So, I guess this makes me Mary....

I believe that God has special plans for my oldest child, the seventeen year old. Sometimes I wonder where he came from because surely I couldn't have raised such a well rounded pre-adult. Then he goes and does something boneheaded like rack up a $800.00 phone bill and I think oh yeah, he's mine.

I have been privileged to watch him this week at VBS playing Jesus in the skits for the children. I call him Malibu Jesus because he sounds like a surfer dude. (How he picked that up living in Kansas I'll never know). In one skit they did the story of Jesus blessing the children and he got to lay his hands on them and bless them. I was quite moved. It wasn't that he is such a great actor, in fact, I think he had his lines taped to his arm. It was the physical act of him touching the children and saying the words bless you. Something happened in that little room that made it a holy moment. If you've ever been in a room full of children who are suddenly very quiet you know what I am talking about.

The VBS children, most of whom know my son, knew he wasn't Jesus. In fact in the drama room they would say "That's not Jesus that's (seventeen year old's name)" But, in the hallways and afterwards in the auditorium they would all yell "Look! it's Jesus" As they ran to tackle him or hang on him. Isn't that the kind of Jesus you would like to know? One who play with you and let you ride on his shoulders. Even let you dogpile on top of him with a bunch of your friends? I guess what I'm saying is that maybe that's how the story of Jesus played out. Not quietly or reverently in a room apart from the crowd but right in the middle of all the action with Jesus at the center.