Reflecting

"When practices with children are not subject to theological reflection, as is often the case with adults, such reflection may only emerge unintentionally and then infused with meaning after the fact. This is in part the nature of a practice and is not necessarily negative as it can be part of the transformative quality of practices." (p. 263)

Spiritual formation and any work with children (or adults for that matter) is a living work in progress and constantly in flux to be effective. But if we believe that our children matter to God and our stewardship in this area matters to God how can we not take time to prayerfully search the scriptures and regularly reflect on what we're doing (or not doing) with children, why we're doing it, and how we're doing it? Is this only the responsibility of the children's minister and parents? Do senior staff and congregation have roles to play?

Some would say that working with kids is specialized, it's not for everyone. On the other hand Biblically, historically, parenting wasn't a vocation of choice - it was expected of everyone or almost everyone. People who didn't have children probably had nieces, nephews, and younger siblings - not on the other side of the country but next door. Adults couldn't help but interact with kids and visa versa. For sanity's sake you hold kids to higher standards when you have to be around them all the time. Adults and children were constantly effecting/affecting one another. Community living was expected of everyone and children were born into that. They didn't have much choice and they didn't stay children forever. They were expected to grow up, be able to do what grown-ups do and do it well.

So what does that mean as we reflect? Putting all the needs and activities of a congregation in perspective, and I'm not saying that children are the only thing that matters, but is reflecting on children somewhere on the bottom of the pile? What happens when parents do that? Maybe I'm compartmentalizing again. Somehow I can't imagine God ever sticking anyone on the bottom of a pile. Maybe...

Anyway... Lots to think about. Happy reflecting. Only 6 chapters left :)