Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me." ... Matthew 18:4-5

This week, Joe and I have been spending our mornings with 13 children, one half of the kindergarten at the ecumenical Vacation Bible School held at the Pennington Presbyterian church. Their curriculum is Davey and Goliath's "Camp Creation", the same as the VBS at Abiding Presence. It is wonderful to see their smiling, eager faces as they hear the stories so familiar to us older people - scriptures describing the Creation, the Good Samaritan, the feeding of the 5,000, the gift of the widow's two coins, and how when we help others we are serving God. They sang with gusto, created rainbow fish, windsocks and friendship bracelets, learned to navigate the playground equipment and to share their markers and snacks.

Amid the warm days of summer, Vacation Bible School, and the freedom of childhood, I offer you the following three simple stories. The first two, I know to be true. I was there. The third came from a reliable source, and I hope it, too, is true.

1. The little boy was obviously unhappy as he walked back from the communion table, holding his parent's hand. A few minutes later, after the last Amen, I stooped down to speak with him.
      "Why are you so sad?" I asked him.
      "I wanted some, too", he replied."
      "Well, what does that mean to you, the bread and the wine?"
   I could almost see the little wheels in the 4-year-old mind spinning for a moment, and then quietly he said, "Jesus loves me". - - I defy any great theologian to give a better explanation to the holy meal. Who says kids are "Too young to understand!"
    
   
2. As her mother struggled to put the green winter coat on the tiny blond haired girl, she sighed, "But I'm not ready to go home - I want to sing some more!" Having known the mother since SHE was a small girl, I asked if I could take her baby back into church. Gladly, she handed her over to me while she put on her own coat and hat and dressed a squirming little brother into a snow suit. I led the little one back into the now dimmed sanctuary, and we sat in the first row. Quietly, we began to sing together, "Jesus loves me, this I know, . . . " a song that is often the first hymn learned and the last forgotten. When we were through, she gave me a hug and a big smile. hopped down from my lap, and ran to join her mom and dad. "NOW I'm ready to go home".
    
   
3. A little girl walked daily to and from school. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school, and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child. Lightning, like a flaming sword, would cut through the sky followed by the roar of thunder. Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. She found her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning the child would stop, look up, and smile. Another and another lightning flash - thunder sequence followed quickly, each with the little girl stopping, looking at the streak of light, and smiling. Finally, the concerned mother called her over to the car and asked, "What are you doing? Are you OK?" "I'm fine", the child answered, "God just keeps taking pictures of me."

It's all a matter of perception.

Dear God, give us the child-like faith
that we may see You in everything. Amen

Contributed by Rosemary S.
Published Sunday August 1, 2004
Week 36 of Liturgical Year C