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The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little child shall lead them.
-Isaiah 11:6
It's easy to take a look at the world today and be discouraged. Grown adults in the news and on television argue and scream and talk over each other like toddlers. News programs and debates are chaos. Expert medical folks give advice and grown adults refuse to follow or accept it. People scream for causes in the streets that we hoped had died out decades ago or for causes we hoped were long ago achieved and haven't been yet. It's enough to want to avoid turning on a tv or radio or opening a paper.
And yet, opening scripture to the prophets once more, reminds us that isn't the adults who are meant to give us our best examples for who or how to be in the kingdom. We are not called to be child-ISH, but child-like. Lisa Lucas, the director of the preschool reminds of this regularly with stories of our precious children and daily acts of kindness and love and the wonder they show all over the bulletin boards. And I'm reminded in our youth and young adults each week.
Before the school year began, several of our college kids asked me about forming a Zoom Bible study. Years of me pushing them to seek worshipping communities and small groups in college led them to do just that. Except those are hard to find or join in this current quarantine. So they asked for one. I was happy to organize it and nearly a dozen showed up this week for our first meeting, including some new roommates. I find hope not in the adults who should be setting a finer example, but the children who have heard God's word because or in spite of us. And they inspire me. I hope you'll be inspired too.
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