YeKengalé

I’m sure that if Jesus were to answer modern day disciples’ question on how to pray, the words would come out differently. Few seem to realize how Christian doctrines and praxes oft fundamentally differ from age to age and place to place. The most common understandings and practices from one place or era are so completely foreign and extraneous in another.

What modern evangelical Christians have made of heaven and hell for example, are almost fantastic notions in other contexts of time and culture. Heaven is up, hell is down, Big guy on white throne at the center of one. Red guy with pitchfork rules the other; with earth as a kind of cosmic crossroads for man on final destination to one or the other.

Jesus, speaking to such a mindset would have instructed believers to pray, ‘Our Father Who art Present….’ and avoided entirely entangling his teaching in theological DisneyLand. He did as much in His other teachings about the Nature and Dimension of God. The present reality of the spiritual dimension, as difficult an idea as that is to grasp for theological know-everythings, it so begs to be understood by God’s children everywhere.

For children, I AM with you is so much more palpable and immediate than I AM for you. The psychology of a child is nurtured by Presence (more than presents). It is not enough for Daddy to be ‘somewhere up above, staring down in tender love” Tender love is more immediately communicated by a hug, than a look, or even a word, and certainly much more than a barrell. (Jamaicans might get that.)

Last night, on a TVJ special, a climber (the opposite of what we call in Jamaica a ‘waste-man’) quit his high profile job to be a stay-at-home Dad and house-husband. However permanent or temporary the decision, one he could clearly afford to make, the reason for the decision was clear – the survival of his family. His out-of-town dream job was taking its relationship toll at home and things had begun to fall apart. Remembering his childhood oath to ‘be there’ for his kids, having suffered his own father-woundedness, he took the plunge. He submitted his resignation and headed home for the hills to wash dishes, hug his daughters and make love to his wife.

What I found interesting is that on Jamaica’s number 1 public television station, backed by not only extremely supportive and affirmative corporate comrades and leaders, but by friends and family and an entire public media village celebrating this man’s move and motivation, Jamaicans, whose relationship with a Heavenly or Eternal Father is a matter of national legacy, finally seemed to be getting it. It ‘pays’ to worship a loving Father more than a career Judge (God’s other popularly peddled public image). That’s actually kind of the whole point of New Testament theology – The tribe’s okay when family’s first….and it doesn’t work as proficiently the other way around.

Who says family values are dying? They are also being replenished…..not by placards and protests, but by an ever-present Father, whose provision covers not only material survival, but emotional comfort and joyful presence.