I know I’ve written a lot about the subway, but can I do it one more time? I guess the things I saw on the trains have stayed with me (side note: so have the smells!). I promise, I won’t write about the subway tomorrow. But it isn’t tomorrow yet, so here goes.
Subways can be scary places, what with people keeled over sleeping, or taking up 5 seats sleeping, or looking at you with an expression that you’re pretty sure you shouldn’t stare at, and yet you can’t stop staring at.
But one thing changes that: a baby.
I saw a couple of kids during our time on the subway that were “pinch your cheeks” cute, and what blew me away was how those babies changed the whole feeling on the train.
People made faces at them, laughed with them, spent all their energy trying not to reach out and tickle them.
Another side note: don’t touch other people’s kids on the subway. Or, anywhere. Ever.
It wasn’t just babies on the subway, either. On the day we were leaving, I heard children laughing, and when I looked out my window, I saw a ton of preschoolers playing on playground equipment next to where we were staying.
I could have watched them all day long (I hope that doesn’t sound creepy).
What is it about babies, or about the sound of children playing, that fills us all with unspeakable joy? All babies do is poop a lot, and make us smile and do googly eyes, and yet we can’t help but light up when we see them.
I think this is why Jesus told his followers — and us — that becoming like a child was part of the admission to the King’s playground.
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3, emphasis mine)
Become like little children? He said this to grown men, men who had given up everything to follow him. He said this to men who were apprenticing to become like him, not like a child.
But they wanted to be like Jesus if it meant the power and position of a King, not the simplicity and submission of a child. So Rabbi Jesus continued the lesson, and called them to take a lowly position, and to welcome children, and not to cause those children to suffer.
Man, did he have some harsh words about causing them to suffer…
“If anyone causes one of these little ones — those who believe in me — to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6, emphasis mine)
That’s not the grace and peace Jesus many of us want to make him. I mean, he is full of grace and peace, but he is building a kingdom filled with people willing to become like children, and he will protect his little ones.
People in the Middle East — on both sides of the war — may want to read that verse again and act accordingly. But I digress.
People as small and helpless as children have to depend on people bigger and more able than they are. Share on XThe point here is that people as small and helpless as children have to depend on people bigger and more able than they are.
So do we.
Children can laugh and create laughter because they aren’t racked with anxiety about what comes next.
So can we.
Babies will make messes — big, nasty, smelly ones — that can’t stop them from being cute and lovable.
So will we.
It’s time to be less grown up, and to start making googly eyes again.
It’s time to be a kid.
