Today my grandson Jacob will head back to his home after being here over a week. Honestly, upon getting up and thinking on that, it caused me sadness. For me, having him here has been a real joy. We have talked about everything from food, to God, fun and work this week. Children. Innocence. Laughter. (Yesterday morning he woke up early so we could hang out before I went off to work.)Because of him being here a lot of things went undone.

As a child myself, the ability to hang out with those that loved me were some of the shaping moments of my life.

Shaping moments. Defining moments. Encounters that change. Direction for the future.

I am fairly certain my grandson will not remember everything we have done over the week in the coming years. But is my hope and prayer that my life impacts his to keep his future intact. To keep his eyes on the prize. To brighten dark days.

Not every action we make ought be for the future, but ought we not understand the power we wield over lives? Each day I could read virtually any police blotter in the nation and see where a parent did not understand that. A grownup bypassed it or did not even have it on the radar screen.

The word that I think of is this. Impressionable. Easily influenced because of a lack of critical ability.

Children are clearly impressionable. (Although there is a force out there that is desirous to remove innocence and replace it with demonic wisdom and teaching.)Jacob is just fun to listen to. A joy to interact with. He is at that place where he wants to know things. I feel part of my “job description” is to add value to his life that he might have a future.

Yesterday I was in a meeting where they announced a system to sell and a product. Nearly a year ago I had said to friends that I saw that in the next 5 years the purchase of computers would go the way of cameras. No one thought that folks would respect a market sector like disposable cameras. No one could foretell the great success of the telephone industry. (Device as a service.) But in both cases the item or device was changing the future. I said we will soon see computers for a dollar and you will subscribe to service(s). Folks, it is here. Buy a computer for a subscription fee. With a future plan to roll out more and more of this type of thing. The comment was made by someone that the “younger generation” will not blink an eye because they have grown up with the cell phone plan concept.

Impressionable. What is done today will shape tomorrow. Our steps today will form the highways of tomorrow. Who will you help form, shape for the future? Who will you allow to shape you?

Impressionable minds can be seen all over the landscape in the church. Newly converted folks looking for information and knowledge in their newly found relationship. In my desire as a new believer I wanted to learn, to know, to study. At one point in my first few weeks, I embraced a “cult” teaching. Thank goodness for the men who helped me walk away from it. I was impressionable. I had vacuums looking for something to fill them, to shape them. I was having encounters daily. Unusual sightings. I felt like I had walked into some type of “God amusement park”. Heaven was real! And in the midst of encounters, I was needing direction. Discipleship. Help.

My being was desirous of being “impressed”. I was uncovering innocence and righteousness and who I was in Him. I was like Johnny Five in Short Circuit. “Information!” My inquiring mind wanted to know. I read constantly. My first bible lasted but a few months as I read it through and through and through.

Easily influenced because of a lack of critical ability. I think there is a new found innocence in God that is removing the negative and destructive thinking if we allow for it. No critical ability speaks to not enough knowledge or background to make a decision. Naivete may well be applicable here. I do know it says to be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove. Wisdom is there for the asking, James tells us.

I see in the season of love I have been speaking of there is a rebirth of innocence. But in the midst of that innocence there needs to be a move of discipling or guiding from those who have walked with God and stood uprightly. Clearly, there are minds being shaped daily. Who or what is shaping them is important to discern. The church will be more and more important in the coming days. A strong church, that has walked in love, grace and mercy. We will need all hands on deck.

One of the greatest benefits we can offer these new converts is to share as Jesus shared. Giving them the ability and encouragement to learn to think rather than telling them just what to think.

Here is to heaven and the lasting impression it has on its people. May we live it well! May we share it better!