school days or school daze

My sixth grade teacher, Miss Bevelheimer, once gave me a C on my report card because I did B work but should have done A.  It was supposed to teach me a lesson, to encourage me, but all it did was make me not trust her.  I lost respect, that C a blemish on my record, I had never gotten one before, and reflected on me.  Honestly my grades were higher, no lower.  Really it reflected on her, and I never forgot it, some 51 years later.  When I first heard later after becoming a Christian that parents “are not supposed to incur wrath in their children,” I found it should also apply to teachers too.  How was embarrassing me in front of my parents and classmates supposed to inspire me to anything but dislike her.  Where was she early on when she saw a habit developing?  Or was this an early lesson in life and how unfair it really was?  Is?  Two score and 11 years later, all I learned was how the abuse of power and authority pushes people away, and how intimidation may breed fear, it never breeds respect.

With so may rules to follow and break. with each new rule the potential to sin more is increased, too bad she didn’t know a kind word turns away wrath.  But things were changing in public schools, just three years earlier we started the day with the Lord’s Prayer, someone was chosen to read from the Bible, we said the Pledge of Allegiance, and sang a patriotic song.  All things that encouraged in you in
God, your country, and respect of each other.  But now God was not allowed in schools, I guess he failed the test and was expelled, maybe he got a C because he did B work but should have done an A.  It’s only taken a generation or so to see Joseph Stalin’s words come true, give him the children and he will change the world.  Sadly not for the better, but for more control.  Read less freedom.  Of course all we have to do is look at Russia today to see what a fine job he did.  

Mr. Corea was my seventh grade science teacher, my weakest subject.  He reinforced my C grade by detention one afternoon, not sure what heinous crime I committed, but while suiting up for the first baseball game, I had to sit in his class for an hour instead of on the bench with the team.  Which he did on purpose, he felt the time matched the crime, he became a two in my book, only his 1967 Mustang with a 390 kept him from being a one, what a waste of a car.  I forgot what I did, all I remember is missing the game.  How many games do we miss because of the law?  Do we remember the infraction or the punishment more?  Did it deter us or just cause us to find better ways to sin?  Sadly in both cases, it was then as it still continues today, screw up once and you are branded for life.  The law doesn’t forgive, fortunately grace does.

With schools becoming less and less places of education, many have endorsed a zero tolerance law.  Christian schools included, with more Biblical laws quoted and individual creative news frowned upon.  A seven year old I know, an active kid, was threatened by three boys at school, so put one in a choke hold, and stopped the bully.  But when the bully ratted him out, not telling how he started it, the choker got busted, not the chokee.  We cannot have such behavior in our school, and I agree, to a point.  But he has been labeled as going to the principal’s office, a mark on his character.  Maybe a lesson found in scripture should have been taught, of course it involves grace instead of legalism, so is forgotten.  But here goes, no endorsement of sin, but of grace.  Mercy.  Forgiveness. No matter how bad your reputation is, Jesus loves you and changes lives.

Jesus met a woman at the well, and told her about her seven husbands, and how the one she was living with she wasn’t married to.  He did not condemn her, her sin did that.  When she turned to him and recognized who he was, her life changed.  She repented, and was granted entrance into the kingdom.  She was forgiven, but the words of Jesus here are important, he told her “go and sin no more.”  Not your salvation is lost if you do, for he knew of the temptations we face, but to remember how he changed her heart, and she didn’t have to any more.  How because he forgave her, she could forgive others, and not forget to forgive herself.  No guilt involved in forgiveness, grace wins every time.  If only that was exhibited instead of taught, of course none of would ever need it like Peter did 7 times 7 would we? 

Good thing God doesn’t give out grades to make it to heaven.  Imagine if you needed a 90 to get in, but only got an 89.  Sorry, you’re out.  Yet religion and salvation based on legalism does just that.  Too many live and die by man made rules or interpretation instead of the grace of God.  Today an education is placed high on the list if you want to succeed, but like those that study to find themselves approved, really looking for an outlet for their sin, they miss grace. They study to pass the test, then go on to the next assignment, forgetting what they studied for.  Today’s test is what is worth studying for.  But did you learn anything?  If only we were taught to apply the love of Christ to others, to experience him rather than studying about him only.  Now that would be learning something...

Finally a nephew of mine is graduating from college a year early, he took extra courses to do it, and he is being commended for it.  Good thing, but it made me wonder, what did he learn, what did he experience, and is he ready at age 20 to go out into the world?  He passed the course, but what did he experience?  What has he applied so far?  It’s so much easier learning it than living it. 

We don’t know what happened to the woman at the well, we do know that meeting Jesus changed her life.  Has he changed yours?  Go and sin no more, but remember when you do, Jesus forgives, the principal doesn’t.  The courts don’t and your friends may not.   We need Jesus more than ever, so pass him on.  Experience his love first hand, and bask in his grace.  Our sin is forgotten, it is who you remember that matters.  In the presence of the Lord is great joy, no sorrow at all.  It took Jesus to show me, but of course they did call him teacher after all, didn’t they?

love with compassion,

Mike

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