Krista Tippit touches on subjects I care about. Her podcast is called On Being, and having pieced two Hunter's Star quilts this week I had the opportunity to listen to a parade of them.
One addressed God and children, and Krista's guests offered their experience.
The author of Spirituality in Children spoke, which I read back when I was in the busyness of raising a batch of them. My brain had no spare ROM for such philosophizing then, but now I do. I ordered a copy. He suggests that children have an innate connection to the divine. There is a Hebrew proverb saying that before they are born, babies are granted full knowledge of God, and as they slip from heaven there is a veil drawn over that awareness.
Diane Komp is a pediatric oncologist, and it was through her conversations with these young emissaries of trust that she swiveled from atheist to believer. As children girded themselves to step over the divide, they were willing to narrate the transition. One boy described the Man who cradled him as he recovered from heart surgery. Another held a statue of the Good Shepherd close to his heart, sighing.
I searched for a used copy of her book. But it was a thousand bucks. I did not click.
There was a little boy who lived near the church in California. His name was Josh and he arrived for services unaccompanied by parents. I tell myself that he enjoyed the Sunday School projects. And the snacks. When daylight savings disrupted the clocks I wondered if he would know when to come. He was right on time. One day I took the kids out to play on the swings. As his legs pumped into the sky he chatted.
"I am the only one in my family who believes in God." There was no whiff of self importance, or pity for his parents. He just wanted me to know.
It seemed like holy ground, to be one of the earthly teachers for this young man, inviting him to create projects about Noah and David and Mary. I dare say his impression on me is deeper than mine on him.
Back in college I embarked on a research assignment in which I asked every student in the elementary school about God. I still have one of those responses, from a girl named Katie.
"He is owese happy!"
