My wife led an overnight sleepover at church this weekend for our elementary ministry.  She did an incredible job pastoring and leading the kids — and all while being very sick all week.  As everyone who knows both of us always likes to remind me, I’m a very lucky man!

After the day’s activities concluded, the kids stayed up to watch Evan Almighty.  While brushing my teeth, I overheard two of the boys talking about the portrayal of God by Morgan Freeman in the film.  One said to the other, “I never pictured that God would be a person.”  The other replied that he thought it was just because it was a movie.  Thoughtfully, the first boy replied, “But what does it mean then that we are made like God?”

At that moment, my pastoral instincts kicked in and I joined the conversation: “What do you think it means to be made in God’s image?  Do you think God has arms and legs and a face?  Or could it mean something else?”

* blank stares *

“Okay, think of it this way: What do you know about God?  He loves you, right?  He always takes care of you, He always does what’s right.  I think being made in God’s image means that He wants us to become those kinds of people — more like Him”

I’m pretty sure the boys won’t remember this conversation — it was getting pretty late.  But, in the midst of all the craziness church work can be at times, I’m grateful for God-moments like these.