follow the yellow brick Romans Road-...then do as they do

for some reason that i've already forgotten (it was a really great one), my roomie and i decided to put off chores for another night and watch Aladdin, because  childhood is always better second time around- when we can choose our own bedtimes.  and since the Genie got us on a Robin Williams kick we found another gem on Netflix- Jumanji, which i have never watched all the way through.  at one point in there, as monsoons, terrorist flowering vines, rhino stampedes, pelicans, creepy monkeys and a psycho hunter pour forth from this poor old house, the crazy monkeys run past a movie store (that in one scene you see is an adult store with XXX-rated movies for sale…) and see the Wicked Witch of the West's flying monkeys having a pow-wow and they decide to join in.

i do not know why this movie would be in an adult store, or if there is simply a second video store.  do not ask me. 

but wherever it is sold, i love the movie.  it took a while, after surviving a REAL tornado, but once the PTSD went away i actually appreciated it more.

 

after doing just about everything you're NOT supposed to do in a 'nader scenario, she whacks herself unconscious, wakes up in a brightly colored alternate reality/dream world, and says… "i don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto."

she's a genius, that one.

then she just jumps right on in with the shenanigans of the Munchkins, joins the parade and becomes best friends with a crack-happy Glinda.  once the party and song are over, she realizes that now she's got to DO something.  but what?

well, duh- clearly follow the yellow brick road. 

which one?

the one that the song ended with you standing on.  it's like it knew or something…

she is standing on the exact spot where it begins.  and then she inches along, tip-toeing around every curve of the spiral and then on down towards the Emerald city, step by step.  

we're about to complete yet another year of Cubbies tomorrow night, where the 2-6 teachers will attempt to demonstrate to the parents how much these 3-5 year olds have learned.

it's gonna be great.  i hope i don't cry.  if there are tears on my face, it's either because i'm proud they actually did what they were supposed to (stand in a line and say 2 short verses) or because i'm laughing at what i'm anticipating being the outcome (…. not what we practiced…).  

one song about the joys of being a Cubby.

one "A" verse. ("A" stands for "All." All have sinned.  Romans 3:23)

one "C" verse. ("C" stands for "Christ." Christ died for us. Romans 5:8)

that's it.

having emerged from the Jumangi-Jungle of Thistly Theology only in the past handful of years, i sympathize with Dorothy, wondering where in the world to go, and how in the world to get there, and then what in the world to do.

well, silly, you do like the Cubbies, sing a ridiculously happy song, and then walk on down the Romans Road.

sounds crazy, but it's true.

it's what we've done every week with our Cubbies. 

it's what we've done every mission trip i've been on.

it's what we do with non-Christians.

it's what we *should* do with Christians.

you start at the very beginning, and you go from there. 

it's simple enough that kids can understand it. 

it's SO simple that ONLY those with the attitude of a kid CAN get it.

i told a friend today that i often feel… stupid.  the word is stupid.

i was given a friggin' ton of Bible-knowledge growing up.  even though 99.110% of it was tainted and twisted into non-truth, the Bible-knowledge is something that too many don't have.  but now i have to completely reconstruct an entire theology.  the only way i can see to do that is to figuratively speaking throw out EVERYTHING and only take back in what is really true.  it's not an easy task.  it's not overwhelmingly fun.  it feels stupid.  there are so many things i only understand on the level of these Cubbies.  so much that i am literally AND figuratively on a 4-year-old level.  i see Christians my age raising families, teaching LifeGroups, witnessing all over Jackson, writing books and poems and songs, celebrating all these miraculous truths of the Gospel.

and then there's me.  and i'm like, "i'm… i'mma gonna play over here with your kids. probs tell 'em a story about Jesus.  then feed them graham crackers and send them back to you."

our LifeGroup has been going through Romans for the past few months which i have just loved.  it's the theology for 4 year olds, but on a post-grad intellectual level.  it's Paul giving the Romans the low-down on Christianity, starting at the very, very beginning, then spiraling outwards.  it's the early AD-edition of Christianity for Dummies.  best thing ever. 

because even Paul the Apostle says in there, "i'm speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations."

basically: you feel stupid.  but you're a human, so it's okay.  here's what humans need to know: Romans Road- SHA-BAM!! 

           nailed.

                       it.

Jesus said it first.  be a kid.  don't be a smart-aleck.  be a kid.  they do stupid things, they ask stupid questions, they have stupid-short attention spans. but those lil' Munchkins GET IT.  and they GET ME. 

i wonder if He got as excited over His disciples as we do if we can get all 18 pre-Ks to stand in a semi-straight line. 

every time Simon Peter opened his mouth to put his foot in…  (Teacher, TIE MY SHOE RIGHT NOW!)

every fight He had to stop over who was the "best" disciple… (Teacher, i -*sniffle* -didn't win- *sniffle sniffle*- the raaaaaace!!!- *sustained howling cry*)

every time someone interrupted His nap or personal time because of a new crisis… Jesus- WAKE UP!!  WE'RE ALL GONNA DIIIEEEEEEEE!!! ("Teacher… i needed to use the potty 10 minutes ago."  "okay- you may go." … "i did, Teacher."  …….oh.)

even something as simple as a potty break can turn into a drama-laden adventure with a kid. they get the simplest questions completely wrong.  the one time we asked them to color outside the lines was the one time they didn't, and so the craft didn't work, because only the crayon outside the lines showed the outline of the cross that was removed-  the cross they all colored so dutifully minding the lines.  they go astray a lot; we gave up on "Simon Says" because they all try so hard to follow ALL the rules every time that they get confused at NOT obeying the Teacher when she gives an order. they don't know who Simon is, but by gum Teacher said to JUMP!!  -but if Teacher says, "we're done coloring- it's story time now" their whole world comes to a screeching halt. 

those are the ones Romans was written for. i'll catch up to the brainiacs one day, but until then you can find me spinning in circles on the playground, getting dirty and building theology as we build 4-course dinners with Play-Doh.  any Munchkins out there who want to join in, you sure can- as long as you learn the songs ;)