Just Don’t Say It
It seems to me that we have pretty small imaginations. Would you agree? How many times have we made ourself smaller and more insignificant by saying, “I can’t do that because . . .?” Or when have we been guilty of issuing a related charge toward another: “She can’t do that because she’s . . .” or “He’s not qualified because he’s . . .” or “That church is too small to do that because they’re . . .?” Yes, I am aware that we have our limitations. I’m 5’8″ tall with a good shoe-heel. My expectations for dunking a basketball on a regulation-high rim are rather low. But what if I never allowed myself to dream of dunking a basketball?
Seems to me we live in the tension between self-limitation and having a larger imagination. On the one hand, we have to come to terms with our limitations if we are to be mature persons. On the other hand, we have in our scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, numerous stories in which God calls the too young, too old, too insignificant, too obviously limited, and so forth. Moses, Gideon, and Jonah are just a few of these. Each has a valid argument for why they are not qualified to fulfill the plan God has for them: “Can’t speak well,” “Can’t do it,” and “Not interested.” Sound familiar? They have come to terms with their limitations.
Jeremiah is another in touch with his limitations: “I’m just a child.” God has called him to a task of speaking dangerously destructive words, which will bring down whole governments and nations. Jeremiah has a point: You don’t get a child to do what most adults wouldn’t touch with a stick! So he says to God, as though God is ignorant of the fact, “I’m too young.” He might as well have said, “I’m too uneducated,” or “I’m too inexperienced,” or “I’m too insignificant,” or “I’m too . . .” what? You fill in the blank.
What do we expect God to say in response? “How dare you question the Almighty’s authority?” or “Oh, you know, you’re right. Sorry about that. I’ll get someone else.” or “No you’re not, stop being so hard on yourself! You’re older than you appear.” No, surprisingly God says, “I know you are. Just don’t say it.” That is, “You need to see beyond your limitations. You need to enlarge your opinion of your abilities. You need to enlarge your imagination.” Notice that God does not age Jeremiah so that he might be “old enough.” God gives him everything he needs: “Before you, I . . .” and “I will be with you.”
Yes, you are too small, you are too inexperienced, you are too unqualified, you are too young, you are too old, you are too . . . scared. Just don’t say it! Because no, you are not alone. May we be more open to the possibilities and purposes to which we are being called.
