan spoke about visualing ourselves in God's arms during a high school youth retreat...IYC. It has stuck with me and I think the kids at Blacksoil will too. It was refreshing to see a complete church body worshiping together. And it made me really excited to go to heaven.