Worship: Less Zoo, More Petting Zoo

The thing about the zoo is that when you go, the main attraction is behind walls or glass. The majestic tiger or the curious mongoose is something that you can observe at a distance. It is something that gives you the impression that you "know" the animals. A zoo is also a place that few people enter with a sense of "fear". Unless you are going to the zoo with Harry Potter, you will not find a rogue snake at a zoo roaming around. And since zoos are set up to be so distant, there is an elevated amount of energy put toward the zoo keepers. We are too distant to the animals so we talk with the zoo keepers who tell us what it is like to have direct encounters with the animals. We rely on a mediator to tell us about the animals. 

Things are different for a petting zoo. 

First of all, it is clear that you will have a close encounter with the main attraction of the petting zoo. There is no protective glass or barrier keeping the curious animals to come toward you. But perhaps more importantly, most people I have seen enter a petting zoo enter with at least a small amount of nervous energy because they are not sure exactly what can happen. Will a dove descend on them? Will a lamb push up against their leg? Will there be a snake that strikes a bit of fear in them? And since the animals are there in your lap, there is less interest in hearing about the experiences of the animal caretakers. It is clear that in a petting zoo that it is the animals that need the most attention. 

Worship needs to really be less like a zoo and perhaps more like a petting zoo. We ought to enter worship with a sense of energy, unsure of what will happen exactly, anticipating a close encounter with the mysteries of God (the main attraction). A place where we desire a direct encounter with God rather than primarily rely on hearing how a direct encounter with God might feel like.

One Path or Many Paths to God? Try No Paths.

It is an age old debate and argument that results in a lot of bald-headedness. One side says there is only one way to God. And that claim make the other side pull their hair out and argue for many paths to God. Which in turn makes the first side pull their hair out and cite scripture of Jesus being the only way. While the other side, point to scripture of universal access to God. 

All of this self mutilation of hair pulling is missing the point of the Christian message at Christmas and Epiphany. There is no path or paths from us to God, if there is any path(s) at all it/they come from God to us.

As John S. Mogabgab's poem states: 

"God is closer than we think. There is no path to God that is not first God's path is to us."

So before we get all bogged into how many paths there are, lets first and foremost remember and give thanks that we even have the gift of talking about a path at all. 

A Ladder and a Jungle Gym

I was introduced to Christian spirituality as something like a ladder. You start off as a "baby Christian" (which is rather condescending to tell someone) and then you mature to bear fruit. As you "journey farther with Christ" you arrive at your destination (perfection, heaven, afterlife, etc). Even the classic "Pilgrim's Progress" is a story about spirituality as a ladder getting closer and closer to a goal. 

Eh. This is okay if you are into that sort of stuff. But it never really resonated with me. I am constantly finding that a ladder just is too limited in spirituality. I would much rather think of Christian spirituality more of a jungle gym. 

There are many different options on the jungle gym all of which require a different type of practice. Sure there is a ladder, but there is also a slide. You don't use the see-saw like you use the merry go round. You have to practice them all and each one may be fitting at one stage but not another stage. If you cannot reach the tall bars then you have to wait to grow until you can. Until then, there is the climbing wall. When you are too old for the tall slide then you can practice the swing. 

Christian Spirituality is a workout that requires more than just the ability to climb up. Not everyone is ready for the ladder and that is okay. You may never be ready for the zip line. You may get hurt while practicing. Your knees may get scuffed up. You may get tired, hot, and hungry. 

But I can tell you also there will come joy when you did not expect it. There is imagination and friendship and anticipation of what new equipment you may discover. 

Teaching Christian Spirituality as a ladder makes it one dimensional and boring. So if you are on a spiritual ladder, jump off and join me on the swings!