And.

There's not a single child I've met who doesn't believe that they can do anything. There's not a single little girl I've met who doesn't think she's a princess. There's not a single little boy I've met who doesn't think he's a superhero. Though they may not explicitly announce their secret indestructible identity, (although they often will,) they live as though there's nothing they cannot do.

They act like royalty one second, and wild Tarzans the next. They go from the bottom of the sea to Everest in a moment. They can have quiet tea parties for animals who talk, fight off pirates for buried treasure, and travel to Mars all before naptime.

When opportunities to try new things come around, it's the teens and adults who shy away, glancing nervously around to see if anyone else will try. It's the young'uns who step right up and see what they can do. They want to learn all the tricks. They want to try every stunt. They want to wear every dress. They want to drive every car. They want to fly.

They are daredevils. They don't see consequences. They don't analyze the situation. They just dive straight in, headfirst. They test the limits. They make mistakes, get scraped up, break a bone or two, get a few burns, twist an ankle, stub a toe, get a bloody nose.

I have a distinct memory from when I was about six years old. Our tenants saw me digging madly in the garden outside with a miniature plastic spade. Amused, they came over and asked me, "Karis, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

I remember the conversation because of how they responded when I told them, completely seriously, "I'm going to be a Princess, a Queen, a soldier, a police officer, a firefighter..." Here they began to snicker, "...a doctor, a nurse, a bus driver, a teacher, a pilot, a chef..." Here they began to laugh and shake their heads like adults love to do, "...a rockstar, a pianist, a dancer, a gymnast..." Here they couldn't contain themselves anymore. "...and a builder and an artist."

I clearly remember their reply through their squinty, laughing eyes: "Is that all?" To which I though to myself, 'No....' but to which I replied, "Yes." I was confused why my answer was so funny. I was being totally honest. My life seemed to stretch on without end, so why wouldn't I be able to do everything? What was holding me back? I was healthy and strong- why couldn't I do it all?

Their last bit of advice they gave to me before leaving to chuckle over tea was, "Karis, that sounds amazing! But normally people just pick one or two of those things."

...Oh.

They are born without the little voice that says, 'You can't do that.' Unfortunately, they are given that voice as they grow.

They see the cliff and immediately think, 'I can climb that- watch me!' Then they scamper towards it as fast as their little legs can carry them, before they are caught by Mum, who lets them know how dangerous it is. They learn that heights are not their friend. They learn to stay away from the edge. They learn to keep their feet on the ground.

They see the water and think, 'I'm a mermaid- watch me swim!' And they go to jump into the deep pool but are stopped by the lifeguard who tells them that they aren't old enough, strong enough, or skilled enough. They would drown. They learn to stay in the shallow water. They learn to swim like a human, not like a mermaid.

They see the swing and think, 'I can fly- watch me do it!' And they go higher and higher until they are almost touching the clouds... until Dad runs alongside them and works the swing lower and lower, until it's oscillating at a safe height. They learn that they could fall. They learn that gravity pulls them down. They learn to play it safe.

They learn that some things are impossible. They learn that they are mortal. Fallible. Fragile.

See, most young children don't have the capacity to look at themselves through a lens tainted by the world. They don't see themselves objectively. They don't see themselves from the outside looking in. They don't shape themselves based on the world around them, but they believe they can shape the world with what's inside.

But as we get older, we learn how to be critics. We become very good at figuring out the flaws and researching our inadequacies. We trade in our eyes that once saw only love, grace, acceptance, for eyes that seek judgment, analysis, and objectivity.

Jesus loves the way children see things. He loves their hearts. He loves their minds. He loves their souls. He tells the older people to do their best to remember the way their mind worked as a child. He tells us to live like them. To be content with innocence, and to have faith without condition. To stop limiting ourselves, and by extension, God.

Matthew 18:1-3~

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in

the Kingdom of Heaven?" He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.

And he said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you

will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18:10~

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. 

For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."

Mark 10:13-14, 16~

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked

them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children

come to me, and do not hinder them. For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to 

such as these... and he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them, 

and blessed them."

The thing is, even those children that Jesus blessed and used as examples of purity and faith... they grew up. They probably learned how to be insecure. They were probably taught how to find flaws, and criticize themselves and those around them. It's the age old problem. We take God's gift of life and show Him everything that is wrong with it. We take what he has designed so meticulously for us and throw it in his face.

We all face self-consciousness, fear of rejection, and look in the mirror to see imperfection staring back at us. As a body of believers, however, this is not how Christians should be living life. We are hear to speak Truth into people's lives, and live by that Truth! To tell people they are priceless, loved, and beautiful, and then look in the mirror and remind ourselves of the things we are incapable of... it's called being two-faced.

Let's learn to call out the beauty we see in others. What we are tempted to criticize, let's look at through God's eyes. While we see flaws as hindrances, He sees them as bursting with potential. What we call imperfections, he calls opportunities to glorify Him. He makes beauty from ashes, crowns from dust, flowers from rain. 

So let's step back and take a look at our list of possibilities we had when we were children. Let's look at the things we believed we could and would do... and let's stop crossing off options. Don't limit yourself, and don't limit God. Don't dream of accomplishing just one thing. Bring back the "and's" from your childhood list of dreams. Who ever said that we could do one thing, and nothing more? Who ever said that God created us to succeed in one area, and fail everywhere else? No. It's not up to you to make that call. It's up to Him. He can take you and turn you into that jack of all trades, or he could turn you into an expert in a specific department. The point is, don't close off His options! Be ready to answer His one call, or his many calls! He can take a willing heart and use it to level mountains, bring down empires, build societies, change the world.... or He can take a willing heart and use it to level mountains AND bring down empires AND build societies AND change the world.

You and I are full of iniquities, but we are also full of a God who is not.

He will take a willing heart. A heart that says nothing is impossible. 

A six-year-old's heart.

You Know What This Post is About.

I'm not really a politically-minded person, but I am sure of one thing: Canada has a new Prime Minister, but we have the exact same God.

I am also fairly certain that this world is going downhill. It's inevitable. It's been predicted. In fact, it's been happening ever since the Fall of Man. Nothing is perfect, and nothing will ever be perfect until the 2nd Coming of Christ.

Political corruption shouldn't be a surprise to any of us, especially to believers. Political instability shouldn't come as a shock. The world is in desperate need of redemption. Followers of Christ should know this.

Whether this election's results pleased you or horrified you, here's a gentle reminder: Jesus has called us to be active in the work of His Kingdom, not spectators of His plan. Whether you agree with Justin Trudeau's policies or stand firmly against them, it doesn't matter. We serve GOD rather than man. We live under the government of Heaven, not the government of Canada. We are ambassadors sent from a distant land, soldiers with a mission separate from that of any political leader's.

So whichever way the votes tip the balance, it should never intimidate us as believers. Our Leader is infinitely greater. Our King can not fail. Our God is all-powerful, and His power is independent of popular opinion.

So why worry?  I happen to recall some moments from history that might provide some comfort in our present situation. I seem to remember a certain Egyptian Pharaoh, who enslaved God's chosen people. He might have been a little worse than Trudeau. The Israelites might have had more of a reason to complain, as they were whipped and starved and beaten daily.

And yet, God worked amidst the horrors and sorrow. He displayed His power and might for both His people and the Egyptians. His might triumphed over human plans.

There was a certain Roman Emperor... again, not the nicest guy. In fact, the Christians of His day were often bound together, tied to stakes, and lit on fire to illuminate the palace gardens, or placed in an arena with lions for pure entertainment. And yet, concerning Nero, God's apostle Paul wrote this to the persecuted church:

1 Timothy 2:1-5~

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.

Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 

Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful

and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Saviour,

who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God to humanity-

the man Christ Jesus.

If praying for Nero and the Roman Empire in those times was pleasing to God, I can't imagine how angry, harsh, unwholesome talk of Justin Trudeau is pleasing to God. It amazes me how there is hardly a difference between the Christians and the non-believers in the way they talk about our political leaders. Although there are many jokes and chuckles, there is an unsettling amount of violent negativity and hopelessness.

As believers, there is never a cause for hopelessness among us. Nobody but God alone has the power to destroy our souls.

I believe that there will be much worse things within our lifetimes. Danger and hardship is surely up the road, perhaps in different forms for all of us. But if we can't follow Jesus while our country is rich and prosperous and we have the privilege of voting, then how can we follow Him when times truly become difficult?

In the words of Catherine Booth:

"The waters are rising, but so am I. I am not going under, but over."

 We have the chance to show integrity, and be a light in this world. The Spiritual welfare of this country is not dependent on those in power. It depends on the willingness of God's disciples to show His love. Unfortunately, most of the things I hear and read from God's disciples are not a representation of Christ's love, but of worry, anger, and hatred.

I often hear people quoting the words of James 1: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." And then I often see those same people turning around and letting less-than-joyful words fly against our government.

Here's our chance to stand strong amidst a bit of a trial. Though it may be less than desirable, that's exactly what Jesus promised the life of a Christian would be. Hard. So let's consider it pure joy. Let's keep a stiff upper lip and continue the work of God despite any opposition. We have nothing to fear, nothing that can stand in the way of Christ's work, except for ourselves.

Remember the work that God has done in you. God has a habit of bringing the best out of the worst situations. He's rather well-known for turning disaster upside-down and transforming it into something wonderful. Have we forgotten so quickly who He is?!

Let's give up the way of complaining, and adopt the way of rejoicing. Christ has given us the opportunity to follow Him even in the dark times. Now is where it matters, so don't give up before we even get started.

James 1:12 ~

Blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has

stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those

who love Him.

In the face of adversity, let's prove where our loyalty lies.