Plague Journal (32): On becoming like children

So it's Sunday, and now a month or more has passed since we began sheltering in place (sort of). We've had time to establish new rhythms, to get used to things. One thing I've discovered as the direct result of having so much time to listen to and investigate music online is that I really love Brazilian music. All I knew before this is that I loved Brazil 66, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Astrud Gilberto. But I've discovered much more via YouTube and can't stop listening. 

Here, put this on in the background while you read the rest of this!

Taking walks, playing cards, keeping a "plague journal," doing ancestry research, discovering songs, and of course reading. And then each evening going to Worldometer and tracking the Coronavirus numbers. How many died today, how many new cases, how many have recovered. Wondering when it will all be over.

And diving into the Scriptures. Trying to get back into a consistent and persistent soaking in the Gospel According to Matthew. Where Jesus, I notice, makes much of the least. "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom."

This as in response to a question from the disciples, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

Perhaps the disciples were still thinking in the normal human way: thinking about hierarchies, and the proverbial ladder of fame and fortune. They were transporting their earthly value-system into the coming kingdom that Jesus consistently announced. After all, they had been with him from the start. Perhaps they would be among the greatest in that future kingdom.

Jesus is always reorienting their minds as he answers their questions. Implicitly he seems to say, "You're not thinking rightly. It is not greatness you should be worrying about. Turn and become like children."

It will take a lifetime to learn what this means. But I'm all for trying.