God’s Comfort Zone

“MOMMY, I learned something new in school,” John, a five-grader proudly said.

“What was it honey?” his mom asked as she bent down to receive his embrace and kiss. “Hmmm,” she sniffed his hair, “you had better hit the shower soon young man you’re beginning to smell more Neanderthal.”

“Yes, mum,” John replied obediently.

“So what is it that you’ve learned today,” she asked.

“Do you have a comfort zone, mom?”

“Is that what you learned?” she verified.

“Well, yes,” he nodded. “It sounds like a cozy thing, right?"

“You can say that again, honey!” she agreed.

“Mom? Do you have a comfort-zone?” he asked again.

“Well, ah…hmmm, yeees…I have…and so does daddy, your sister and brothers, and…”

“So what’s your comfort-zone, mom?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Well, teacher Nicky said that it’s not good to have one,” he shrugged his shoulders.

“In what way, honey?”

“She said it’s like selfish, coz you’re hiding from others just to do your own stuff,” he looked at her for some affirmation.

“Well, she’s quite right there, John,” his mom agreed.

“So why do you have one?”

“I guess there’s also a good side to having one?”

“Really?” John was quite surprised.

“It’s when you share that zone of comfort with others, and you don’t restrict others from entering it,” she explained.
“So teacher Nicky was wrong?”

“I didn’t say that,” she clarified. “She may have been just trying to already warn you that it’s easier to have a zone only for yourself. ‘Sides, today, many people just get locked into it and find it hard to even get out. That’s when we help them to realize that they can’t keep themselves inside forever.”

“Locked inside?” John asked.

“Yes, dear. For example, there are people who spend most of their time over FaceBook, video games, watching T.V. or listening to music the whole day.”

“Like Shawn?” he said.

“I didn’t say that,” she pinched John’s nose. “In the first place, we shouldn’t judge others regarding their CZs. We can remind them about their other duties, but it’s really up to each one to see that escaping inside keeps them from being more generous by thinking of the others more.”
“Did Jesus have a comfort zone, mom?”

“Now that you ask, I really wouldn’t call it a comfort zone. But Jesus did find himself ‘at home’ within certain spaces.”
“Like what?”

“Well, he liked being with his disciples, the poor, the children, and we could say that He made sure to make them part of the zone of His love. He taught them to pray, to embrace sacrifice, to live virtue and to become fishers of men. I guess, Jesus’ comfort zone was doing what His Father wanted Him to do in the first place.”

“Wow!”

“How about you, honey, what’s your comfort zone?”

“I dunnuh,” he scratched his head. “But after that you said about Jesus, I think my prayer and heart can be His comfort zones anytime.”

“That’s really nice, son,” she smiled. “Keep it up, and always make your prayer and heart pure and joyful.”

“Mom?”

“Yes, dear?”

“So what’s your comfort zone?”

“Hit the shower, young Neanderthal!” (Fr. Francis Ongkingco)