Unpacking Mr. Bear!

The last time Kim and I visited our son Jonathan and his family I noticed sitting in the corner of their dining room, “Mr. Bear.”  You see, Mr. Bear was Jonathan’s favorite stuffed animal from the time he was about 18 months old. When he was young, Jonathan would fall asleep with his fingers stroking Mr. Bear’s fur.  He took Mr. Bear everywhere we would allow him to take him.  In fact, if you look closely at Mr. Bear you will see where his fur is worn and the places where Kim had to sew him back together time and again. 

Although Mr. Bear was a fixture in Jonathan’s room, even throughout his teen and college years, somewhere along the line Mr. Bear got relegated to a box to be stored away. That box got moved with Jonathan when he got married. I guess having a newborn son caused Jonathan to go through some of his boxes and in the process he discovered, and then took out, Mr. Bear. It’s kind of like a Toy Story movie wherein the childhood toys get stored away only be taken out and appreciated anew at a later time in life. 

It makes me think about all the things that were once part of our childhood that we put away in favor of what we consider to be more adult, intellectual, and sophisticated. We lose our sense of innocence, our wild imaginations, and our unreserved faith and trust. The realities of life shake us awake from childhood dreams. We eventually learn that not everything and everyone is to be trusted. Yet, as we move from the dreams of childhood to the realities of adulthood, we have to admit we lose so much in the process. 

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:16-17 – NIV) And, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3 – NIV)  

Jesus seems to be calling us to recapture something that we packed away as we moved from childhood into adulthood. There seems to be something that defines a child that Jesus would say describes the kind of person who is able to enter into an unhindered relationship with God. What could that something be? A child’s sense of innocence? His or her wonder at a world wherein everything seems so fresh and new? The fact that he or she just naturally trusts those around them? A heart that readily accepts things that cannot be seen or fully understood? 

It seems to me that Jesus is teaching us that, if we are to experience a relationship with God as our heavenly Father (and enter the Kingdom of God), there are some aspects of our childhood that we will need to unpack. The truth is, it’s not the intellectual sophisticated realist who enters the Kingdom of God, but those who will come to God like a little child. 

So, what is it that you may have to unpack in order to change and become like that little child that is able to enter the Kingdom of God? I’ll let you answer the question for yourself. 

Have a great day! 

Pastor Tim Harris