One of the joys of early summer was our Vacation Bible School.  The children are too young to have been rejected by  a college, too young to have had their heart broken by their  'first great love',  and too young to be thinking about refinancing their homes or wondering if they will have adequate funds for retirement.   Their faith is uncluttered.  They love God, and they don't overthink it.

We have a tendency to overthink faith.   I realized this again when I read the story about legendary golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez who once said,  "If I could putt, you would've never heard of Arnold Palmer." The interesting thing is that early in his career, Chi Chi was a very good putter.  What happened? He claims it all started when a magazine paid him $50 to figure out what he did when he putted.  And that got him to thinking, and then overthinking.  Gone was the intuitive,  instinctive  smooth stroke-- instead, as the saying  goes, he was 'paralyzed by analysis.'   

The gospel is simple enough to be written on the back of a postage stamp -"You are loved, love others!"

Simple, but not simplistic. We don't need to overthink the gospel.   Instead, may you revel in childlike faith.

Pastor Tim

 

 "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant.  We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." -Albert Einstein