‘Sometimes feeling overwhelmed is part of what it means to be a Christian. You can’t bear somebody else’s burden unless you are taking something of their load and it’s weighing you down a little bit.’
STEPHEN McGEE/GENESIS
have five small kids at home you’re going to be worn out at times. That’s how we should feel. The big question is: Does your life have any rhythm, or are you just overwhelmed? God made us for work, exhaustion, rest. It’s the lack of rhythm that is unhealthy. Good example, because you do have five children— how old are they? Nine, , , , and —stair steps. This year we can say we have very odd children. Do you hope they’ll become even-tempered? In the next few months.
Email: molasky@worldmag.com
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Let me ask about your next big project: While remaining a pastor, you want to get a doctorate by writing a dissertation about Reese Witherspoon’s ancestor? Yes, on John Witherspoon, the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. Reese Witherspoon claims to be a direct descendant. It’s impressive that she knows to claim that. It is. Good for her, that she’s happy to claim a Presbyterian pastor. What do you have to say about Pastor Witherspoon? He hasn’t received enough
credit as a consistent Reformed thinker and the product of late Reformed orthodoxy more than the Scottish Enlightenment. I see you’re already deep into your research: You write that children can also be crazy busy at times as parents take them from one activity to another activity, but you quote Witherspoon saying, “The best exercise in the world for children is to let them romp and jump about as soon as they are able according to their fancy.” Parents have this idea
that their kids have to be in another play group, on a travel soccer team when he’s , and then he’s got to go to gymnastics. I’m giving you a list of things we actually do, but as our kids get older we have already said we’re going to guard our weekends and not become taxi drivers as much as we can help it. In middle class America we can’t fathom an opportunity that we wouldn’t be able to take advantage of. Everyone plays lacrosse ... So I ought to try lacrosse. No, you know what? Play lacrosse in heaven. A
OCTOBER 5, 2013 • WORLD
9/13/13 10:51 AM