Eric the Dog: A Lesson in Listening to God: For Matt

It was my turn to do Kids’ Spot again at Coventry Jesus Centre.

Volunteers: Matt (left) and Mark (right) 

After telling the following story, my friend Matt (who helps me set up on Mondays with his friend Mark) can't stop reminding me of it - he really liked it and stories aren't just for kids, you know. Anyway, this story is dedicated to him ... see picture, right.

I took a walk last Saturday to the beach, minding my own business of course but, you know, other people’s habits and ways are always very interesting and walking back from the sea I met a woman walking two dogs, a poodle and a limping, old retriever.

The poodle was following her nicely but, o dear, the retriever (Eric his name) decided about half-way along the route that it was time to go home. He turned and began walking back.

“Eric!” I heard her shout. “COME HERE! ERIC! ERIC-EE! 
ERIC–EE! COME HERE!” 

Eric stopped, turned and looked at her and then carried on walking in the opposite direction.

I heard her shout again, “ERIC! ERIC-EE! COME HERE!”

No chance.

In the end, the lady (and accompanying poodle) turned on her heels, abandoned her walk to the beach and returned to walk home with Eric. I captured some of this amusing scenario on my phone but, joking apart, I couldn’t help thinking it was my turn for kid’s spot next week and what a great illustration it was of the father-heart of God.

“MY PEOPLE! COME HERE!” He cries.  "I called you so often, but you wouldn't come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention (Proverbs 1:24: New Living Translation).

Here and elsewhere in the Bible, is revealed the compassion, sadness, frustration and anger of God, all rolled into one. He calls, desperately; we hear but do not listen and walk our own way. 

The woman in my story turned around and followed; God too turns and walks towards us, not in weakness but in strength – in the form of His Son.

But hey, let’s not be like Eric: hearing and not listening, determined, perhaps in his weariness, to go His own way. 

The truth is, I can see something of myself in Eric. The going is easier when I'm full of enthusiasm and energy; if I'm tired or discouraged there are other 'voices', unhelpful ones, that are easier to hear; at times like this, there's a need to live near the Source, listen as best we can to what He is saying and find our energy in Him.

Time for Kid's Spot

At Coventry Jesus Centre we do what we call ‘a Kid’s Spot’ each Sunday morning and rumour has it that this is one of most popular items in the meeting. I mean, it’s a kid’s spot – but is it really? Not when all the adults are present, ear-holing in.

Well, duty fell to me again this week (it does about every 8 weeks or so) and what better idea than to tell the kids the story of Aidan of Lindisfarne.  The reason for this?  a.) He’s one of my top favourite saints b.) It’s a great story – easy for the story teller and c.) It really has got something to teach us today.

OK, it’s a story about monks so why not get the Gallant gentleman himself to dress up as a monk (in case you don’t know, we use ‘virtue’ names in our church and there is a notable – and bald – brother in Coventry with that name). Now, what a shame, I took no photo of this. Gallant looked the part with his make-over brown habit, cross and quill pen and, for sure now, all the kids know what a monk is.

Then I told the story ... I believe if you want an interactive spot, telling can be preferable to reading and in-between my telling I was asking the kids questions: ‘Have you any questions to ask this here monk?’ ‘Do you think Aidan succeeded in his mission?’ and so on. It was OK until the end when I asked what the kids thought may have happened to Corman (see below). Well, one thought he was crucified on a cross and the other three that he surely went and topped himself, feeling such a failure. Now, what are those mums and dads going to say to me if the kids all go home and have nightmares?

Never mind, at the end I gave all the kids my scripted version of the story and, if you’re a big kid like me, you may enjoy it too ...  so here it is! 

The Story of Corman and Aidan

Around 1400 years ago a large community of monks lived on an island off the west coast of Scotland, called Iona. It was rocky, wet and cold but the monks busied themselves praying and farming and copying the Bible out by hand. This took a long time. Printing hadn’t been invented in those days and there were few copies of the Bible. 

The monks on Iona were invited to go on a mission to the north of England by Oswald who was the king there.  He wanted them to tell his people about Jesus. The monks prayed and sent a team led by one of their leaders. His name was Corman.

Corman was a little bossy at times. He liked giving orders and he thought people should do as he said. When he crossed the sea to England he expected people to listen to his message about Jesus. The trouble was they didn’t and Corman got very discouraged. 

When Corman returned to Iona all the monks gathered round him. They wanted to hear how he had got on!

“The English are very ignorant and stubborn,“ he told them. “They won’t listen.”

The monks continued to listen to his sad tale. Then one of them spoke. His name was Aidan.

Statue of Aidan on Lindisfarne

Aidan didn’t want to put Corman down. He said quietly and in a gentle voice, “Maybe Corman, you were a little harsh. Maybe if you had been more understanding and patient the English may have listened to you!”

Everyone looked at Aidan. “Well,” they said, “if you think you know how to win the English, you’d better go and try it!”

Aidan set off with twelve monks. He went to England and told them about Jesus. And do you know what? Everywhere people listened to him. They turned away from their bad ways and followed Jesus.

Aidan was gentle and patient. He shared his money and possessions with poor people and cared for them when they were sick. He didn’t just expect people to listen to him. He listened to them!

And what about Corman?  He stayed in Iona. What do you think he felt like? I don’t know but perhaps he prayed for Aidan. Maybe he learned from his mistakes and became a more gentle and kind person and learned to listen more. I hope so!

And by the way folks, does anyone know of a book ‘Bede for Children’ or something similar? The stories are so wonderful and beautifully didactic that if the book doesn’t exist, surely it should!