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CHILDREN  Children hold the world in their hearts. Not by any conscious reflection, but in the very goodness of who they are. They point us as adults to become interested in the fragile, innocent, and those who hold our laughter and hope. They obligate us, sometimes against our own desires, to be more.When I make the various visitations to the “missions” it is the faces of children and their quickness to greet, laugh and smile that stay with me the longest. It is as if a vocation, a call comes from their very presence to protect them and provide opportunities for them. Often I have reflected upon the call of a mother or father, but it seems that the calling is more than that of simply becoming a parent. It seems that to become more human, more ourselves, we have got to guard the children of the world. It is in their little hands and eyes that all the play of the world seems contained. It is in their fighting that one feels moved to intervene to protect them from themselves and foolish attachments to the trivial. It is in their incredible capacity to simply forget the most terrible tragedies and move on in forgiveness and play again that teaches we older ones.  Without downplaying the struggle, pettiness, the battle of wills, the on-going discipline necessary in the lives of children; I really am not sure there is any greater gift to humanity than that of the little ones. I have seen how in extreme despair and meaningless of existence, children’s mere presence brings purpose. This is a symbol of more than simply living our lives for another and delighting in the other. It seems to be a beacon that in giving one’s life for another, there is an encounter with the core of faith. In the child one meets an ambassador of God. It is almost as if our own nature and resemblance to God rises to the occasion whenever a child calls us to become more, when they call us to be who we were meant to be.Children are at the core of the international crises of care. They are at the core of the crises of humankind recognizing their own identity and calling of service. Each child belongs to not only its immediate family, but they are a treasure that glistens beyond borders. It is an illusion to state that our families stop at national frontiers, ethnic divisions, or religious commitments. Every child obligates us to care, and is a witness to a God-embedded vocation. To lie to this calling of care, is to undermine the foundations of our own self. Existence becomes a sham if the children are not guarded. Not American children, nor Pakistani children, nor terrorist children – but children. Our kids.  Violence against children, whether physical abuse or silence and indifference, destroy the community and individual. Our recent pain internationally, but most especially here in the States has been to see such violence taking place in the heart of the Church by her own leaders. It is the father harming the child while the mother is silent. Deadly, deadly for the world.As missionary’s by our Baptism, we must be protectors of the children not only within our borders and Churches. We must see that food, clothing, basic education at a minimum for those 12 and under are not the prerogative of the wealthy or politically free. We are not in a crisis of resources but in a crisis of creativity, for God has already given us the resources, tools, intelligence and hearts to change the existing reality. The argument that there is not enough on this planet for all the children in the world and their families is a lie already demonstrated through research. Before political and economic realities that might seem daunting, we must first confront the faith crises of loving. It is extremely simple this battle of the heart. Just see their little face, hear their voice. That is all. Encounter the real children and we will find real hearts and courage within ourselves. May God gives us the eyes and ears to recognize our children for who they are, so that we might be who God has made us to be. |
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