Are you more theological than a sixth grader? Advent and waiting for not waiting

Start with ketchup and a group of sixth graders.  Talk about whether or not ketchup these days doesn't taste as good as it did when you had to wait for it and you'll discover some ideas about how technology has changed the taste of ketchup.

You'll hear about how the tomatoes might be crushed now versus back then. Theories about regulations about trans-fat and "how now stuff has to be healthy", which means not-as-good-tasting could come into play.  And then talk over the squeeze bottle and the upside down bottle.

With some patience, you can get to how stuff you have to wait for tastes better.

If the conversation turns to a rich young ruler and what you have to do to inherit eternal life, the thinking among 6th graders runs more along conservative lines.  You have to die before eternal life can begin.  Literally.  The thought that eternal life can take place here in this age is pretty much already over for 6th graders who are even marginally religiously active.

Where do they learn this stuff?

In the words of the PSA about marijuana use among children:

Maybe they learned it from watching us.

The Season of Advent is among other things characterized by the strange concept of waiting and anticipation of the greatest gift of all.

And the greatest gift of all is among other things characterized by the strange concept of not having to wait for eternal life and living eternally.

I'm not sure which one is more revolutionary, but it seems maybe we can get to the latter through the former.

We might have to start with 5th graders, though.  We may have already lost the 6th graders.