The Parable of the New Parents
(This morning Jenell told me her favorite illustration for understanding the often frustrating dynamic of developing a missional church. I thought it brilliant – so I’ve cast it here in parable form.)
Once there was a young husband and wife named Jason and Jenell who welcomed into their new family a brand new baby girl. They named her Savannah and promptly fell deeply in love.
And Savannah grew.
Savannah’s beauty enchanted the young parents. Under her spell they wasted hours gazing into her shining face, discussing endless possibilities for her future, resolving to let nothing spoil her innocence. They swore that unlike their parents, they would do everything right.
And Savannah grew.
In the clear light of Savannah’s emergence, the ills of the world’s children seemed suddenly apparent – as did their remedies: Jason vowed to make wooden toys from scratch in a workshop; Jenell determined to hand-sew all her clothes; Together they would blend her baby food from home-grown organics, wisely deny her the sexist influences of Barbie dolls, shield her from the market-driven madness of Saturday-morning cartoons, and personally spearhead her classical education (based on the Great Books of Western Civilization).
And Savannah grew.
One year fell into another and Jason discovered he had no talent for woodworking (and no workshop). Jenell learned that handmade clothes were more expensive (and less comfortable). One year for her birthday someone gave Savannah a Barbie doll and much to her parent’s consternation, she loved it. The Great Books gathered dust.
And still Savannah grew.
Jenell did learn to make home-made baby food (a tradition for all the babies who came after), and together the young parents learned the magic of stories, conjuring worlds of wonder for the delight of their daughter’s imagination. They played in the snow, tickled to tears, ran through the woods, conquered monsters and then made them friends, prayed for the sick, watched great films, threw temper tantrums, cooked savory food, washed dirty dogs, made bold art, drove through the desert, slept in hotels, ordered room service, stayed in their pajamas, flew across the ocean, sipped hot tea, told sarcastic jokes, and gave each other gifts. Mostly, they gave each other gifts.
And Savannah grew up.
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