God and the Lesson Plans
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“What is the Trinity?”
I could not believe I had heard him right. How had he known to ask that question today?
You see, I had the lesson already figured out. The week’s topic, according to the Sunday School curriculum (which encompassed K-6th grade), was supposed to be about the Trinity. But I taught the preschool class and had no idea where to start explaining the concept of the Trinity to 3- and 4-year-olds. I felt God tugging on my heart, leading me to trust Him with this one and give Him my best, however small and insignificant that seemed at the time.
But I knew better. We’d discuss something else Sunday morning instead. To this day, I don’t remember what topic I picked, only the tugging on my heart to share about the Trinity. But I didn’t. I got off track.
And God put me back on track with a preschooler’s question. “What is the Trinity?” It came out of the blue. Why did he ask it? Perhaps he heard God whispering to his heart and, unlike me, had chosen to obey.
I don’t remember exactly how I answered the question, but I remember very clearly the lesson God taught me that morning. When God shows you where to go, don’t choose another direction. It reminds me of the story of Jonah. God told him where to go, he went the other direction, and he ended up spending time in the belly of a whale. I’m thankful that God in His mercy sent me a preschooler instead to get me going in the right direction again.
It also reminds me of one of my favorite children’s books. If you’re looking for a book that will challenge you as much if not more as an adult as it did when you were a child, I cannot recommend highly enough the Spirit Flyer Series by John Bibee. You might recognize his name as one of the writers of the Adventures in Odyssey radio programs.
The first book begins with, “Once there was a magic bicycle that found a boy.” From that moment on, you know this ride will be unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Through rich symbolism, the author leads us on a journey to a deeper faith and trust in God. In the story, the story’s protagonist John Kramer learns that when he is riding the Spirit Flyer bicycle and it leads him in one direction, there is peace when he follows. When he refuses and goes his own way, there is trouble and heartache.
So the next time God tugs at my heart to go a certain direction, I pray I have the faith to simply go, knowing the ride will be unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.