To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ ... Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.
Luke 7:31-35
Are we there yet? Many, many years ago, I was the nagging child asking this question over and over. My two sisters and I would travel unbuckled in the back seat of an original Polish “Little Mermaid” car (see picture below). We loved to sing songs to pass the time, but I often got shushed for not keeping in tune. I would end up frustrated, taking it out on our poor mother, who always replied to my question with the same answer: “Yes, five minutes.”
That five minutes can last a very long time(!) Being a parent now myself, I sometimes get this question too: are we there yet? Even if we are just headed to the market, and my sons are buckled up with plenty of snacks, water and entertainment, they still ask. I know better than to give them a dismissive response; instead I often sing a catchy nursery song: "Let’s play a game... Look at where we are... Won’t you look with me and tell me what you see driving in the car... What do you see?"
That reminds me of another song recently sung at the Family Table Service: “Come As You Are (Lay Down Your Burdens)." I especially love the following line: "Lift up your face... Oh wanderer come home, you’re not too far." That’s exactly the answer I like to hear! With the Pandemic and so many other struggles of this past year, I often feel like throwing my arms in the air and whining to God: “Are we there yet?” Apparently, I still have it in me!
Jesus in his ministry on Earth, encountered many types of people who liked to grumble, compare, question, or nag. His answer in the Scripture passage above is playful and extremely patient. His deep conclusion follows: Wisdom is justified by all her children. Isn’t that beautiful?
There is no judgment on you if you choose to sing along, dance along, sit back and ponder, look outside, or look up and make your face radiant. Whatever you do, enjoy this ride also, because God is surely in the driver’s seat.
God bless you!
Edyta
