Are you childish?
Earlier today, I overheard a conversation between my wife Esty, and 4 year old daughter Mushka.
They were both elbow deep in Challah dough; kneading and braiding (one brave way to keep kids entertained before school starts.)
The conversation went something like this:
Mushka: “Mommy, right we get to eat all this Challah?”
Mommy: “Well, for sure some of it.”
Mushka: “But Mommy, who gets to eat the small piece of Challah you burned?”
Mommy: “Hashem – G-d”*
Mushka: “Oh, Okay!”
At first it was funny; Mushka was cool with the idea of G-d eating Challah dough. But on second thought it was also remarkable to see how receptive a child can be towards spirituality.
Try talking to a child about ‘G-d’, ‘soul’ or ‘heaven’ and you will see how smooth it goes. Even if you’re explaining something very symbolic and metaphoric like G-d ‘eating’ the Challah (which is not quite the case), kids totally get it, because that’s just how they roll (no pun intended.)
Wouldn’t it be great to capture just a bit of that childlike openness and innocence?
Obviously we must use our adult intelligence to analyze and question, but at the same time there is much to learn from the refreshing innocence of children, where G-d is so in their ‘comfort zone’.
The High Holidays are fast approaching. G-d wants us to engage.
With an: “Oh, Okay!” childlike receptiveness, our experience will be that much more enriched.
Shabbat Shalom!
*Jewish women through the centuries have practiced the mitzvah of ‘Challah’ – separating and burning a piece of dough for sanctification. Click here for more.