The Kids are Alright

What's the coolest Birthday party you ever had as a kid? My mad scientist seventh birthday party was my favorite. Although the Star Wars one with matching napkins and balloons was sweet too. Although kids cannot legally drink, and let's be honest, even if they could they would be total lightweights, I think that they are underrated partiers. Do you remember how incredibly fun it was to be a kid? Best times of my life. Looking back, it was like a party all of the time. And when we finally decided to throw a real party, whether mad scientist, princess, dress-up, tea party, or Star Wars, it was always off the hook.

I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that, as kids, we simply did not care what people thought of us. We knew we were cool, no questions asked. Also, the coolness of the world around us was evident to us. We were constantly amazed by everything because we hadn't developed cynically high expectations. I once spent an hour playing with shaving cream and sticks.

Kids are onto something, and Jesus recognizes this. In the Gospel of Matthew he says: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." If we want eternal bliss and happiness, tranquility and justice, we better start trusting in the fact that we are cool. That confidence that kids have, that indifference toward the judgments of others, a Christian believes that adults can have it through faith in God. God loves us and affirms us unconditionally; nothing that any human says can take that away.

Christians also believe that this universe is God's universe and that it is almost as mysterious as its creator. This means that it is full of wonders and of infinite possibilities. It is just a thrilling place to be because the Holy Spirit courses through it at the speed of love, enlivening all of its inhabitants with the grace and majesty of God. In many ways, being a Christian should be like being a kid again. Loving yourself and others becomes easier and being amazed by the world around you is a constant state of being. Those sound like grounds for a great life.

Today's drink features some staples of childhood: soda floats and Girl Scout Cookies.

Rum and Coke(onut)

Ingredients: 6 oz. Coca-Cola, 1 shot dark rum, 1 scoop "Samoas" ice cream (that's right, Breyer's makes ice cream based on the Girl scout cookie)

Pour the rum in a chilled glass. Pour the Coke gently down the side of the glass minimizing foam. Gently place the ice cream in. It will foam A LOT so watch out. Sip it with a friend, it's really cute. But please don't give it to your kids.

My friends enjoying the float