Make A Wish

Considering Our Charisms

Dear Friends,

I’ve gotten really into improv comedy lately.

Don’t mistake me here – unlike my poet-priest pal Megan, I’m certainly not performing any such thing, unless you count my regular experiences in the classroom – but I am very into the pack of mostly millennial comedians performing with Dropout TV. They’re very silly and nerdy and, in my brain’s web of connections, when I read this Sunday’s passage from 1 Kings, this is what came to mind:

We all know the basic rules for making wishes, right? You can’t wish for more wishes. You can’t make someone fall in love with you. And you can’t wish to resurrect someone.

But this genie, well, he’s got his own stipulations, too. And some advice. Y’know, like don’t wish to become queen when you could wish for an equitable economic system.

Anyway, this is really about that first one about wishing for more wishes. We all learned that rule as kids, I think, and it’s this essential premise that you’re not supposed to game the system with your wishes. And, at the same time, I think we’ve all seen the fairytale endings in which, if you demonstrate a particular kind of rare moral uprightness in your wishes, something especially wonderful will be granted to you.

Well, that’s kind of what happens to King Solomon. Coming before God in a dream, God says to him:

“Ask what I should give you.”

Keeping the genie’s rules of order in mind, just for the sake of propriety, what would you ask God for?

Wishes & Wisdom

It’s a fun and terrifying question. And it’s a great starter for a Sunday School session on this passage, especially with those genie stipulations because even kids are prone to wish for resurrections alongside trampolines. Solomon’s got something else in mind, though.

Facing the reality of his reign and the history of the people of God, Solomon responds,

“Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”

Needless to say, God was very pleased with this request. I think many of us know about the wisdom of Solomon conceptually, and what he asks of God demonstrates that he was already deeply thoughtful and pious man. God lifted up the wisdom that was already within him to make him more than that – to give him a wisdom unlike what had ever been seen before.

How often are the things we ask for a reflection of who we already are, of what gifts we already have? And how do we bring such a philosophy to bear on our work with and mentorship of children and young people? Or, if you’re in the fortunate position of serving in a position of leadership as clergy or a religious education director, how do we do support those gifts while also encouraging service in ministry in our programs? Maybe that begins with the clear naming of where already see spiritual strengths – also known as charisms.

Charisms & Community

Let’s just start here: the only people I know who talk about charisms are clergy.

Maybe that’s different in a Catholic setting (they seem to have all of the “popular” resources on charisms), or Pentecostal, but the average Episcopalian sure isn’t discussing their individual or community charisms and I never heard the term growing up in the ELCA. So, what are charisms?

Charisms are the gifts or graces of the spirit. We all have them, and that includes children, but they can take some discerning to figure out. And, as gifts, they’re not essential, so to speak, but they are of great value to ourselves and to our community.

My favorite description of charisms comes from Many Parts Ministries. As much as they are gifts, MPM describes, they’re also just the chores we’re asked to do as part of the family of God. The benevolent Father would love it if you cleaned out the garage, but it’s not because Dad can’t do it. You won’t be disowned or kicked out of the house if you don’t do your chores. But it’s good practice. It’s part of being a family.

As MPM phrases it, “This is how the charisms of the Holy Spirit work. It’s not that God can’t fill in the gaps without us, it’s that it’s good for us to help.”

Solomon certainly could have ruled like an average king. He could have asked God to increase his land holdings or multiply his family. But instead he asked for an increase in wisdom so that he could better guide the People of God and rule justly.

While there are a number of things I disagree with in terms of Many Parts Ministries work on the charisms – YMMV with these things – their resources, such as their free Guide to Charisms, do offer real insights into how these gifts express themselves and are a useful starting point if you’re trying to explore the scope of this idea.

In working with children, I am particularly interested in the charisms of craftsmanship, encouragement, and hospitality, but also leadership, faith, and even evangelism. How do we create the structures that allow children to, for example, share their artistic skills in a ministry context? How do we ensure they have the resources and support to offer hospitality to both their community and to visitors? Often we see children offering their gifts and discount them because they are the early expressions of something that is not yet matured and so not appreciated by many adults.

I hope you’ll look into some descriptions of the various charisms and see what resonates with you (I think I try to live into the charism of writing, obviously, but also of encouragement and teaching. And, actually, administration which really is a gift of the Spirit, believe it or not.) How will you marshal your gifts to serve more fully and to encourage others to serve?

Resource Round-Up

• My friend and colleague, Dr. Henry Zonio spoke to the Siburt Institute on the Importance of Multicultural Perspectives in Children’s Ministry. It’s a two part podcast so you can take it about 30 minutes at a time. Henry’s work on race in Christian education and worship settings is outstanding and I delight in seeing him on Zoom with his classic bad example of white Jesus (that giant stuffed one in a white and blue outfit that you’ve almost undoubtedly seen around) sitting behind him in his office.

• The Center for Youth Ministry Training has a new, extremely comprehensive Youth Ministry Curriculum that looks really promising if you need an out of the box option. It looks interesting and challenging and commits multiple weeks to each core theme rather than trying to do something new each week.

• Be A Heart has new wooden puzzles! These include a names of Jesus puzzle, one for St. Therese of Lisieux, and another for Our Lady of Guadalupe. They’re also on sale this week. I love these for Praygrounds/Grace Spaces because the chunky pieces are perfect for the smallest children who may not be in Church School year. Maybe get some Jesus Heals bandaids for your first aid kit while you’re there.

Whether you’re already back in school or still enjoying the last few weeks of summer, I hope there is a little room for stillness.

Peace,
Bird