For this year’s Christ the King Sunday I was not scheduled to preach or give a spiritual input. Instead I planned on a nice walk with my son to a castle that we often visit in the countryside. As we approached Schloss Dottenwil he began to speak of Timi, an old cat that his grandparents had buried a few days ago.

Recently Ian has learned about death and had short talks with his mother about it, so I used our walk as an opportunity to help better his understanding. What came about was a delightful dialogue in English and Swiss German that felt like a number of children’s messages that I have given over the years.

Though not a sermon our conversation was a preaching moment, where the reality of death was engaged and the hope of the resurrection was proclaimed. I call it, “Timi Will Wake Up”.

Timi Will Wake Up

IAN: Baba, de Timi esch gstorbe (Timi has died).

ME: Yes, he is gone. Do you miss him?

IAN: [silence with a blank stare]

ME: Who else has died? Can you remember?

IAN: Urgrosspapa, Urgrossmama, Urgrossvati….ond Mr. Caleb, er esch ou gstorbe. (Great-grandpa, Great-grandma, Great-grandpa….and Mr. Caleb, he is also dead).

ME: Yes, they are all dead like Timi. Do you know what that means?

IAN: Hmmm?

ME: It means that they are in a sleep called death. It is like when you take a nap or go to bed at night, but you do not wake up at home.

IAN: Where?

ME: Mama and I think that you wake up where Jesus is. So Timi, Urgrosspapa, Urgrossmama, Urgrossvati, and Mr. Caleb woke up where Jesus is.

IAN: Ok Baba.

We look at a harvested corn field and talk about combines for a few minutes.

ME: Do you know what today is son?

Ian: Nei (No).

ME: It is Christ the King Sunday, Baba’s favorite holiday! Can you say Christ the King?

IAN: Christ the King!

ME: Perfect! And today we celebrate that Jesus is our King! Do you remember what a king is?

IAN: Kindergarten? [one of his books is called, “The King of Kindergarten“]

ME: A king is someone that everybody has to obey. Even Mamas and Babas have to obey.

IAN: WHOW!

ME: So Jesus is our king and everybody has to obey Him. Even Mama and Baba have to obey Him.

IAN: WHOW!

ME: Yep, we do. He is the king of everything, so everything has to obey him.

Ian points to silos, tractors, trees, horses, goats, and houses asking if they have to obey Jesus.

ME: Yes! Everything you see has to obey Jesus.

IAN: Ond s’Güllefass (And the manure taker)?

ME: [laughing] Indeed, that has to obey Jesus too. And you know what else?

IAN: What?

ME: Death has to obey Jesus. And one day Jesus will tell death to let everyone who is gstorbe wake up.

IAN: At home?

ME: Mhmmm. So Timi, Urgrosspapa, Urgrossmama, Urgrossvati, and Mr. Caleb will wake up at home again. Anyone who is gstorbe will wake up.

IAN: [silence with a pondering gaze]

ME: Remember that Jesus is our King, and everything has to obey Him. Ok?

IAN: Ok Baba.

ME: And death has to obey Him.

IAN: Ok Baba.

ME: Who is King?

IAN: Jesus. And Timi will wake up!

ME: Amen!

The images featured in this post are by Barbara Basler.