Role models

“Are you the adult that you want your child to grow up to be?”

 Brené Brown, Daring Greatly:

_______________________________________________

I read this question

And it blew away what little mind I have left

To be honest the question comes a little late

And my children are already grown

And amazing

Erin is a fighter

With a heart for the planet

Children

And immigrants

She not only lavishes her how children with love

And is raising remarkable children

But she is on the front lines

Making a difference working for a non-profit

And being an outspoken advocate for peace and justice

And gun control

Erin lives up to her name (Peace)

My son is bright and smart

Funny and creative

We once said he could sell anything to anyone

That he would be a used car salesman

Or a lawyer

He is a marketing genius

Flying over the world and doing amazing things

He makes friends easily

And is loyal and thoughtful

Bryce too lives up to his name, “quick moving joy”

I don’t think I was ever a person I would want my children to be

Introverted

Anxiety driven

A workaholic

Isolated

Moody

Self critical

Impulsive, even addictive

I am easily hurt

And run, run, run from the uncomfortable

Yes, I have been creative

Yes, I am caring

I have my good points, and I am not vain enough to think I am “the worst”

But I wish I had been a better model

But still

I am a lucky father

And I suspect my children are better than I deserve

But what this got me thinking about, was God

The Sacred… the Spiritual adult in the room (if you will)

God

Perhaps we can say Jesus

Is exactly the adult we should grow up to be

Jesus is the one who, filled with God

Was so awake to that presence, that he was

What humans are created to be

Jesus showed us what being a Sacred child should look like

Jesus us showed us how to live

To love

To listen

To care

To lift up

To heal

Jesus is who I want to be when I grow up

Will I get there?

At age 68 (almost)

It is doubtful

And yet I am admonished

You are admonished

We are admonished

To “no longer be children,

tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine,

by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.

But speaking the truth in love,

we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…” (Eph. 4)

My greatest hope is that I can wake up to the Christ in me

That I can be so permeated with sacred presence

That I can grow up

And move beyond that place

Where I am selfish

Impulsive

Reactive

Angry

That childish place

That does so much damage

To myself, and those around me

I want to grow up to be like my heavenly parent