Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Don't Cry For Me, Babylon!

Peter and I teach Kindergarten Sunday School. You never know what kind of craziness 5-and-6-year-olds are gonna throw at you. You have to be prepared to keep a straight face, to know when to stop a story that will have an untoward outcome, to know when to stop the story-telling altogether, lest the actual Bible lesson never happens.

Last week we were talking about Daniel reading the writing on the wall during King Belshazzar's party. As you may know, the writing--placed on the wall by a floating, bodyless hand (plenty freaky for our 12 boys)--predicted the outster of King B, a prophecy that came true that night. King B was killed/overthrown and a new King was in charge by morning.

"What do you mean he was overthrown?" someone asked. "Well, you know how we elect a new President sometimes? When a new President takes over in this country, the old one simply lets the new person be in charge. No one dies or fights, it's a peaceful process." They nod. "In a lot of countries, even today, when a new person wants to be in charge, he kills the current leader and the current leader's helpers and family members. Then he takes over. It gets pretty bad. We're really blessed here in the US that it's not a big fight and no one dies. So, back in Bible times, this was pretty much how new people got to be in charge--they killed the other person. That's what happened to King Belshazzar." They nod--some of them are writhing on the ground, distracted by shoelaces or a piece of hair, you know, typical Kindergarten fidgeting. Then Rebecca--our brilliant daughter--says, "You mean like in Evita!?" Peter and I--musical theater buffs that we are--beamed with pride. "Yes, Rebecca, just like in Evita!"

Broadway bridges the gaps, people. :)

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