Who says no to God?

   We typically arrive at church early. It give us time to settle down before Mass, take off our coats, say a prayer, and greet our fellow parishioners. But we also arrive early so that my daughter can help with children's liturgy. The set up takes place before Mass. She likes to do that sort of thing and we like to encourage her. It helps keep her involved in our community and we want her to grow up to be an involved member of the church. This year she is alternating between helping out with the kids and playing flute with the musicians.

Besides, sometimes she drives me batty in the pew.

   Like a few Sundays ago she asked me if I had any water. You know, as if I had a water bottle in my pocket just in case she suddenly felt thirsty in the middle of Mass. I mean why not? Right?

   Anyway, we were at church early. I was waiting by the door for my husband before going in to find a pew (we drive separate as he leaves for work right after Mass) when daughter approaches me to ask if I can help with children's liturgy.

Well, okay, I wasn't planning on it, but I can do. This is my community too.

   Then, she tells me something about how they were supposed to have it, but none of the adult leaders were there. Umm, say what? I am not really prepared...

Then Father asks me if I am okay with helping out.

   This is a conspiracy. I am sure of it. But I say; "Sure, I can do that." Because who says no to God? A priest is a mediator between us and God. Right?

   Well, there was this story in the bible about this chap who did say no to God. As a matter of fact, he went out of his way not to do God's will. I recall it had a bit about encountering a whale and getting swallowed whole, something that is not high on my to do list. Quite frankly, I don't like whales all that much. We went on a whale watching cruise once. At first I thought it would be really cool, then this whale decides to swim right under the boat and it was wider than the boat was long. NOT COOL! I am pretty sure my fellow passengers didn't like me trying to shoo it away.

I digress.

   I had just been asked to help out (run) children's liturgy. Mind you, there were no other adult leaders. I have helped before, a looonnnnggg time ago when my daughter was little and attended children's liturgy, but I had never actually led a session. Having said yes, I head downstairs to start setting up. My wonderful husband comes down to prep with me. He is such a supportive spouse. We are early, there is time. I say a prayer to the holy spirit. I review the scripture (I had read the scripture, but somehow it flew out of my brain between the door and the gathering space where the children's liturgy was to meet). He reviews the scripture. It's not like we don't know the scripture, but just in case, you know?

I say another prayer. God, just what is it you want me to do? I feel a little unprepared.

And God answers. Just like that. 

    He says; "What do you mean, What do I want you to do? SERIOUSLY? You are forty nine years old. You have gone through RCIA. You have taken bible study classes. You teach religious education once a week. You have been around kids (I even gave you one). You know the scripture. I have provided you with an education. It is not like I haven't prepared you. It is twenty freaking minutes with little ones between the ages of two and seven. FIGURE IT OUT!"

If you have ever heard that God talks in whispers, I am here to tell you sometimes he yells.

    Thus admonished, I head up to church for the start of Mass. When father calls the kids for liturgy, My husband and I return to the gathering place. My daughter leads the kids come down. Two of them come with a parent in tow.

So we start.

    It was fine. It really was. I ask the little ones to raise their hands if they have ever had grapes. We talk about what kind of plants grapes grow on. We read scripture. We talk about what happened in the scripture. We relate the scripture to their personal experiences (like borrowing toys from their friends and returning them later.) We talk about what Jesus would have us do. We play a game. We act out the scripture with how the story would have gone if the people in the story HAD done what Jesus tells us we should do. We send the kids back to church to tell the story to their parents.

It was a wonderful experience.

   The children were able to attend a session that day to learn about scripture and what Jesus teaches us on their level. The parent who came down decided that she would volunteer and contacted the director later that day. My daughter was able to be a part of our community doing one of the things she loves to do. There were no whales.

    Turns out children's liturgy wasn't on the schedule that Sunday. But God had different plans. Apparently I was a part of them. And if you ask me, I think he has a sense of humor too. Pretty sure I heard him chuckling...