Meditation on "Who do You Trust?" #2

Who do you trust #2

Since we’re on an Ann Lamott roll here (she’s going to be at the Holland Center Wednesday night at 7PM; it’s a free event and you are invited; the doors open at 6PM), I thought of presenting the story of Jesus in the Temple. According to the Gospel of Luke (this story does not appear anywhere else, by the way), Jesus has been in the temple for three days and his parents are frantic with their searching for him. Evidently, the omniscient powers of Jesus were not received from or bestowed on his biological parents. And in the end after they heard his explanation concerning his whereabouts and why didn’t they know where he’d be, they did not know what he was talking about. Sounds just like a teenager/parent conversation.

Ann asked a priestly friend of hers on this topic: “What would Jesus have done with thirteen-year-olds?” Father Tom replied:

“In biblical times, they used to stone a few thirteen-year-olds with some regularity, which helped keep the others quiet and at home. The mothers were usually in the first row of stone throwers, and had to be restrained.” And she later comments, “Every parent who saw this note on my wall laughed and felt better; nothing helps like letting your ugly common secrets out.” (p. 95 in “Plan B: Further thoughts on Faith”)


The Boy Jesus in the Temple
Luke 2
41Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” 49He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50But they did not understand what he said to them. 51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.


I suspect that last line was added to make us all feel like Jesus was divine and never caused anyone any trouble. It could also be we’d like a nice tame little savior—someone we can always appreciate. Evidently he never experienced the drama of 7th grade.

But the story of Jesus in the Temple is more than a cute diversion. It’s a reminder that most of us want to have it all: we want to be wise in our youth, respected by our elders, free to not check in with anyone, have no conflict, and always be right. But by our college years, we have to give up on that. We know wisdom comes from conflict, by being in healthy groups and not just the hard partying ones, self-assessment that includes looking deeply into our failures, and the realization that sometimes there is no “right.” It’s just the decisions we make in the midst of a mess.

I knew a sixteen-year-old who was morose one day. I asked him what was up. He simply looked up with his swollen eyes and said, “I just realized my childhood is over.” Perhaps at sixteen he was a little slow on the uptake, but at least he got it—if you’re reading this, your childhood is over. Of course, this doesn’t mean life is no fun anymore. The Psalmist reminds us, “Joy comes in the morning.” But the quality question remains: Now what? My friend, Lori, made a marvelous comment to this point recently. She noted, “What we need are armbands that have this abbreviation, “WWAD?” Translation: “What Would an Adult Do?”

In our post childhood times of decision-making: Who is worthy of your trust? Who will help you into adulthood? Who is your guide?

Trying to do it alone is a failed plan. Non-assessed animal behavior doesn’t work. So, here’s the question, “Now that you’re not a kid anymore, who do you trust?”

Care for some tea in the temple?