Talking About Jesus on the Last Day of the World

Wellllll gosh golly whadyaknow….the Mayans were right. They were just a week late with their date. Indeed on 14 December 2012 the world came to an end. Twenty children were killed in a school in small town urban suburbia America. We have reached the bottom of the barrel . There is no more ‘low’ to which we can sink.

Everything seems pretty meaningless right now. I think back on the events of the week and they are filtered through Friday morning’s shattering event.

On Tuesday one of my delightful sprites of life whom I had not seen in months lay beneath her Christmas tree after school and said excitedly ‘Climb under with me Deborah!!!" She’s totally into fairy houses and there underneath the tree I found the mist of magic shining through the branches as I looked up to see the decorations and lights in reverse. Now, I’m glad I honored the whimsical request of my young friend because the only thing I can think of to make life have meaning again is to look on those young lives, as I always have, as experts on living; now moreso than ever.

The night of the shooting, another one of my playtime buddies, who is totally into World War II and all things military and tactical, asked me to watch a couple of movies and I had one to share with him. I silenced my urge to say I couldn’t watch shooting movies that night because I didn’t know what he knew or what his reaction was. About five minute into things he turned to me and asked, "Did you hear about that thing that happened in Connecticut today?" We kept the conversation simple. It was all he could handle.

I had brought ‘Windtalkers’ about the Navajo code talkers and then he wanted us to watch ‘Tora, Tora, Tora’ and to tell you the truth, by the end of three hours of watching people blowing up and countries hate each other I realized the issue with Connecticut and yet another privileged alienated youth is not as much gun control but mental health.

We have a mental health crisis in this country and we do next to nothing but prescription drugs that have good black market value. We need to focus on building sanity.

The timing of this column is calendared around my traditional ‘why I have a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus and say it would be a good thing for you to try too.’ I had done my usual reflection prior to writing on just exactly why Jesus is my Savior and Lord. I don’t insist everyone in the world think the same way but I do once a year witness to the difference that very real live relationship has made in my life.

I had decided this year’s theme was going to be how Jesus loves children and why that’s a winner for me. But now all I can see is Jesus sitting in front of those twenty little faces gathered around him telling them, like that teacher huddled with her class in the bathroom, that it’s all going to be all right and gosh…I can’t find the words anymore. That picture is enough. That’s who Jesus is. He’s the one that said ‘Let the little children come to me.’ He said, ‘Of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ He said, in order to find heaven and the Kingdom of God we had to become like little children. Healthy little children. Innocent little children. Delightful little children. Loving little children. Whimsical little children. Trusting little children. Hopeful little children.

My whole life has been about supporting and loving and encouraging little children and big youth. It still is. I’ve watched adults use children to working out their childish stuff. I’ve watched adults use children as pets. I’ve watched adults bless children with material possessions and forget what children love most is engagement and eye contact and companionship.

But I’ve also watched and joined with adults who believe children are the only reason life has meaning. Adults who believe that straightening out their own childhood issues so they don’t pass them on to the next generation is the best blessing we can give. Adults who would no more let children wander around on their own to figure everything out than …well Jesus.

This same Jesus says we can’t ever quit. We too must be agents of redemptive love. Even in, especially in a world that seems lost in darkness that will not lift. I say it again. Jesus is different. Today, he gives me hope when I have none. Today he is busy loving twenty children who just lost their parents. Let us love the ones left here on this earth as Jesus does. It’s the only action that will make a difference. Jesus teaches us how to love the lost better so they do not hurt the free.

Love, Deborah

Coming in January!!!
Three experiences from LGC Educational Services
 
"Character Club: and after school experience that encourages kids from 5-16 in developing integrity, courage, resiliency, and empathy.
 
"Of COURSE You Know What You’re Doing!...and if you don’t you can figure it out" : a parenting class for all ages, stages, typical and special needs that helps parent’s understand The Easy Fix, The Educated Fix, and The Enduring Fix."
 
"How to Survive Almost Anything Through Love, Power, Nurture, and Strength...with a few laughs thrown in" : an open lecture for those who want more Hope" by Deborah H Anderson