God, the Eternal Giver; humankind, the eternal receiver. This Advent we receive once again the amazing gift of God’s love. A gift we could not give ourselves: the gift of God incarnate. And God’s glory fills the whole earth.
It was a stunning moment. Seven children, ages four through twelve, sat around the low table in little chairs drawing expressions on empty paper faces with crayons and talking about God. Little B said, “When I close my eyes, I can see God!”
“Really?!” I responded to him with big, surprised eyes. And then, just to throw a twist into the conversation, I asked him with a sly smile, “What does she look like?”
“No!” he exclaimed to me, indignant.
“No? What, then?” I asked.
At that, he closed his eyes, lowered his face into his hands, looked at God for a moment, and murmured, “All the beautiful colors. God looks like all the beautiful colors.”
Young M, sitting next to B, said to herself mostly, “God is a shining ball of light.”
Psalmists and theologians surround us. Given a chance to write a song or draw a picture or dance a step or tap a rhythm about our God “who does wondrous things,” the less inhibited among us have an easier time of it. For this, the hymnist writes, “Little children praise you perfectly, and so would we.” Blessed be the God of Israel.