Ordinary Time XI

From the Back Seat

Recently we were out riding on a Saturday afternoon. We had two three-year-old girls strapped securely in the back seat. We stopped at a neighbor’s farm and got a good look at some chickens.

We asked the first little girl, “Do you know what chickens give us?”

“Honey.”

“No!” came a chorus from front and back seats.

“Eggs!” said the second little girl.

“But birds lay eggs,” said the first little girl.

“Chickens are birds,” said the second little girl.

“Chickens are not birds!” said the first little girl.

“Yes, chickens are birds,” said the second little girl.

Time to change the subject. Next question. From the front seat: “What do cows give us?”

“Milk” said both little girls.

“And what about chickens?”

“Water.”

“Water?!” Laughter all around.

“What do bears make?” (It was a trick question.)

“Honey.”

More laughter.

“What do bees make?”

“I don’t know.”

“Guess.”

“Honey!”

“And what do mamas make?”

“Brownies!”

It’s great to have three year-olds to keep life interesting. And to have someone who really appreciates brownies, even if the origin of all the ingredients is not entirely clear.

Posted by:Eileen Campbell-Reed

+ Visiting Associate Professor at Union Theological Seminary + Co-director of the Learning Pastoral Imagination Project + Founder and host of Three Minute Ministry Mentor + Author of Pastoral Imagination: Bringing the Practice of Ministry to Life