Thoughts from a Child's Mind

I have sat down so frequently to write a post on this blog; whether a thought, an idea, a lesson learned, a matter of justice that deserves to be rectified, or to ask one of the innumerable questions that run through my head on any given day. Yet I always stop short - abandon the post before it ever reaches the end of the first paragraph - for I always fear speaking with any authority of what another before me has always said better, or questioning something that I'm sure I could find the answer for if I tried hard enough, or perhaps am simply afraid of being considered foolish for asking to be heard if I have nothing worth saying. At the heart of it, I am shy of an audience whom I will never see, nor meet, nor perhaps will ever read any of my heart that beats quietly with each line. Proverbs says that:

Prov. 10:19 "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refrains his lips is wise."


However, the LORD gave us lips to speak,  a mind to question, and a heart that desires to seek truth. For this reason were we meant to seek and to aid one another in our travels in this life. Why else be placed on this earth with billions of other people who have problems and hurts and fears and dreams? As I was encouraged to do so not so very long ago, I hope to use this blog to seek and pursue the LORD with my mind -as well as with my heart and soul- not only for my benefit, but also to any who wander down a similar path.

I've been thinking a lot lately of people and their desire to teach. While I know that some individuals are clearly given the ability to articulate and pass on truths better than others, there seems to be in everyone an innate desire to share information or lessons one has experienced, regardless of one's age, gender, race, or religious belief.

I can well recall conversations I've had with one of the three year-old boys I use to babysit where he looked me solemnly in the eye and made me promise him that I'd never eat dirt, "Or else, I'd get sick and fro up." I am also reminded of other situations where an 85 year-old grandmother, stricken with Alzheimer's and struggling to recall her own name, imperatively begged me to be careful about whom I chose to marry, and to make sure I chose someone who treated me well, lest I be forced to endure heartache that she could have prevented.

This passing on of information is so curious because what does the teacher (in a sense) gain? Absolute strangers are eager to give advice though they will probably never see you again, but to what end? Of course there's a pride element of feeling like one has superior knowledge, but there seems to be this basic satisfaction in feeling like our living, and having made mistakes and learned from them, benefitted someone else. As though it justifies to us further that we truly do have a reason worth living.

C.S. Lewis in his introduction of "Reflections on the Psalms," compares the sharing of his work to school children helping one another with their "sums" in arithmetic class. Though your fellows may not know much more than you, they have the benefit of having just fought that battle and being aware of the subtle obstacles that can bar one's path rather than a school teacher (infinitely wise as they are), who might have long forgotten.

I suppose that the conclusion I've come to with this thought is the desire to be more open, or at least willing to listen, to the ideas and lessons of others -if not only for my sake, but also their own. May I, in the future be one more teachable concerning the things of God, and in humility, eagerly desire to teach as the day has need.

LORD, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (Ps. 90:12). Amen.