Not Either, Or .....Both, And

 "We were largely taught WHAT to believe instead of HOW to believe. We had faith IN Jesus often as if he were an idol, more than sharing the expansive faith of Jesus, which is always humble and patient (Matt 11:25) and can be understood only by the humble and the patient." (Universal Christ by Richard Rohr)

The "in between years" are tough. There are these glimpses of childhood. The fun hat, the viewing of the latest animated movie, the way she lays next to me at night before we tuck her in.

And then.

There are these glimpses of teen years. The snark. The need to be right about absolutely everything. The insistent she doesn't need help when she clearly does.

But then, childhood brings this physicalness to parenting. Needing help with tying shoes, getting back to sleep, all the things.

And then, teen years bring vibrant conversations, people tie their own shoes and buckle themselves in -and eventually drive themselves places.

Challenges in both.

But good in both.

After a particularly hard day the other day, I signed myself up for a parenting class. A first. On kid #3.

Not because I expect to learn anything ground breaking but because I need a reminder of what my core values are.

I was reminded that I SEE what I LOOK for.

At the end of the day, both the childhood and teen moments exist but what I place the emphasis on as challenging is what sticks with me.

Each night as I lay down to go to sleep I pray this prayer

"Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake

we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace." (Compline, book of Common Prayer)

I've been thinking about this week.

Guide us waking O Lord that awake we may watch with Christ.

Be with us that we may remain present to you. Engaged.

I'm watching the world around me "with Christ" and trying to discern where we see Jesus.

I'm struggling because some see Jesus in the ICE agent while others see Jesus in the zip tied children on the streets of Chicago.

Some see Jesus in the current administration while others see Jesus in the people with special needs whose programs are being cut.

Some see Jesus in the Health and Human Services leadership while others see Jesus in the doctors serving patients.

Some see Jesus in the legislatures while others see Jesus in the government employees not being paid.

The examples are endless but the push pull is the same.

We see Jesus through our own lens.

We are convinced that our version of Christianity is the only right path.

I think often we prioritize our own pocket and what we consider is "ours" over this larger idea of loving each other.

I wonder sometimes do we see what we are looking for?

Are there bits of childhood and teen years but we only see one because that's the grass we are watering?

Is there a space where people might say, we need change BUT this isn't how we get there?

Not an either , or.

But a two things are true.

Mama Warriors, we are all doing the next right thing from our own perspective.

I challenge us to take a step toward the middle and see both sides.

Let's raise kids who know how to come to the table with not either or but both and.

Kids who can be problem solvers rather than kids who promote division.

Let's look at our own kids with both and eyes.

Childhood and teen.

Good on both sides.