“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”
GK Chesterton, Orthodoxy
I apologize for quoting Chesterton frequently here, but reading this Substack brings to mind so many of his observations because they are often so similar! And like with Chesterton, I'm going to have to take some time to contemplate what I just read because it's a little mind blowing and need some time to consider!
Have you ever looked at a yogurt cup? I mean REALLY looked at it. If you have, you may have noticed a very tiny little graphic with an orange monarch butterfly for the USDAs "GMO free" product stamp (if I'm remembering correctly).
I bring this up because several months ago, my two year old daughter shouts "A BUTTERFLY!!!" and points to the graphic on the yogurt cup that was part of her breakfast.
Did I know the butterfly was there? Yes, I had seen it many times and thought no more about it.
But in that moment I was able to join my daughter in the joy and novelty of a tiny butterfly graphic and just think, "huh, yeah ...that IS a pretty cool butterfly."
It's in moments like those that I can understand and experience what it is to be like a child again.
That may be why Jesus speaks a very stern message toward those who harm children. That it would be better to have a millstone around their neck and be thrown into the sea than to harm a little one.
“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”
GK Chesterton, Orthodoxy
I apologize for quoting Chesterton frequently here, but reading this Substack brings to mind so many of his observations because they are often so similar! And like with Chesterton, I'm going to have to take some time to contemplate what I just read because it's a little mind blowing and need some time to consider!
As a father of a two and a half year old, I frequently re-read this quote. “Do it again!”
Have you ever looked at a yogurt cup? I mean REALLY looked at it. If you have, you may have noticed a very tiny little graphic with an orange monarch butterfly for the USDAs "GMO free" product stamp (if I'm remembering correctly).
I bring this up because several months ago, my two year old daughter shouts "A BUTTERFLY!!!" and points to the graphic on the yogurt cup that was part of her breakfast.
Did I know the butterfly was there? Yes, I had seen it many times and thought no more about it.
But in that moment I was able to join my daughter in the joy and novelty of a tiny butterfly graphic and just think, "huh, yeah ...that IS a pretty cool butterfly."
It's in moments like those that I can understand and experience what it is to be like a child again.
That may be why Jesus speaks a very stern message toward those who harm children. That it would be better to have a millstone around their neck and be thrown into the sea than to harm a little one.