A Couple of Things I Thought I Learned in Sunday School
My first Bible, well the first one I ever really read, was a pink Precious Moments version. I liked the pictures--those tear-drop eyed, big-headed kids that always seemed a little sad. Mine was the King James Version (because that is the easiest version for a girl of 6 to understand?). I remember this because of one "precious moment" in particular, when I was called upon to read some verses out loud in 2nd grade Sunday School. I stopped short when I saw a certain word. I knew it meant donkey, but it didn't say donkey, if you catch my drift. I began to turn red and shift uncomfortably in my child-sized chair. Was I allowed to cuss if it was written in the Bible? I knew the rules on Hell/hell (the place--okay; any other context--not okay; replace with heck if unsure) but this had not come up before. Could I lie about what the Bible said? After about a 20 second pause, I read it as it was written, amid snickers from the boys.
Anyway, also in 2nd grade, I was required to memorize the 23rd Psalm for school. I memorized my pink, Precious Moments, KJV version. The first verse (in the KJV, and several other versions) reads: "The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want." Since this was before I completely understood the semicolon, this verse always confused me. Why would we not want the Lord, our Shepherd? Furthermore, why were we always quoting this verse about not wanting God? It wasn't until much later in life that I put two and two together and realized that it meant "Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I will never be in want." (my paraphrase).
On a somewhat related note, I always thought that "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus," the invitation hymn of choice (on alternate Sundays: "Just As I Am"), was about sheep. I guess I only paid attention to the part about "No turning ba-a-a-ack." See: ba-a-a-ack? Kind of like "ba-a-a," like the noise a sheep makes? I suppose I was daydreaming during the other portions of the song? Probably thinking about sheep.
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2 comments:
Sitting in the office by myself laughing hysterically at "no turning baa-aa-ack". Oh man...I'm never again going to be able to sing that in a service without thinking about sheep.
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