(Jesus is barefoot and sitting on a chair with other people and children milling about, having quiet conversations amongst themselves. A disciple walks up to Jesus.)
Disciple: Who’s the greatest in your kingdom? Am I?
Jesus: So, you want to be great in my kingdom? Okay, then don’t grow up. Grow down!
Disciple: What? Don’t grow up? But children are so naïve; they’re not very responsible.
Jesus: Grow down.
Disciple: Okay, I get it, you mean like an innocent child. Stay pure. Like a child that hasn’t learned to talk back yet. Like one of those compliant, docile children that are cute and quiet.
Jesus: No, I mean like a real child.
(Jesus pulls a child from the crowd to sit on his lap. The child squirms and fusses and springs down from Jesus’ lap; then she starts running circles around Jesus.)
Jesus: I mean like that child right there. Be like her.
(The child stops when Jesus says, “Be like her.” The child stares, wide-eyed at Jesus.)
Child: Like me?
Jesus (smiling): Yes, like you!
(The child smiles, and wanders off into the nearby grass, picking flowers and singing a little tune.)
Disciple (looking confused): But, what if she throws temper tantrums? What if she whines and cries and fusses? Surely, you don’t want me to be like that? I don’t think that connotes greatness.
Jesus: My son, entering the kingdom of heaven has nothing to do with being perfect or living up to some ideal or meeting some standard. Entering the kingdom of heaven isn’t about checking off a list to see if you qualify or not. Children aren’t perfect, but they are what the kingdom of heaven is all about.
Disciple: But, I don’t understand. Shouldn’t I want to be the best? Isn’t it a good thing to want to accomplish great things? Shouldn’t I want to achieve moral perfection?
Jesus: Son, let go of ambition. Live fully now!
(Just then, a woman enters the scene. She walks slowly toward Jesus, nervously looking around. The crowd glances at her, quickly averting their eyes and moving away from her, shaking their heads, and turning their backs on her. But the child skips up to the woman and hands her a flower. This makes the woman smile and relax.)
Jesus (looking meaningfully into the disciple’s eyes): Be like the child.
Disciple (dropping his head in shame): I’m not worthy. I mess up all the time.
(The child walks up to the disciple and holds her hand out to him.)
Child: Come on, let’s play.
(The disciple looks questioningly at Jesus.)
Jesus (nodding): Be like the child.
(The disciple and child walk off together and begin to play Ring Around The Rosie. Meanwhile, the woman makes her way to Jesus, dropping to her knees before him. Jesus gently lifts her chin to look at him. He whispers something in her ear. She stands and they embrace, then joining the disciple and child. Others slowly join the group, which has now started to play Duck Duck Goose. But not all join the group. Some stand on the sidelines shaking their heads or looking at the silliness disapprovingly. All of this is going on while one person comes out of the crowd and speaks.)
Person: Look at God. He’s playing barefoot in the grass. He’s laughing and singing. He’s opening his arms and welcoming all. God is letting the child lead him. Look at God, being vulnerable, descending down, not clambering for greatness, becoming insignificant for the sake of those around him, empowering others, not lording over, lifting up others, not grabbing at glory for himself. Look at God on his knees, kissing the head of a child, having fun, washing someone’s feet, and embracing life. That’s God, growing down into childlikeness! This is God, childlike! Become like that!
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