June 2018 SPECIAL EDITION October 2015 Issue | Page 8

October 2015

(Continued from page 1)

“JB” is wonderful. It’s a play told in
verse based on the Biblical story of Job. MacLeish’s play is set in the 1950’s. God and Satan are circus vendors, Zuss and Nickles.
Nickles tells Zuss that no human would be
good if his life were made bad enough.
Sounds like the Job story, doesn’t it? Well, in
the play God (Zuss) tests millionaire American
banker, JB, exactly the same way He tested
Job approximately 2500 years ago. JB is
stripped of his family and his wealth. JB suffers. Enormously! But, despite ups and mostly
God-awful downs, JB retains his faith. JB looks
at the world LIKE a “little child.” No matter how
rotten things get, JB looks upon the world with
eyes of wonder. JB looks at every day as
“new, fresh and wonderful...a gift of God.” JB
applauds good days because they are good,
but he also applauds horrific days because
they are opportunities from God to spiritually
grow.
JB’s actions establish an important
point. Only mature adults, like JB, can be LIKE
little children. Little kids ARE little kids. They
have no choice about it. Only adults can do
what Jesus commands all of us to do and
CHOOSE to be like little children. Little children are astounded by the world; everything is
new to them. But only mature adults (for whom
very little is new) can CHOOSE to see every
day as “new, fresh and wonderful...a gift of
God.”
Now, I ask the zillion dollar question. Do
WE live like little children? Miss Audrey did.
Here’s a modern parable based on a
true story. Years ago, before I became a
priest, I ministered to Miss Audrey while I was
living in Nashville. She was ninety-four. Miss

Audrey had outlived two husbands and two of her
five children. She was crippled with very painful arthritis. One snowy day (cold exacerbated her arthritis), I showed up to give Miss Audrey Communion
after she had learned of the death of a grandchild.
What did she say? Well, she greeted me as she always did. Same big smile. Same words. “Hi Mike,
it’s another fabulous day. Isn’t God wonderful?”
Those were not just words. That’s the way Miss
Audrey chose to live.
Miss Audrey was neither naïve nor senile.
She was an intelligent, sophisticated and faith-filled
woman who chose to live like a little child.
Let’s you and I strike a deal. As much as we
can, let’s live like JB and like Miss Audrey. Let’s live
like little children.
Let’s see every day as
“new, fresh and wonderful...a gift of God.”

Save the Date!
Santa Photos
Nov. 21 & 22
9 am-2 pm
VOL Cafeteria
Photography by
Barberito
Photographers

8