We have 24 hours a day and we can’t go back for a replay. We either use the time or waste it. But it’s not so simple. There are duties, chores, obligations. We have to keep the house clean. We have to keep control of the garden. We have to water the house-plants. We have to walk the dog. And if somebody says that we have a choice in the matter, we demur. We say, ‘What is life about? What is worthwhile? Do we have to fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of ceaseless activity?’
Children know better. They play. That is the most beneficial activity they can engage in. Children once spent their leisure with alleys (glass marbles) or paper aeroplanes. Today it is more likely to be drones (careful!) or radio-controlled models. Children play because imitating adults (and of course they imitate everything they see us doing) is the best way to get to understand the world they are growing up in.
And children ask questions. They are better at this than many of us adults. That is why they ask: ‘Did God make us? Why does Grandma get ill? Is heaven up in the sky?’ Children are not deterred by the fact that for two thousand years or more philosophers and poets have mulled over these questions in their own profound ways without finding answers we can all agree on. Any compelling answer is bound to be seen as only partially satisfactory. Sometimes the questions get lost in a welter of more or less relevant detail. Children prevent that from happening when they ask first instance questions.
Such a question is this: ‘Did Jesus rise from the dead?’ Paul makes this a central, determining issue in Romans 10.9. Here documentary material is readily available and can be a matter of debate. It’s like investigating the amendments to the Declaration of Independence. It takes an adult to get into this. There’s no escaping a text. But also, there’s no escaping the primary question put by children.
Adults, too, have their play time. Recently it has gone by the name ‘Olympic Games’. Even soldiers in the Trojan war took time off for their version of the games. To play, to complete was to be human.
We have to accept that sometimes we get no certain answers to serious questions. Philosophers, poets and statesmen can only do their best. But it’s worth asking the questions and doing the best to find answers.
We adults can do worse than start with Romans 10.9.
COMMUNITY GARDEN
It started with a garden. Shildon parish church, Co Durham drew together a team to serve the community; it became a hub that was opened by the Bishop of Durham. The garden featured raised beds, polytunnels and other features that are maintained by volunteers and this led to the support of other aspects of the church time-table. The ministry team is led by Carol Harris.
COLCHESTER GROUPS
St John’s church, Colchester has five groups of people with common interests who meet for discipleship study and social encounter. Andy Sachs is the Vicar. If they are interested in meeting other junior school parents or similar groups, newcomers are welcomed into the group of their choice.
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