Sheep

For the past two days, we've been working on something that requires us to be present at a 3 day long, worship workshop sorta deal for school children.

We don't participate, we just work alongside the actual arena, providing them with a supplementary service which has nothing to do with God.

We work at a hectic pace, trying to finish as much as we can in the 2 hours that we have there. But every now and then, there's a break in the flow, giving me a chance to actually listen (and not just be deafened by) what the neatly dressed guy on the mic is droning on about.

And as I listen, I am amazed at just how completely most people are taken in by the biggest myth in the world. God.

"Children" he says enthusiastically "God loves you! Don't be afraid when you're alone because God is with you. He is greater than anybody else in your lives."

"Can your parents come and sit with you during school time?"

- A big "NOOOOOOOO" in chorus.

"Can your teacher come and live with you at home?" (Daddy wishes.)

- Another big "NOOOOOOOOOO"

"But children, God is everywhere! In your class, in your home and in your heart."

I wondered then, if any of them were wondering "Then why does Daddy get drunk and beat Mommy?"

"Then why does Mommy cry every night?"

"Why's the teacher so nice to the girl with the nice clothes and big car and not to me?".

"If God's right next to me, then why doesn't he do something when Daddy comes into my room at night and hurts me like he does?"

Needless to say, I was disgusted.

As I looked around the huge hall at so many little faces, some engrossed, some indifferent, some asleep, I was afraid for them. Innocent minds, so impressionable, only eager to please and fit in are such fragile things.

When I send my children to school, I want them to learn to be kind, intelligent people, with questioning minds and an unshakeable belief in themselves.

I want them to learn it's okay to not do what everyone else is doing.

I want them to understand the power of logic and reasoning.

I want them also to know that sometimes, you just go with your gut.

I want them to learn to question everything (except Mommy)

I want them to be good, kind human beings because that's what humanity is about, not out of the fear of burning in hell for eternity.

I want them to be kind to animals and love the earth and the sky and the rain.

The way my children turn out, the kind of human beings they become, their lives ... are almost entirely in my hands.

That is, by far, the scariest thing in the world.