Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam
Photo courtesy of Marchet Butler, http://sunbeamprintables.blogspot.com
Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018
Proverbs 31:10-31; James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37.
“To welcome the child is to welcome me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Psalm 1 (UMH 738)
James would have us tame the tongue … from the same mouth come blessings and curses. Perhaps he would have us say good-bye to Twitter also. Proverbs 31:10 is entitled “A Capable Wife, Who Can Find?” I will steer clear of really bad stuff like that. Psalm 1 draws a contrast between the wicked and the good folk—The Gospel is helpful as Jesus speaks of welcoming a child in his name: “To welcome the child is to welcome me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”That seems like a safe subject and so badly needed. The Gospel would have us welcome the children. How will they have faith if they are not taught? Walter Brueggemann raises an even more haunting question: “But will the Church have children?” The current young crowd stays away in droves.
Anne Lamott, the wonderful writer, tells the story of putting her son into Sunday school. If you read this author, you know that she messed her life up in just about every way possible. When asked why she would put the kid into Sunday School, she said she wanted him to be around good people who seemed to care for each other. The boy, fast becoming a chip off the old block, refused to go unless his mom went too. Lamott went, taught Sunday School, and remains in church—one of the strong voices for the faith today.
These days our children for the most part stay away from church. Parents do not present children for education. These parents are bright people who may assume that they are in control of their lives. We all know something about that.
My Sunday school experience was probably like many my age: we went. A small woman named Grace Vail was my teacher. We sat in the back row in the sanctuary, under the stained glass window portraying Jesus as the good shepherd. I remember only one thing that the teacher taught: “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam to shine for him each day.” It was quaint, a bit silly, and not enough. But the relationship was everything. In those Depression days she always brought snacks. That was breakfast for some of the kids.
Years later when I studied Paul Tillich’s theology, he said that we are energy systems, light for the world. I am sure that Miss Grace had not read Tillich—but she knew about light needed for the world. What she gave to me became one of the building blocks for the adult life that emerged. And these days, I go to my Sunday School class every week unless prevented. And I hope that one of these days our children and grandchildren will find their way into this ancient quaint tradition of Sunday School. Sunbeams are needed!
Dear God, for all the Saints like Grace Vail we give thanks. And we give thanks for all who care enough to teach the young. Amen.
The Rev. Bill Cotton of Des Moines, Iowa, is a retired clergy member of the Iowa Annual Conference. He distributes "MEMO for Those Who Preach" via email. To receive it, contact him at revcottonhill@hotmail.com.