As we continue our spiritual journey of faith, we often struggle with the complexity of God. When we were young, we were taught that we can compare the Holy Trinity to a 3-leaf clover or shamrock…three persons in one God. Simple and easy to understand, but as we grow older, that definition seems childish, and we search for more complexity. Soon, we find ourselves caught up in research, theological debates, and discussions. Our true sense of a straightforward, easy-to-understand, and loving God gets convoluted into an unattainable Being. Fear and Control seem to be our new gods. This is easy to feel and undeniably relatable to the entire world around us. The more we seek worldly knowledge, the less we are going to know who God truly is.
The Gospel today reminds us that if we can become childlike, we will know who God truly is. As we recall childhood memories, we can better understand the heart and mind of God. Remember when Summer vacation seemed to last so long that you lost track of time, swimming or riding your bike all day long? Remember going to an amusement park, hearing your favorite song while waiting in a long line, and never complaining that you had to wait because the anticipation was stronger than the wait time? How about the Christmas countdown and how long the four weeks of Advent really felt? All childlike and quite “Godlike”! Something good is coming! Children do not just “know” that, they experience it!
Becoming Childlike
As we try to discover God in the day-to-day of getting older and becoming more “wise and learned,” we must heed what Jesus proclaimed to us. Just be more childlike! As adults, this may feel challenging, but consider some ways that would be meaningful to a child:
● Encourage a dream that a child reveals to you.
● Lovingly accept a poorly made attempt from a child to “help” that did not result in success.
● Do something out of the routine.
● Make a mess, just for fun!
● Be silly just to make someone smile.
I am sure you can think of many more.
Now, what if you were willing to offer these to other adults in your life or even to yourself? That seems much harder because children tend to act freely while we tend to limit ourselves. Children can perceive things that we miss because we are fixated on the facts and norms.
Let us turn to our wise Father in Heaven, asking him to give us the open, expectant, trusting hearts of children so that we will never miss the miraculous ways He is working all around us! May our hearts explode with joy and gratitude at the wonder and generosity of our Great God!
