December 13: father's house

As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”*

When you were a child did you ever wonder off from your parents? What were the rules for when you found yourself in that situation? I remember being told to stay where I was. In some situations I was advised to retrace my steps, this was more of a lesson as I got older and gave me more independence and responsibility for myself. So I learnt when I was going to new places to glance back and see things from a different perspective so on the return journey I'd know where to go. This is a skill I still use today! Then again, I was never one to rush away from my parents or lag behind, the more common situation would have me rushing ahead of the family assuming that I knew the way and could lead everyone. I have -I admit!- taken wrong turns and then wondered by no one was following anymore! But waiting for them to catch up eventually meant waiting for them to realise I was lost, and thankfully my dad figured it out and found me!

Where can we go to ask questions and learn and discuss? I love being at uni for the environment of open searching and honest discussion, the freedom to make claims and seek answers, the time to read and speculate with people. The freedom to wrestle with complex ideas or controversial topics. But I also really enjoy asking questions and discussion things over meals with people. Earlier this year I was in England and I visited for a week a place called L'Abri, it is a manor house in the country side and there they host travelers who are seeking a refuge to explore the claims of the Bible. It was a really welcoming and honest place, amazingly interesting and helpful, and not at all threatening! Anyway, my favourite time of the day was lunch time because there we would eat in groups of about 8 and for the entire meal talk about one topic; at the beginning of the meal the facilitator would ask if anyone had a question or issue they wanted to discuss. Someone would pose their idea and the conversation would launch. Only one person spoke at a time and everyone listened to each others views, there didn't need to be a solution or solid answer at the end of the meal. It was great!

Anyway, when Jesus was twelve, he and his family went to another city to celebrate a festival. As the whole community was probably very close and all traveling together it's not from parental neglect that Jesus wasn't discovered on the return journey to be lost for a whole day. They must have assumed that he was with one of their friends or relatives, probably playing with their kids or something. But he wasn't!

"After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” 

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them."**

All I want to say is, please feel free to visit a church, to see the great beauty of the architecture (some of my favourites in Syndey include St Mary's and St Andrew's Cathederal.) Enjoy the peace and reflective silence. Not only that, seek out friends or preachers/pastors/ministers who you can listen to and ask questions of. if the first person you find and ask isn't right for you, that's ok, don't give up. There will be people out there who will happily talk, listen, answer, explore with you. Be like the young Jesus and seek out those places, even if it's out of your comfort zone or people will be confused as to why you are there!

If we talk and discuss things, Jesus is bound to turn up on one way or another and ask what we are searching for, or give us more thought-provoking questions to discuss. Questions shouldn't be threatening, but rather truth seeking.

*Luke 24:15-17

**Luke 4:46-50