Eyes on the Prize

Tonight, at Bedtime Story (or Stories, in our case), I was reading the account of Saints Paul and Silas, from the Book of Acts (retold in a colorful, well-illustrated children's bible-story book). This account covered their very dramatic jail-break - or almost jail-break, because they actually decided to stay in jail even though God shook things up such that they could have walked out (and then they were released the next day).

They seemed to like the story, and it reminded me of the song "Eyes on the Prize," which begins "Paul and Silas bound in jail, Got no money for the bail, Keep your eyes on the prize..." So I introduced the song to them, and mentioned its role in the Civil Rights movement, and how in both cases, people were being treated unfairly and the story we just read became an encouragement for people many years later. I also mentioned Rosa Parks and the discrimination that she stood up to (or rather sat down to), and Ian said, "Oh, I know that story!" In fact, he knew about more than just that one incident: he made mention of "Doctor King Luther."

I suppose concepts come before details. If you can see the forest, it's probably not as important whether you have mastered the names of all the trees.

(February 27, 2011)