Article - Virtual Nursery by Jamie Doyle

By Jamie Doyle

I was recently at a children's workers' training seminar when it happened. It's probably happened to you at one point or another. There you are in a medium sized group and you have this urge to say whatever funny idea comes to your mind out loud. Just knowing that you will get a laugh from the rest of the group, you wait with anticipation for chuckles, snickers or even just a groan. Then it happens… Nothing. Then someone behind you pipes-up and says, "Hey, that's a great idea!" To your amazement and deadening sound in your mind you begin to hear the entire room light up with compliments and questioning as to where did you ever come up with such an idea?

The question came up in the workshop about the problems that teachers and children's pastors are having with giga-pets and virtual babies. You are no doubt familiar with these little devices usually located on 90% of the children of America. The other 10% didn't take care of their giga-pets very well and so they ended up dying. These are the little egg-sized computer-like key chains that need to be consistently cared for throughout the day. You need to feed it, walk it, put it to sleep and if you don't , the little guy will beep like crazy until you do. If you miss this beeping too many times the little guy will end up dying. We don't want that now do we? So we are having a problem in churches because children are told to leave them at home, where, unbeknownst to the educator or pastor, it could die. This was the issue at hand at this particular workshop.

And that's where the incident described earlier happened. I shot up my hand and said in a very sarcastic voice, "Well, why don't we begin to develop 'giga-pet nurseries' where someone takes care of them from the beginning to the end of service?" I even went as far as to suggest claim numbers like we use in so many church nurseries now to redeem our children from them.

I expected a hysterical laugh and a groaning from deep within the group. Every head turned with an inquisitive eye. Soon much discussion was going on among the others in the group and with the workshop leader. I'm sure as I write this, all across mid Michigan there are virtual nurseries being set up and maintained… even possibly with success.

I guess it's a good idea. I don't know… I haven't tried it yet. I think I will soon. Go ahead and give it a chance. It just might work for you. If you do decide to start a virtual nursery, let me know how it comes along.

Until next time just remember, your jesting comments may turn out to be a great idea for someone else.

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