The Second Sunday in Lent

Child's Play

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

Luke 18:15-17

What is it like to receive God's kingdom like a child? It sounds too simple. It suggests that we are not to work for it unless we work like a child does. The work of a child is to play. A child's obsessive play with stuffed animals, action figures and dolls can take on richly imagined personalities and stories. Whether it is imagining the story of an heroic quest with an action figure or imagining life as a princess with a doll, a child's imagination helps them to order the world.

There is no life of the spirit without the imagination. Without imagination, our souls are under nourished. Yet people constantly belittle or trivialize imagination by saying, "You're just imagining that!" "Your imagination is playing tricks again!" Perhaps you doubt that you can receive like a child and use your imagination. Poets, artists and painters, you may think, have imagination, not ordinary people like me.

With practice and allowing yourself to be a little foolish and goofy at times, you can learn to receive God's blessings like a child. When we learn to trust God as a child uses her imagination to play with a doll, totally engaged in the moment, we come close to entering the Kingdom.

Prayer: Holy God, thank you for the gift of imagination. Open my eyes so that I may use my imagination to see glimpses of your truth, mercy and grace. Amen.