Someone's been talking down to me for months. It's not intended to be unkind, but nonetheless, that's what it is. When I finally figured out (with the help of really loving peers) that I don't actually deserve condescension (how long will it take to really learn that?), I took the situation to God.
As I was praying, the response that I kept hearing was that we are all God's children. This was particularly striking to me, because it's my youth that I feel least confident about. I've lost track of how many times I've accepted people dismissing me because I'm young (exactly what Paul warned Timothy about). But if we're all God's children? We're ALL young in God's time(Chronos vs. Kairos-- our time and God's time). We're ALL inexperienced from God's perspective. The difference of 20 or 30 years is laughable when compared to eternity.
This response was an enormous blessing to me.
1.12.2009
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"So keep fightin' for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don't you forget to have fun doin' it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through kickin' ass and celebratin' the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was."
-Saint Molly Ivins
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First, love the West Wing quote!
ReplyDeleteSecond, thanks for this. It is too true. I was asked this weekend when I will turn 30 -- I turn 31 in March...
I am glad you heard what you heard...
ReplyDeleteHowever! My clown stomping boots are available if you need them.
I can sympathize, but perhaps from the opposite direction. I once had a seminary classmate who ranted frequently and at length about being dismissed because of his youth (which I have no doubt he was), but who was consistently condescending to anyone older. I finally called him on it-- said that I disliked being patronized by him for being over 35 as much as he disliked being patronized for being under 35, and if he didn't like it, then he shouldn't dish it out. We actually got along well after that.
ReplyDeleteThe answer, of course, is what you say here-- we are all babes in God's eyes, and all bring God's gifts to the table.
Oh, absolutely, Jane Ellen. Certainly it's just as offensive in both directions. Kindred spirits come in all sorts of packages.
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