God In Three Persons

It was a late-spring evening and I headed over to church. I was the "friend-in-faith" to a terrific 8th grader (and I'll hold off his name here, only because of his age).

For a number of years our church has had 8th graders confirmed into full membership after a series of classes they share with our associate pastor and several adult lay leaders.

And each of the students asks an adult in the church to be his or her friend-in-faith so that the student has at least one more adult friend in the community. We aren't there to tell them what to think and not even really to ASK them what they think: we're there to share fellowship with them and by being good people, leading by example. (Not "perfect people" – none of us has reached that level, just good: good to them and sharing God's goodness wherever we can.)

Tonight, each of the 21 students (well, one was absent – she was in Sound of Music at Young People's Theatre Workshop where my daughter, Liz, is a choreographer and director) was introduced by his or her friend-in-faith and then he or she read the faith statement prepared by him or her during their 'journey' in the class.

My friend-in-faith did great! Spoke clearly, was self-assured, and showed everyone what a great, upbeat young guy he is.

I want to shift from my friend-in-faith to the faith message delivered by one of the other students. I've known her for years, directed her in the annual student in-church-service cantata, and have become friends with her parents.

Her faith statement was so good I wanted to share it with you. Remember, she's an 8th grader, and here's what she wrote about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit:

"The trinity is an ecosystem. The many parts keep others alive. Without one, everything else does not exist.

"God is like a tree. God is like the biggest, tallest, strongest tree in the forest that has ever been and will ever be. He cradles people like a tree cradles birds, and shelters us. With his grace, we as birds can take flight. Even when we stray from God's protective shade, we fly home again and God accepts us. God's love extends not only to the birds who preach his word, but the mother and father birds, the brother and sister birds, the flightless birds and the song birds. Furthermore, God's love does not only extend to the birds of his tree, but all the other animals that seek shelter and hope under his branches. God loves us all equally as the creatures he created, and will continue to love us, no matter how far we fly from him.

"Jesus is like the river. He is the living water, flowing through the ecosystem. He is something we can touch, fully ordinary, and yet water has indescribable power that can shape rocks and move mountains. Jesus give us life, the way water gives us life. Not only does Jesus give us life, but he gave his life for us. Without Jesus, as without water, we could not survive. Unlike God, Jesus is fully human as well as fully divine. Humans have our flaws, like a river can have currents, bumps and droughts. Jesus asked, "Why Father?" for even Jesus questions God's work. But when a rock is thrown into the river, it will eventually return to its glassy form.

The Holy Spirit is like the sky. You know the sky is vast, and is always with you. Even if we stray from the tree, walk from the river, the sky is still above your head. The sky provides for us and gives us rain and light, no matter where we are in life. No matter cloudy or sunny, during the day or at night, the sky is always there."

Powerful, insightful, great analogy with the earth.

To say this is "well-grounded" gives the real meaning to the words: from the Earth: well-grounded.

Thank you, Katie, for such inspired words. And thanks to your Mom as well, for agreeing with you and me to let your words appear here.

Katie's own blog is here!