Good Judgement (not an oxymoron)

Last updated on: June 2, 2011 at 3:48 pm by Erin Wathen

Good Judgement (not an oxymoron) 2011-06-02T15:48:41-07:00 Erin Wathen

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It’s hard teaching a 2-year-old how to share. Can i get an amen? The mantra at our house lately has been, “don’t take things away from baby brother…it makes him sad.” MIGHT be starting to sink in a bit.

The other day i was getting dressed for the day, and heard the unmistakable sound of a baby playing with a plastic bag. (Parents of the Year, people! Right here!) I hurried toward the sound to intervene…and came into the room to find that the “big” kid (the 2-year-old) had already confiscated the dangerous item and was putting it up out of her baby brother’s reach.

I am changing my mantra. It now goes, “don’t take things from baby brother… UNLESS he might get hurt.” Although, it seems the 2-year-old is way ahead of me there. The instinct that “baby probably shouldn’t be playing with that” seems to be innate–along with the mother hen initiative to lead him away from danger. Nnow, you are probably saying, how often are your small children unattended, that she has to feel such responsibility for a baby?? Rest assured, we are watching/listening from closeby… it is called “free range parenting,” and you definitely intervene when there’s a plastic bag involved… Meanwhile, i like to think that they are learning the kind of discernment that can only come from experience and relationship. Now, mom said not to pull on the baby, but he’s about to stick his fingers in the fan, so… (That’s right folks…parents of the year!)

Experience and relationship. Don’t we learn most of the most important things in life from being connected to other people, and being trusted to love them in the best way that we know how? “Discernment” is a tricky word in the mainline church… It means taking some responsibility for one’s faith, and not just blindly following some out of context scripture from a jillion years ago. It means building faith and community through relationships, and trusting one’s own experience of the holy more than what someone else tells you.

It’s easier to be handed the answers. It’s easier to sign on the dotted line, and follow a doctrine that is spelled out on the page, clear rules and regulations and “thou shalt nots.” But then again…then again there will come the day when somebody that we love–or even somebody we don’t know– is about to put a big plastic bag over their heads. And even a 2-year-old knows that love beats the rules. Every. Single. Time.

homosexuality and the church

parenting

progressive christianity

Previous Post

June 1, 2011

Half-Baked

Next Post

June 3, 2011 A Glimpse of Things to Come

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category a good week for progress Advent and Christmas Being a Person desert life faith and community Good News for Progressives Lent and Easter Marriage and Family S*^! Jesus Says sabbatical road tripping Spirituality in Culture Talking to Strangers the "Best Stuff I Ever Ate" diet travel Uncategorized writing Writing Prompt Wednesday

Select a Month January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 February 2011 July 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which branch of Christianity uses the term "Mass" for its main worship?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Pentecostal Catholic Baptist Methodist