Brian
Something came up today that reminded me about my friend Brian. Brian and I went to different colleges in the same town (but I never held that against him). We both taught High School for a couple of years and we both changed careers and became actuaries (at the same company). So, it would be fair to say we had a lot in common.
The biggest difference between the two of us, when we first met, was that I was married and we were expecting our son and he was still a bachelor. At the end of 3 years, he changed jobs and moved about 60 miles away. Not too long after that, we moved 775 miles away to a new job.
About 10 years later, we (the family) were going to Atlanta and I made arrangements to visit with him, his wife and 2 boys. He invited us to go to church with them. We did. Their church had a children’s service, a mini service for kids before the pastor gives the sermon. Brian was giving the children’s service that day.
He sat down with the kids in front of the pulpit with a jar and several containers. He filled the jar with rocks and asked the kids if the jar was filled. Some said yes and some said no. Then he filled the jar with smaller rocks and asked if it was filled. More said yes. Then he did the same process with sand. By now, all the kids thought the jar was full. Finally, he poured a pitcher of water into the jar and explained that we, as humans, are limited in our thought process. God has the ability to fill needs that we aren’t even aware of and no matter what is going on in our lives, there is always room for God. I was in tears (in fact, I’m misting up just remembering the experience). Since then, I’ve seen variations of this message a couple of times but none has touched me like that message that Brian gave those kids.
“Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.” - Matthew 19:13-15
“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” - 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
There is a beauty to a childlike faith. Children understand things that confound adults and, thankfully, don’t understand things that we worry about often. Brian understood that and crafted his message in an extremely straight forward and clear manner. Oh, God, give me faith and understanding like a child and introduce me to people like Brian that can help me along the way!
