Out of the blue

Consider the following scenario.

You have just arrived at the grade school to drop off your child for another day of elementary learning. You notice that there appears to be a number of vehicles in the parking lot sporting the logos for a variety of local new stations and a few from outside of your community. Curious as to the meaning of this discovery, you park your vehicle and enter the school only to witness a flurry of excited activity. All about you are adults with cameras jockeying for positions around a cluster of closed doors while arriving children take up their seat in the hallway leading to these doors. Off to your side you catch a glimpse into the main auditorium where many adults have gathered before a column of tables and chairs placed uniformly upon the stage.

A mother of one of the children sitting in the hallway taps you on the shoulder and with inquisitive eyes flickering around the unfolding drama asks you what is happening to which you shrug your shoulders and shake your head in wonder. As you both look around at many of the other parents present, each holding the same expressions on their face, the clamor of the school bell shocks everyone to attention.

Suddenly, a bustling of young bodies arises as if on cue and a door surrounded by all the photographers flies open and out prance a cadre of young children, six in number, each sporting the most whimsical grins as the march in unison toward the auditorium being led by a woman who you recognize as the kindergarten teacher. The whirling machinations of cameras, the flashing of lights from the cellphones of proud parents provide no answer to what is happening as everyone from the hall files into the auditorium, greeted by the applause of the people who had already taken up their seats.

You enter the room and take a position standing along the back wall with several parents amidst the cables and video cameras stationed there to record the proceedings. You watch as the six children ascend the stairs to the left of the stage and proceed to take a seat in the center of the tables while several adults enter from the right and jockey for positions in the remaining chairs.

A hush falls over the room as the principal maneuvers her way to the front of the stage. “Thank you all for coming today to this very special meeting. It is a great privilege and honor to have such a distinguished panel of scientific experts here today,” she says as she turns and makes a sweeping gesture with her arm towards the adults seating upon the stage.

“I would like to ask before we begin this symposium that you would keep you questions until the end so that each of the six participants will have ample opportunity to present their findings. We have set aside a block of time specifically for those representing the media for answering your questions and it will follow this meeting and be held in room 105, just down the hall to your right.” There is a rustling that transpires as a few camera people and reporters gather their equipment and scurry out the door, heading towards room 105.

“For our first presenter, I would like to introduce you to Perry Whitman. He is 5 years old and known to sleep longer than most of his peers at nap time.” A chuckle rises from a number of the participates while Perry’s cheeks turn a bright crimson. “Perry will be describing…” she halts while searching the pockets of her blazer. Locating a piece of paper, she unfolds it and adjusts her glasses. “Perry will be releasing his findings dealing with the quantum differential in oscillating quarks and how it might be possible to capture the latent power they produce.” A standing ovation greets Perry as he climbs the steps to the lectern and adjusts the microphone.

Ludicrous, right? Some 5-year old presenting advanced scientific findings before a panel of esteemed scientists! Almost as ridiculous as trying to present the message of grace to fundamentalist believers. Think about that one for a minute because the comparison is intentional. Little children, Kingdom of God. Baffled believers like parents and reports who have lost their steam toward being esteemed. If I must spell this out for you, well… Go Perry!