Growing in faith

Milton, the church's cat, is extremely hot this week. He's taken to sneeking downstairs in the hopes of discovering a cold patch on the linoleum. This morning he almost made it out the front door of the church before we caught him and shooed him back to his apartment upstairs.

In spite of having to chase the rather precocious feline about the building, Milton always manages to remind me that church is an adventure. He's constantly attempting to escape into the Sunday school room or down to the basement when the AA group is meeting. I remember as a kid loving church so much that I'd do anything to get to go there - to see the people, play in the nursery or even just explore the building. Milton has a similar attitude about church. On Palm Sunday, he went on a reconnaissance mission into the jungle of the palms (aka the church's kitchen). He emerged with a palm streached horizontally out of his little mouth, ran upstairs and gently laid it in front of the apartment door with a sense of accomplishment.

Just as I see my childhood in him, I also see the childhoods of the kids in the church. It's amazing to watch them grow into their faith and to hear them talk about God. Often times, they'll pick up something new, and eager to please, offer it to their parents or their pastor. Today I heard one of the girls singing the first hymn extra loudly. Last week, a different kid recited the Lord's prayer perfectly. Like Milton, they enjoy exploring what it means to be a part of God's church community. Fortunately, though, they don't carry their palm branches in their mouths.