Press Pause for AugustMartyn Payne |
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The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning.... all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page; now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story... which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.
With these familiar words C.S. Lewis draws to a close his classic septet of adventures in the land of Narnia. We reach the end that of course turns out to be a new beginning. For the children in our groups their term is over and the holidays have begun; and as leaders we too can at last press 'pause', at least for a little while. But as with all endings, such moments also contain within them the seeds of new beginnings. We may have broken up for the summer but already my local Woolworth is advertising half-price back-to-school stationery. No, it is not heaven yet, to which C.S. Lewis was referring, but it is a heaven-like pause on the journey before the beginning of the new programme with our Sunday groups, which for the moment lies beyond the horizon of August. So how can we best use this 'heavenly' moment to be refreshed and re-energised for our work? Let's pause and think through how God might regenerate us, like a sort of Doctor Who, ready for the next series! What sort of refreshment is best for us, who work with children? First and foremost, the actual experience of a break in the Sunday routine at this time of year is an invaluable Sabbath rest for many of us. Preparing and delivering material for our groups week-by-week can easily turn the Lord's Day into a very overloaded time that leaves us tired and stressed rather than spiritually refreshed. So make the most of these mornings off, if at all possible. I hope the leadership at your church recognises the importance of this physical release from leading a group and will allow you space to enjoy just being in church to worship. However, having said that, I know from experience that I need to be realistic! The truth is that most churches don't provide anything special for the children who do still come on Sunday during this next month – and by the way, simply re-labelling the ordinary morning service with the title ‘family’ will not do! This often means that we as leaders usually spend the service looking around anxiously at how disengaged our young flock is. This is not rest for us! Now, if this is true of your church, then I recommend that you somehow make your excuses and simply don't go! Did I really say that? Yes! There are plenty of other times and indeed places where you can worship – maybe for example you will be involved in one or another of the various Christian jamboree events, camps and house parties that take place at this time of year. Even Jesus needed time away from ministry and he didn't go to the Temple or synagogue to find it, but disappeared up into the hills above Galilee or stayed with friends in Bethany. So, give yourself permission to go AWOL this August! If that is advice for the body, what about our spirits? How can we be refilled from heaven's resources for our ministry as we press pause this August? The trouble is that most of us involved in children's ministry are usually far from kind to ourselves. We are far too quick to say yes to requests, particularly where children are involved. Guess who for example has rather foolishly said yes to taking some of the all-age summer specials at our church this August! Children's workers tend to find it hard not to be busy. Of course we know in our heads that we can't minister to children in our care unless we allow God to minister to us first, but like Peter we are very reluctant to let Jesus wash our feet. We have been brainwashed into thinking that one Bible principle above all others matters most, namely the one that says It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Although this is true, it isn't the whole truth. In fact the scriptures affirm in many other places that we can only give if we first receive (e.g. I John 4:19). So where should children's workers turn for this receiving? Well, take time with God's word. Why not write out a particular set of verses and take them with us on those much-needed times of escape. For example, a good place to turn would be Jesus' own words of invitation to come and be refreshed:
At that time Jesus declared, "I thank-you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to your little ones; indeed, Father, this was your gracious will. All things have being delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
In these verses Jesus invites us to become like little children and receive from him. He offers both insights from heaven as well as the experience of him as a partner in the work he has given us to do. We are being invited into the intimacy of the Father and the Son and he promises that the work will suit the way we are made and need not be an uncomfortable burden. The danger for many of us who follow Christ is that it is we who end up designing the yoke we decide to bear for him and so no wonder it doesn't fit properly. Children's workers are particularly good at overburdening themselves in this way. Over this next month let these words of Jesus sink deep inside to help us discover what His plans are for us as opposed to what are merely our good ideas. Reading these verses is itself a prayer, so make this a petition to feed our spirits as we press pause this coming month. But what about refreshment for our minds too? It's so hard to switch off the children's worker inside us, isn't it? By our very gifting and experience we are always subconsciously on the alert for something we can use in our group – a stunning visual aid or some irresistible new resource. This is no bad thing and we mustn't feel guilty about it. It's the way God has made us and with God nothing seen and stored in our mind is wasted. However, make it easier for yourself by carrying a small memo pad or notebook on your travels to jot down those flashes of brilliance sparked off by what you see or hear. The sooner your thoughts are on paper the quicker you can stop becoming preoccupied and distracted by them. Alongside these creative moments however, there is something else that you could do to keep your mind gently focused on the work, but without it becoming a burden. Despite the fact that our new programme may not be in place; despite our worries that we may not have enough helpers; or our concerns over whether the group is still viable or not (is any group too small for the Lord?), let’s try and put these issues aside as we pause. Instead find time and space to think beyond the pure mechanics of what we do with the children. Give some attention instead to the ‘why’ – to the principles behind the work each week. To help us do this, here are some key questions, which have focused my mind in recent years:
The answers to these questions are surely foundational to anyone’s spiritual journey. We could for example ask the same questions of ourselves as adults in relation to our experience of church. However, because our focus and high calling is the nurture of children in the faith, we should try and think through these questions for our children’s group. Indeed, unless we can begin to answer these questions positively, all our clever visual aids, ingenious quizzes, lively songs, beautiful storytelling techniques and incredible crafts are nothing worth! We are simply not fulfilling our calling. So let these three questions sit with us, as we press pause this summer. Who knows what new thoughts from God they may prompt! The term has ended; the holidays have begun. Boys and girls are playing in the streets, which according to the prophet Zechariah is a sign of heaven (chapter 8, verse 5). Perhaps holidays – holy days – are meant to be a foretaste of heaven! Wherever your foretaste of heaven may be this August, do give yourself time to escape (go AWOL if necessary!); find space to receive (‘I will give you rest') and take a moment or two to reflect on those key questions about the ‘why’ of your work (does what we do help children to experience God, to pray and to share his love?). God certainly longs to refresh and re-energise us in this way so we can fulfil our very special calling of passing on the Great Story of God’s love in Jesus to our children. As a result next September’s chapter will better than the one before. |
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