What happened to us?!?!
Do you remember when you were a kid? Hopefully, you do. My wife will tell you that I have notoriously one of the worst memories in the world. I can remember certain things, phone numbers for instance, or a recent conversation. But, in my childhood, there are only glimpses. Here’s what I do remember: I remember being carefree. I remember thinking that there was nothing that I couldn’t do. I remember having complete and total faith, faith that could move mountains.
Do you remember when you were a kid? Hopefully, you do. Hopefully, you remember laughing until it hurt, playing until you dropped, and knowing without a shadow of a doubt that the next day would be just as good as the previous one. Now, I know that my childhood experience is not everyone’s childhood experience. I know that some people felt very insecure as children, and that others had horrific childhoods. But, there seems to be a common glimmer of hope in children, almost regardless of the circumstances. One of my favorite times every week in worship is the children’s sermon.
I head into worship with a great deal of tension each week. After all, there’s a lot to think about! Which announcement will I forget to make this week? What unexpected announcements will others make? Will the lay liturgist show up, and be prepared? Will the hymns work with the Scriptures, and the Scriptures with the sermon? Will the Sanctuary be full? But, then, right before the Scriptures are read, I get close to the floor, and spend time with the wisest people in my congregation: the children. They are funny, random, interesting, and, most importantly, honest, young people. All of my tension subsides.
I am reminded in those moments that the Spirit is in charge. I have no idea what is going to happen. Honestly, sometimes I don’t even have a plan. We just start talking. And, they teach me.
Do you remember when you were a kid? Hopefully, you do. Hopefully, you remember laughing until it hurt, playing until you dropped, and knowing without a shadow of a doubt that the next day would be just as good as the previous one. Hope! Advent means “coming”. It is the season of expectation…of giddy joy…and of childish hope. What happened to us? When did we forget what we all knew as children?
Emmanuel: God with us.
Feel free to share your thoughts, and perhaps even some childhood memories.
The memories I have of the Pisgah area and family concern how blessed we were in those times. Fabulously prepared traditional meals in settings that were second to none (many of which I carry to this day); Visiting each uncle, cousin, and grandparent in turn after the meal (if they had not been in your group); The decorations in each home; The loud opinions of each adult being shared with few filters; The great magic in the air on Christmas Eve and at Midnight services; Sneaking into the tree room to catch Santa in the Act; The inevitable convergence of the Sandman with the movements of Santa and awakening to a bridle belonging to a horse in the barn or a toy car belonging to a race course in the living room or some other miraculously delivered dream come to life.
Great memories! I especially love the line “or some other miraculously delivered dream come to life”. Incredible description of what happens in Christmas!
I have to say children’s moment is also my favorite!
Being a kid at Christmas to me was always exciting and full of surprise! Funny how even as a little child I loved the traditions and magic of Christmas. I remembered my Grandmother cooking and wearing the same Christmas plaid pants every year. I remember not being able to wait until she came over to our house and how she always loved Bing Crosby’s version of “The Little Drummer Boy”. I remember her singing along with vigor and the fabulous Christmas Dinner she made so perfectly as well as how special Christmas was with her! I’m so thankful to have had her influence in my life and to have the beautiful Christmas memories she gave me.
One of my best memories as a child was helping my mother wash and dry dishes. We would take time about reciting memory verses. I would try to get out of drying dishes when I didn’t know a new verse.
Smith Mitchell:
Things most remembered are “going with my Daddy on the farm (that is my favorite)”; “Knowing that my Mother would be at home when I got there after school”; “Going fishing in the pond close to our house”. After that chores began and the joys of farm life ran on and on. Blessings after Blessings!
Remembering yesterday is not so easy now.
I remember playing in the woods behind my house with my sister and our neighbors Meg,John and Katie Flaherty. We would be up there from noon until dark, taking the least amount of time we could for dinner (the Flaherty’s were back in 10 minutes flat, the Caswell kids usually couldn’t get back in under 30 minutes due to parental rule). Those summers were awesome and yes, we would look forward to the next day and the day after that, knowing our friends would be waiting and our imaginations would make up yet more games in our forested playground. Occaisionally when I am in Pittsburgh visiting my folks, I drive past those woods or remember the route I used to walk to my Elementary school and all kinds of memories come flooding back. I wonder what my children and what all of Pisgah’s children will remember when they walk into the sanctuary as they become young adults, go off to college, come back for holiday visits and eventually (hopefully!) become married adults with children of their own.
Pete,
thanks for including me in this.
having lived many places during my k-12 school years I think about what made them different & rejoice in the memories of sounds, nature & the unique environment of each one.
Childhood memories are often difficult to resurrect — but I hear a song, or smell something in the kitchen, or hear my Mother’s voice! and back I go…. How we store all those memories is a mystery to me – but they are the building blocks of our lives. Let’s make sure that Pisgah Church is a fond memory for all our children. That is my hope!
My recent opportunity of being able to do the children’s sermon on the past 5th Sunday allows me to step into their pure and curious world. It is a wonderful moment. After which, I am better able to understand how I need to view things in life; engage a perspective of greater curiosity and hope.
Funny enough I asked my 10 year old what her favorite part of the service was, expecting to hear Children’s moment. She said I really like the sermon, you can learn something if you pay attention! Ha. I loved that.
What an amazing photo, too.
No offense dear Pete, but the children’s moment is my favorite part of church.
No offense taken: It’s mine too!