“It’s a window in the world; a little glimpse of all the goodness getting through. And all along the way the days are made of little moments of Truth.” – Andrew Peterson
There are no perfect metaphors or analogies, I know. Nonetheless, our God seems to use experiences and pictures around us to perfectly depict to His finite symbol-using creatures Truths which they could not otherwise grasp. He whose face no man has been able to gaze upon allows us to admire his Being and character through windows of analogy. I am so thankful that He knows our frame and remembers that be are dust, knowing that our infinitesimal understanding of the Kingdom of God requires pictures and parables. As a child’s comprehension of text often requires pictures, so we need illustration to understand the Story of Creation and its Author.
I think it no coincidence that the Word so often describes the relationship between God and man in terms of a Father and His children. The more I work with children, the more perfect I find the comparison. Though we may dismiss many interactions between kids as immature and childish—perhaps sometimes even thanking God that we are not like THOSE selfish little things—I think they effectively reveal the condition of human nature. For example, though every one of my two-year-olds has to be reprimanded multiple times throughout the day for misbehaving, they each still find it their prerogative to rebuke their peers at the slightest misbehavior. Lunch time usually goes something like this:
Me: “Nifemi, you need to put that toy down and eat your rice.” [Nifemi eats a bite]. “Good.”
Me, upon seeing Saatvik not eating: “Saatvik, you need to eat your apples.”
Meanwhile, Nifemi tries to quickly swallow that one bite so that she can shout, “SAATVIK!! EAT YOUR APPLES!!!”
Similarly, even if a child has just been released from time-out where they were kicking and screaming, they feel it their responsibility to ensure that the next child undergoes the discipline correctly. “SIT DOWN AND STOP CRYING!” They’ll say in their pretend grown-up voice. How quickly they seem to forget their own wrongdoings and inability to meet standards of the classroom, instead choosing to get their panties in a wad about their friend’s mistakes. It all seems quite silly and trite until I step back and realize that most kids, including myself, never grow out of this tendency to point out the speck in our neighbors eye while there’s a plank in our own.
Besides showing me the depravity of human nature, my students have also been an example to me of how to surrender. So often during playtime, any one child will see an intriguing item in the hands of another student and take it upon themselves to remove it for their own enjoyment. The first child will then begin crying like it’s the end of the world, meanwhile tugging and pushing in an attempt to secure the toy. When all of this commotion draws the attention of their nearby teacher, I’ll simply call their names and ask them to come to me. Though the fussing usually continues, the kids will usually acquiesce and approach me with the toy. When I hold out my hand for the toy, the children are quick to hand it over, and suddenly, BAM!—the struggle ends and the two go along their merry way. Amazing how quickly those interpersonal struggles can be alleviated when the little ones look into the face of the Teacher and simply hand over whatever is causing the contention. If only we would follow the example of these little children and, when that which is rightfully ours is contested, simply hand it over to the Master. I am so thankful that our God, unlike my teacher-self, never tires of calling out our names and taking away our burdens (though they may seem privileges or rights at the time).
I am absolutely pumped this week to begin music lessons of some sort with a Beloved of God, Ibuku Baabalobi (meaning “Blessing” in Yoroba). He’s the teenage son of one of our French teachers. Madaam Baab’s and Ibuku traveled up to Gboko for the Christian retreat and the end of the term and I began a conversation with her about disability. Ibuku has Down’s Syndrome which has been really tough for the family to deal with here in Nigeria as there are ZERO therapies, resources or facilities around to support them. I’m really excited to get to know the family more and hopefully provide some encouragement. I really wish I had some training with which I could offer them real services. But for now, I’ll offer my 5 loaves and 2 fish and see what the Lord will do.
The winter heat continues, but the rains are on the way. Speech class with the ninth grades is up and running and so far is a success. I’m continually thrilled to see God beginning to stir hearts through His Word in my Bible class. I am now teaching 3 separate guitar clubs and may be starting a basketball club as well, which is keeping my afternoons quite busy. Bible study went really well last week as we began studying and discussing 1 Corinthians. Thanks to those who prayed. The term has been full so far, but there are still things that I’m wanting to see come into fruition. God continues to work in me, teaching me new lessons everyday and leading me on an exciting path whose destination I can’t begin to guess. Despite the unknown, I am confident in His perfect ability to guide me every step of the way.
