We had no idea. Not a clue. About what? And who are ‘we’? We’re grammar school students, attending South Mountain Elementary in Millburn, New Jersey. Almost all of us began with Kindergarten and went through 6th grade. For me, it started with Miss Ford and culminated with Mrs. Carnegie. I loved our school and still communicate with ‘kids’ from that happy time.

Yet we had no idea. In those days, school began with reading a psalm and then reciting the Lord’s Prayer. In certain grades, I was the only Christian in my class, which made saying the Lord’s Prayer somewhat strange as the rest of my classmates were Jewish. And this was Jesus’ prayer to His disciples. But we had no idea.

We did read from the Old Testament, which should have pleased all involved. However, the only Psalm I remember being read was the shortest one, Psalm 117. This psalm and the Lord’s Prayer were rushed through as if blabbed in gibberish. To get it done and over with. A requirement met and nothing more. Perfunctory and rote. Going through the motions. Could we have cared less? Hard to say. Can’t speak for others, but it was true for me. I had no idea.

I was a Christian in name only. In that, I wasn’t Jewish. Many classmates celebrated both Hannukah and Christmas. I had only Santa. To say that our required daily school exercise was a totally forgettable experience would be an understatement.

In High School, I heard about Jesus and His love for me. That He offered me a personal relationship. The preacher on the radio said so, and I reached out with both hands to embrace Jesus, whatever that meant. I only had a promise. Little knowledge. Almost nothing.

But an idea was dawning within me. A relationship with Jesus began and started to grow. A maturing process that is still active and needed. Now I ponder Psalm 117 with different eyes and ears. It contains only two verses yet richly landscapes God’s love and faithfulness that transcends many boundaries.

A God for all peoples. Not just a certain nation or race. For all who believe and follow Jesus. Not as before in name only. A label without substance, having no idea. No commitment. A fairweather follower at best.

No, but now I relish following behind our Lord as wobbly as my walk can be. Thinking more about Him than myself at least at times. Exalting the One worthy of my applause. To whom I want to wax eloquent, singing His praises. Capturing His ideas and making them my own for a change.

Then I had no idea. Maybe only a hunch or a suspicion. An itch I couldn’t scratch. But then came Jesus, knocking at the door of my heart. Offering Himself with a new day dawning, so to speak. I had no idea, but now I know far better that the best is yet to come!

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all the love and faithfulness that you show me. Amen.