infant.

i am just now starting a new bible study & we will be traipsing our way through acts this year.  the book of acts chronicles the early christian church - the "infant church," if you will.  and suddenly, having an infant in my life & knowing intimately what that means, there is new understanding of those early years when believers were gathering together.  the analogy isn't perfect, of course, but a few likenesses are apparent.

.infants are constantly learning
.infants are constantly growing & changing
.everything seems new & exciting to an infant
.infants explore & experiment to discover the world around them
.sometimes infants fall, make mistakes, see negative consequences for their explorative efforts
.infants go through developmental stages, such that certain learned things are only appropriate at given times
.infants need help (parents & adults for babies, Holy Spirit & apostles for the early church)

we all have stories of growing up, from infants through childhood & early adulthood -- these are the years that formed us into who we are today.  and we know each other better by knowing one's history.  i am looking forward to knowing the Church better as i learn the story of its early years in the book of acts.  and it might just help to think of it as a kid, ever learning & growing & being graced from Above.