Sometimes as adults we fail to break down things to meet
people where they are. In some areas I
am more knowledge then others and I am sure I have been guilty of trying to
teach them yet failing to meet them where they are at in their level of
understanding. In the same way, I know
others have talked over my head on things that I do not understand and in all
honesty not always as interested in because it does not seem relevant to me (aka
cars).
But a good teacher is always able to speak and teach at the
level of their audience. This is why
education majors learn many different ways that people learn as well as ways to
engage their audience so they are able to see if their audience understands the
content.
Yesterday at mass in Corsicana, I was able to see a
wonderful example during the morning mass attended by the elementary school
children. The children from the very
beginning were active participants on their level. As they entered the church they walked to the
altar and left can food items for those that are less fortunate. After leaving the items at the foot of the
altar they each bowed in respect to the ultimate gift of love made by Christ
for us. They then took their seats and
mass began. Like many school masses, the
students made the choir, the readers, and altar servers but following the
gospel reading by Father Jason, he called the eighth grade class up to perform
a skit based on the gospel reading that the class wrote.
Through this effort, the eighth graders dug into the reading
to understand the words of God more fully then if they had just read it in
advance. You see, not only did they need
to know the story but they had to be able to interpret the story of Jesus
healing ten and only one returning to give thanks and praise to be able to
retell the story in a modern way to the entire school. The students did a great job of retelling
this story and telling it in terms that all children could understand. They did it in the format of a news-reporter
interviewing Jesus and the ten. Each of
the nine gave an excuse why they did not return to give thanks and praise and
these excuses ranged from updating their facebook status or watching a movie. You see these kids understood the story but
they also understood for them what got in the way of them giving thanks to God.
After the skit, Father then talked to the children and asked
them what they are thankful for and each gave an account of what they had that
they gave thanks for. Everything we have
comes from God and when we realize like Job that nothing is ours but we are
given and entrusted these things and people to care for we become much more
generous and not so materialistic in our life.
Perspective is amazing and as the Christmas items are out in the stores
already and the commercials begin, it is easy to be caught in the mentality of
I want, I need, I deserve, but the reality is – nothing that we have is ours,
we are only stewards entrusted with it by God.
So do well with what you are given, no matter how large or how small and
at the same time give thanks for what you have.
For when we really think about it we have so much.
On the Camino this was something I was constantly aware
of. With only having what I carried, I
became aware of how much I took for granted… washers, dryers, q-tips, dr.
pepper, lotion, clothes, car, heating, air conditioning, private bedroom, clean
water, hot water, etc. Before the Camino,
I gave thanks for my family, friends, church, job, etc – you know the big
things but I never really gave much thought to all the things I used so
carelessly in my everyday life. You see
I had the mentality of this is normal or even entitlement while I am not entitled
to any of the blessings I have been given and yet for all these years I failed
to give thanks to the one whom gave them to me.
So, thanksgiving is coming up and as we gather to give thanks – realize thanks
is a daily thing not a once a year activity to share.
