Cyber Gleanings, September, 2005:

Dear People of St. John’s,

Once upon a time a boy asked his teacher, “When shall I at last be free?”  “Free,” replied the teacher.  “Free as what?”   “As free as the birds,” said the boy.  “So be it,” said the wise teacher, and at once they became birds.

 “At last I’m free,” cried the boy.  “Free to soar and fly where I choose, when I choose.”    “Not so,” replied the other birds.  “We must follow the wind, for if we stray too far in our migration, we will all die.” “This is not freedom,” cried the boy, following the flock over a forest.  “I want to be free.”  “Free as what?” asked the teacher. Looking down at the forest, he saw monkeys frolicking in the bushes.  “Free as the monkeys to swing from tree to tree, from limb to limb, as I please, when I please.” “So be it,” said the teacher.  At once they became monkeys, swinging from limb to limb.

 “Now, at last, I’m free,” said the boy as he happily swung from tree to tree, chattering excitedly like happy monkeys do. “Not so,” said the monkeys.  “We must never stray too far or apart from one another, lest we become food for predators.  We have found our strength lies in our numbers.” “This is not freedom,” said the boy sadly.  “I want to be truly free.”  “Free as what?” asked the teacher. “The lion is the king of the jungle,” said the boy.  “Free as the lions to roam where I please, when I please, and eat whatever and whenever I want.” “So be it,” said the teacher.  At once they were lions.

“At last I’m free,” cried the boy, roaming the jungle and plains as the king of beasts.     “Not so,” said the lions.  “We must follow the herds or we will not eat.  Nor can we stray too far beyond our limits, or we will be prey for man who will display us as trophies.” “This is not freedom,” said the boy.  “I want to be truly free.” “Free as what?” asked the teacher. “Free as a grownup man to do what I please, when I please,” said the boy.  “So be it,” said the teacher.  At once they were grownup men.  

 “Now, for sure, I’m free,” said the boy turned to man.  “Not so,” said the wife.  “There are chores to be done, children to be fed, responsibilities to be met, and obligations to family, community, and nation.”  “This is not freedom,” said the boy.  “I want to be free.”

“So be it,” said the wise teacher, and at once he became a boy again.

One of the great challenges of being adults is to foster and encourage the freedom of childhood in our younger ones.  Hodding Carter is credited with saying that we can really only give two gifts to our children.  One is roots; the other, wings.  One of the things plaguing us modern folk is that we want our young ones to fly and be free, but we haven’t always spent the necessary time making sure they have proper roots.  Providing a solid spiritual grounding means our young ones will always have a place to return for rest, nourishment, and renewal.

I have often contended that so many of our troubles today are spiritual in nature.  The only genuine way to be free is to remember who we are in Christ, whose we are because of God’s gifts so richly bestowed upon us, and that service to God, God’s creation, and God’s fellow creatures, alone leads to perfect freedom.

We have the finest collection of young people at St. John’s as can be found anywhere.  They are not immune from the pressures and strains of life; with the attending demands on their time for school and extra-curricular activities.  They, like their parents, are leaders and are look upon to provide that leadership in various arenas. 

We will soon begin the hectic pace of fall activities.  That is as true of church as anyplace else.  Our Christian Formation leaders and teachers have excellent materials and plans for our young ones, from Bible-time for Tots, Godly Play for K-6^th, and classes for 7^th-12^th.  Just as we are committed to the physical and emotional growth and wellbeing of our young people, so it takes a commitment to their spiritual development as well.  What happens here, coupled with family and individual prayer time, helps foster that vital relationship with the living and loving God. 

I ask only that we place what can happen here at St. John’s as a top priority in the lives of our young ones.  We want and intend to make a difference in the lives of our youth.  We can do that best by helping them develop a good spiritual foundation.  It won’t just happen; such a foundation begins with commitment.  With those solid roots they will know where to return when they fly free. 

                                                                     Peace,

                                                                              Tom