Vacation Bible School Challenges Grown-Ups Too!
Note: At Vacation Bible School four years ago today, a conversation with a granddaughter inspired this piece. Rereading it, I remembered her excitement – and my inability to articulate answers! So, grateful I am for these summer sessions to reach the children in our communities. Let the little children come to Me! If VBS is on your church’s calendar – pray for the harvest!
We took the two older children to Vacation Bible School this week, and when we stayed for the morning worship, the music and skit had an effect on the one who was too young to attend. As she watched, she was almost overcome with excitement – and full of questions:
- Will we see Jesus?
- Where is God?
- Where is His house?
- God loves me?
- Can we see Him?
- I want to hug Him.
- Is He in the car right now?
Questions just like the ones that wake me up at night sometimes. It was the one of the most important conversations I have had recently.
Trying to answer her – seeing her upturned, quizzical little face – hearing words and phrases that do not yet have anchors in her world, I caught a glimpse of how demanding the task of being a light remains. (Isaiah 42)
I told my little granddaughter what I believe, praying she will come to understand words like “spirit,” “love,” “serve,” and “obey.” But, the words I used didn’t seem to persuade her; she repeated these questions, even as I tried to answer them.
A Reminder of Vacation Bible School
Remembering When
It made me think back to an illustrated poem my godmother gave me – If Jesus Came to My House —
. . . If Jesus came to my house,
I’d like Him best to be,
about the age that I am,
and about the height of me.
I’d run downstairs to meet Him,
the door I’d open wide,
and I would say to Jesus,
Oh, won’t you come inside? . . .
That idea still stirs joy in my old self me —
God is who He is – and like Moses, “ . . . I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” (Exodus 4:10 ) Yet, He can reach a child of any age, or stage — especially one who can and will open a door. (Revelation 3:20)
Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step…. Martin Luther King, Jr.