faith like a child

is it just me? is there anyone else out there in their 20's, 30's those years where we are seeking meaning, purpose, direction--anyone out there who's a little stressed, overwhelmed, heavy-burdened, lost, confused?

for many of us we've just spent the last 4-5 years cramming an infinite amount of knowledge into a brain that seeems to clearly have a finite limit of space. some of us are still cramming (i love you sweety & i'm really proud of you.) and in our overly educated culture there are words that don't seem to fit...yet they came from someone who i feel diffinately understood people, culture, the needs & wants...Jesus.

here's what he said:
"Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom"

what does this mean for us today? i can assure you that it's no stretch for me break out in some childish antics....i still enjoy living like a little kid...goofing around...making *noises*, and all that fun stuff. but the preasures of being an "adult" sure seem to suck to fun out of life sometimes. how do you deal with this apparent dichotomy? have you found a way of becoming elemental again like Jesus said?

maybe some of these pictures will help us become more elemental and re-focus our lives into the simplicity of a little child... pure... honest... real... blunt...




(click on the pictures to see them larger)

i think that i would pray more if i didn't still have these pre-conceived ideas that prayer was supposed to be some formally crafted--eloquent--rehearsed--perfect choise of words. ever felt this way? i ask myself if i can remember the last time that i just talked with God...can i remember that. can you? how can a relationship be expected to grow if there isn't communication? how else do we truly get to know someone if we don't talk, listen, spend time with?

i want to live a life that is real, authentic, random, somewhat chaotic. i feel that God wants us to live a similar life...one where we realize that all these "adult" stresses that we have are mere blips on God's radar...yet to us it seems like the end of the world as we know it.

i want to live a life like that of a child...Jesus help me figure this out...help us all figure this out. help us to become elemental and simple...teach us to live a life like that of a child again...

trying not to grow up...

ty