aniel Novinson talks needs help "in a race or on a test."
"Are you there God? It's me, Mar-
to God three or four
Jessica's Sunday school classmates garet," begins all of her conversations
times a week. Re shared different perspectives on God. with God. "I just came home from
cently, something
The God Daniel Novinson of Farm- church. I loved the choir — the songs
was troubling him, ington Hills talks to is invisible.
were so beautiful. Still, I didn't really
and he decided to
Rachel Weisserman, 8, of Beverly feel you God. rm more confused than
bring up the situation with God.
Hills has a clear picture in her mind. ever. Fm trying hard to understand but
"I know He can't hear me, but I pre- She envisions someone with brown I wish you'd help me a little. If only you
tend," said Daniel, 8. "I answer myself hair, a white beard and flowing robe. could give me a hint God. Which re-
in a way."
God sits on a golden throne.
ligion should I be? Sometimes I wish
With few exceptions, children and
"I'm part Catholic and I picture Jesus rd been born one way or the other."
teens like Daniel talk or pray to God the same way," Rachel said.
"Praying shows your love for God,"
on a regular basis.
Rachel Wasserman, 7, of Farming- Stephen Roth, 11, said. "You can get
Robert Resnick, a third-grader at ton Hills shares the "wise old man" what's on your mind off your chest.
Doherty Elementary School in West vision. "He is old, really tall, has a When you pray, you have to have a
Bloomfield, talks to God on a regular
good reason, like if you were taking a
basis. Before one recent conversation,
hard test and needed God with you. It
"Not everyone believes in doesn't necessarily mean you'll be
Robert was in a doctor's waiting room
where he saw children with visible
God, but He believes in
helped, but it can get your spirits up."
medical problems.
everyone."
Eight-year-old Nicole Budaj, a mem-
"I saw a lot of kids with things wrong
ber of Temple Beth El, does not regu-
— Eve Posen
with them," he said. "I prayed to God
larly talk to God. The third-grader does
about how thankful I was for being
say prayers over wine and bread, but
healthy and having parents who love beard, brown eyes and gray hair," said only occasionally talks to God about
me."
Rachel, a member of Temple Shir "other things," especially when she is
Scott Studenberg, 11, always thinks Shalom.
in a bad mood.
of a beautiful brilliant-colored coat, like
Rachel also believes God appoints
Sara and Audrey Bloomberg, ages 8
Joseph's, when he has visions of God. angels.
and 10, of Farmington Hills attend ser-
PHOTO BY DANIEL LIPPIIT i
In Scott's mind the coat
vices at B'nai
has a hood — but no
Moshe. Both said
visible face — and its
they talk to God "a
coloring is similar to
lot."
stained-glass windows
Audrey often
in a temple or syna-
prays for herself
gogue sanctuary.
and others. She has
In Michael Murav's
asked God to help
mind, God is an invis-
her pass a test,
ible giant spirit that
grant her wish for a
takes up the whole sky.
trip to Disneyworld
The Orchard Lake
and put an end to
Middle School sixth-
world hunger.
grader thanks God for
At times, she
giving him a good fam-
said, God has an-
ily, allowing him to live
swered her prayers.
in a nice house and at-
Her family went to
tend an excellent
Disneyworld and
school. When Michael talks to God, he
"God gives people tests to be angels," Sara and Audrey
when she was scared
thinks it in his head. Sometimes God she said. "If you don't become an angel, Bloomberg regularly to go to overnight
talk to God.
hears him; other times when things you become a ghost. God gives angels
camp, "God helped
don't work out, Michael is sure God jobs to do like check on people's me overcome my fear."
does not.
houses."
Samantha Sher, a second-grader at
In addition to talking to God,
In Judy Blume's bookAre You There Kenbrook Elementary School in Farm-
Jessica Abrams, a second-grader God? Its Me, Margaret, a teen shares ington Hills, talks to God almost every
who attends Sunday school at her adolescent experiences with God. day.
Temple Israel, also speaks to her
Margaret, 11, has one Jewish parent
Samantha thinks God is a man who
deceased grandfather. Her conversa- and one Christian parent and is faced lives in a house in the sky. He might
tions occur when she is scared or With the task of deciding her religion. CAN WE TALK? page 42

