I received a called today to substitute teach at a private
school. I don’t do it for the
money. However it does pay for a nice
dinner out with the woman who has put up with me for over forty years. (I understand she is being considered for
canonization!). I teach because I love
being with energetic and inquisitive young adults. I have taught everything from pre-calc to
creative writing to all sorts of government and history courses to
statistics. The latest venture was with
an “English as a Second Language” class for students who are involved in full time
athletic training programs for golf and tennis.
They are aiming to be professionals in their sports. One Thai, one Korean, one Mexican and five
Japanese students sat before an English and slightly Spanish fluent teacher –
me. The first question left for my use
was: “In English and in three sentences
write why this class is important for you?”
Following a time of writing I asked each student to read in English
their answers. Two mentioned going to an
American college as their reason for learning English. Two were quite honest in saying it will help
in pursuing a career that could be financially lucrative (I think they used the
good old English word “money.”). The
remaining threes answers lightened my heart.
Without consulting each other on their answers they said “It will help us
make friends.” Following a teacher
assigned test, I did some of my own lesson planning. My new lesson plan was -In English, let’s
tell each other about why you like the sport you play and what friendship
means. There were smiles and good
laughter as each person in the room answered the question. (I tried my Spanish and asked other
students how I would say certain things in their language) In spite of our ethnic and cultural
differences we learned that we shared many of the same hopes and dreams.
15 I do not call you servants[a]
any longer, because the servant[b]
does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because
I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You
did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit,
fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in
my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one
another. (John 15:15-17)
Somehow in that classroom ethnicity and
faith differences disappeared and we became friends. Who would have ever pre-calculated that? In God’s classroom, the world, let us become
astute and energetic in our efforts to show others what the Teacher from
Nazareth has taught us about being friends.
In Christ and now preparing for (Just
received the call!) teaching a history class on the Civil War! (Not a good historical example of friendship!),
Bob
