We have been enjoying a wonderful time resting in Florida these last two weeks. Last week was a time of great rest and family time, this week I’ve been commuting to downtown Orlando for a class from 9 to 5. This week has been an incredible time of renewal, renewing my mind and approach to ministry.
Last week I finally realized, I’m cheap – there I said it! Even though we are in the midst of the house of mouse we did not go to Disney World. If I’m going to spend big Disney dollars I want my kids to remember it and at 1 and 2 they won’t. But still, Bailey loves Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto. So, we decided to go to a night of character dining to eat dinner with the crew from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. The place was packed, the food was okay and the characters were buzzing around from table to table. It seemed like an over priced Chuck-E-Cheese without the games. Eventually all the characters came by our table and Minnie particularly spent a lot of time with Bailey. Minnie even gave her a kiss! Right after Minnie left us, Bailey put out her arms twirled around and smiled with euphoric joy, laughing hysterically.
I laid her down for bed that night and she said her prayers. It started pretty rote consisting of the nightly, “Mommy, Daddy, Bailey, Bubby – Amen.” But, that night as she prayed she said, “Mommy, Daddy, Bailey, Bubby – Donald, Goofy, Mickie , Minnie, Pluto – Amen.” I was elated! What a great prayer, straight from a child’s heart.
What happened that night? Bailey who prays for the most important and meaningful things in her day always prays for her family – the constants in her life. Occasionally when grandma or grandpa visit they’ll make it into her prayers. That night characters larger than life, constants from the TV became for her companions for an evening.
Bailey obviously doesn’t understand prayer fully. She has learned that we stop and reflect before meals and bedtime. She even has learned to “pray” for herself. But, she understands that what is most important and joyful belongs in our prayers. Prayer for her is a full expression of her day – reflective and thankful.
What happened that caused our childlike, joyful, spontaneous prayers to become a chore and monotonous? Why can’t we recapture this childlike state of joy and thanksgiving? Perhaps we no longer have childlike wonder that celebrates life? Let us take the time to pause, to celebrate and to move into a newness of life captured in our prayers.
