When I Grow Up

So, what’s on my mind?

What did you want to be when you “grow up”? Me? My first vocational aspiration was to be a fighter jet pilot. I remember my grandfather getting me a model plane kit of an F-14 Tomcat when I was five years old. And, of course, every kid in the 80s wanted to be Pete Mitchell (better known as Maverick) from Top Gun. My wife’s childhood dream job was to be a ballerina nurse, and one of my sisters wanted to be a professional clubhouse builder.

Childhood dreams are fascinating. They often reflect the wonder, creativity, and imagination that define our early years. As children, we don’t pay attention to the limitations, only the possibilities. We believe we can soar through the skies, heal the sick while dancing gracefully, or design incredible spaces for adventure. While most of us don’t end up pursuing these exact careers, those dreams reveal something deeper about who we are and how we view the world.

As we grow older, life has a way of sometimes narrowing our perspectives. Responsibilities increase, realities set in, and our imaginations can give way to practicality and routine. But while our childhood aspirations may change, there is something from those early years that Jesus encourages us to hold onto.

In Matthew 18:3, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” At first glance, this might seem surprising. After all, much of life is about growing up and maturing. But Jesus isn’t calling us to be childish; rather, He is inviting us to embrace the qualities that children naturally possess, like trust, humility, wonder, and an openness to possibility.

Children trust deeply. They believe what they are told and rely on those who care for them. In the same way, Jesus calls us to put our trust in God, believing that God is faithful and present in our lives. Children also approach the world with a sense of wonder. They are curious, eager to learn, and quick to see beauty in the ordinary. Imagine how our faith might be renewed if we approached God with that same sense of awe and expectation.

Thinking back on our childhood dreams can be a fun exercise and they can reconnect us with the qualities that Jesus celebrates. Perhaps the goal isn’t to become the pilot, ballerina nurse, or builder we once imagined, but to reclaim the trust, creativity, and wonder that inspired those dreams in the first place.

So, here’s a question for you to ponder this week: What did you want to be when you grew up? More importantly, how might God be inviting you to rediscover the childlike faith that imagined those dreams? May we all hold onto the trust, wonder, and humility of children as we continue to grow in faith together.

May God hold you,
Rev Chris Hester