Like children

Jesus welcomed children.  In Mark 10:13-14, Jesus was upset when his grown-up disciples tried to shove the children away while others were bringing them to Jesus to be blessed.

Johan finds this to be typical of people in our society.  If an important public figure were visiting, then we may have a child present flowers, and then children are not seen any more.  In some churches, children are put aside in the creche, so they do not interrupt the service.  In weddings, etc, unless they are very close to the bride or groom, quite often the children would be assigned a quiet table outside somewhere, or at the back, so they would not interrupt the adults.

Perhaps such behaviour is understandable.  After all, the adult talk and long charade of activities are boring to many children, who then fidget and interrupt or get annoying.  So what does it mean when Jesus said that we need to receive the kingdom of God like children?

Johan suggested that it is the focus and the relationship.  Children look to their parents to provide their needs.  They do not worry about money, time, resources, where their food or clothing or education comes from.  They just need to know that Mum and Dad are there.  Everything else will take care of themselves - or at least, Dad and Mum will take care of their problems.

If they have nightmares, or wounds or problems to deal with, then they go to Mum and Dad for a fix.  If they have a need, then they can call out or cry; Dad or Mum would usually attend to them in a jiffy.

If Mum and Dad are not there for them, then they will worry.  But when Dad and Mum are around, there is no need.  They are generally content.

Perhaps this is the way we need to relate to God - instead of trying to handle our issues ourselves.

I was reading http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21829181.800-old-schooled-you-never-stop-learning-like-a-child.html during the week.  The article basically says that adults are not too old to learn.  The idea that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is not really true, unless you believe it and behave that way.  Adults can learn new things as well as what children can.

A difference is our focus.  Adults tend to have too many things to think about than to think about new subject matter.

Another difference is fear of embarrassment.  Children have less of this, comparatively speaking.

Yet another difference is experience.  To a child, everything is "new", and the world is there to explore.  Because they are new, they are interesting.  Some things are appealing because they are new and interesting.  Other things are forced upon the child to learn so they do it.  For many adults, it is as though they have seen it all before.  The charm of exploring is not there.  New things are a turn-off because it is a challenge they do not need to face, if they choose to settle in the areas that they have already explored instead.

A related issue is health.  The less fit among us may have more trouble learning compared to the fitter ones.

In any case, if an adult were to approach learning in the same way as what a child does, then many things can be learnt as easily as what children do.

I think maybe not everything.  We do get slower in some ways - because of health, and because neurons do not fire as sharply as what they used to.  But I do think that our attitudes can make a difference.

What do you think?  In what ways can an adult benefit from being "childish"?  In what ways shouldn't an adult act "childish"?  How should we live our lives healthily in this regard?  How do we approach God as adults and children?

Please share your thoughts.  Thank you.