#RaisingNerds - How Discussing Scripture with a Six Year Old Shaped my Soul. (Copy)

My younger daughter started kindergarten at a school an hour and a half from our home.  Leaving our apartment at dawn we began a habit of discussing the readings from morning prayer.  These conversations created a window into the soul for both of us.  Her curiosity, boredom, distraction, and puzzles forced me to wrestle with faith.  (Try explaining the problem of evil to a six-year-old and you’ll see what I mean.)   

Eventually, I started writing these conversations down and sharing them.  These conversations (on social media under the hashtag #raisingnerds) became popular.  Pastors, ministers, laypeople, and even friends from other religious traditions took notice.  

For example, here’s a reflection from Matthew 23.  

Me: What does this passage teach us about God?

Daughter: That God cares about who we are more than how we look to other people. It's more important to be (kind, truthful, loving, etc.) than it is to just act like you are.

Me: Great point. God isn't fooled or impressed by our religious activity. Our religious activity is meant to shape our whole life. 

Daughter: How?

Me: Well, do you notice how at the beginning and end of each day we take time to reflect together on our life with God?

Daughter: Yes.

Me: These aren't the point of our life with God. They are just the times to reflect. The point of these times is so that you can live with God in the times in between. The real life with God happens when you're at school, or commuting, or with your friends. 

When you see an opportunity to be kind, or to confront wrong, or to be a friend. You live life with God in those moments. When you are happy, nervous, or grumpy, you live life with God in those moments. You do that by paying attention to what's going on inside and all around you and remembering God is there too. Then you make choices about how to engage with God and others. 

Daughter: Wow, I never thought about it like that before. 

(She closed her eyes for a moment of contemplation before we continued with #morningprayer)

As I prepare for Lent 2022, I’m pondering over a decade’s worth of these reflections.  Sharing in these conversations has changed both of us.  As this season comes to an end, I’m struck by the faces of friends who long for soul sharing conversations.  

Who are people in your life with whom you can share soul to soul?  

What practices help you reflect on your life with God?  

How are you helping others cultivate a life with God?