Original Sin

You Must Be Like Children

By: Richard Rohr

Breathing Underwater & Radical Grace

Jesus said, "Unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).  You can't even recognize the Kingdom of heaven, He says, except through childlike eyes. I think a very legitimate interpretation of that is that all of us grew up in families where not all our needs were met-- families that carried degrees of darkness, and even abuse. Every one of us has been sinned against.

 That's really the doctrine of Original Sin: all of us carry the wound. We pass down that wound from father to child, from mother to child. Someday, each of us has to walk back through our family of origin to rename our fears and security needs, re-feel repressed emotions, re-own, relive and re-feel the things that we were never allowed to feel and never allowed to think. And that is, in truth, becoming like a child, because you feel like a damned fool when you do it. Yet without reliving and reclaiming the child's journey, you will nurse your wounded child forever.

Geez. This. Week.

As I get to know my students more, I see all the beautiful truths about them. They are fearfully and wonderfully made. They all have special gifts and talents. They have these silly sides and personalities that can make your day.

As I get to know my students more, I see the brokenness and effects of original sin. Their desire to get through things the easy way. To cheat, twist, and go against the rules that are set before to help them succeed. It's been maddening today as we have caught student after student being dishonest with their work. It's been maddening seeing this and knowing that they are only hurting themselves and their future. It's been maddening to see their potential go unreached.

The excerpt above came at a perfect time. These are kids that have been abused and neglected. These kids that are told they are not enough.  These kids are wrapped in original sin. These kids have eyes to see the kingdom of heaven.

Help me to have grace for your children. Help me to see your kingdom like that of a child. Help me to impart on them the importance of knowing you and not just knowing subjects. Heal our wounds and protect these kids from the strongholds that the enemy is trying to use and deceive them. Forgive me and give me grace.