Fifth-Grade Experience

I went up to the bar yesterday to grab a drink or two for my people and that profound, world-shaping show happened to air at that exact time. I am sure you already know that I am talking about "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader?" For those who have not experienced this dynamic scenario, the host is Jeff Foxworthy, yes the redneck joke guy. Every week they feature a ridiculously smart fifth-grader (or at least one who, unlike me, has been paying attention in class, not thinking about baseball during history.

The fifth-grader is matched up against a seemingly reasonable adult and assaulted with a barrage of trivial questions which, really, everybody should know. Of course, the adult constantly has trouble with such simple questions as "Who was the longest serving supreme court justice (from 1801-1835)". When the adult forgets that John Marshall was the correct answer, usually the fifth-grader jumps in with a healthy dose of knowledge.

And it struck me on the way home last night that this is a pretty good picture of the Christian life, recovery, and discipleship. Here you have a kid who has a lot of knowledge that is completely and utterly unhindered by experience. In case it gets lost in the shuffle, a fifth-grade kid has absolutely no idea how to live in the real world. If you have any objections, see the brilliant Tom Hanks Classic "Big".

So it is strange when a new guy comes into our community of recovering addicts and disciples of Jesus because they always seem to know the right answers. It is uncanny. It is also unhelpful.

Because if you need to know a state capital, you should ask your kid, but if you need to know how to live your life, it may be a good idea to ask your dad. Life is so much more than knowing a ton of disconnected facts or having a bunch of good ideas.

Maybe the better title to the show would be "Nobody is interested in the advice of somebody who has yet to live". That may be a bit harsh. Or is it?