By Pastor Leah Fintel Krotz, Trinity Lutheran Church, Bruning
There's something about a county fair that seems to capture the innocent joys of childhood. Whether it's seeing a toddler ride the merry-go-round for the first time, watching a little kid showing their bucket calf, or taking in the magical lights of the midway and the sounds of Bingo, it brings back lots of wonderful memories.
When I was about eight years old, my cousin and I wanted so badly to ride on the Scrambler— but we were afraid to go by ourselves. None of our parents were willing to step up to the challenge, but my Grandma Fintel was completely game. By the time we got off the spinning menace, my cousin looked green and I was dizzy, but Grandma loved it and was ready for more!
Since my husband is from the Belleville area and we raised our family there, we have lots of great memories of the NCK Free Fair as well. It was always the culmination of the summer and we still make it down there more than once during the week.
This year, in spite of the heat, the fair was packed with people, walking through the barns, standing in line for rides, or waiting to spend their hard-earned money on everything from fried Snickers bars to corn dogs to barbecue. It's always so much fun to talk to all of the friends and neighbors and family members we don't see as often as we'd like the rest of the year.
After wrapping up that week of fun, it was time for the Thayer County Fair. I saw several of my young church members as I helped with 4-H horticulture check in and judging, and enjoyed looking at all their exhibits and animals. I’m a big fan of 4-H, and all that kids learn from it, especially those kids whose parents are wise enough to let them make mistakes and “learn by doing,” as the 4-H motto goes. It warms the heart to see and hear their excitement.
I think it's really a good idea for all of us, no matter how old we are, to recapture that innocent enthusiasm and wonder once in a while. Maybe you do that by riding on the Scrambler with your grandkids, or forgetting about the food pyramid to chow down on cotton candy and elephant ears, or waving at every antique tractor that chugs by in the parade.
Maintaining that childlike attitude is a good idea in our faith lives as well. Sometimes we can get bogged down in all of the questions and doubts and fears that bombard us, when what we're really asked to do is to put our faith in Jesus in the same way that a little child trusts their mom or dad, utterly and completely. As Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15 NIV)
Faced with impossible questions about God, I sometimes simply say, “When we get to heaven, God will either reveal the answer, or we will realize we didn't need to know.” Either way, we can always trust in the fact that our Heavenly Father loves us, cares for us, and will never let us go.
