Today I gave a midterm in my Human Development class. While I do not necessarily enjoy giving exams I do enjoy the hour and a half of sitting and looking at each of my students. That is difficult to do when I am lecturing so I treasure the exam time. Forty students, forty life stories, forty paths for a short time all gather in the same room. One of them came bursting into the room to explain why he was absent on Tuesday. His wife had a baby on Tuesday. Another asked if she could have a little extra time because she only learned English in 2008. It was an open book test and one student who ordered a book never got it. He was struggling. I was so pleased when the first person who finished the exam gave him her book before she left.
Another student who has difficulty staying in his seat came to me to point out another student who was silently crying. I slipped in beside her to offer assistance but she waved me off and continued with the exam. I hope she does well. Several are nursing students. I wondered about the lives they will save. Will my class help? Some are married and really help me when we talk about babies. One is from Africa. What brought him to America and what was he running from? One is an eager psyc student anxious to help people in crisis. Another is a theology major and cannot wait to save the world. I like being with them. They feed me.
When God looks down upon us in His quiet moments, (Does God ever have a quiet moment?) does He wonder about us? He knows our stories. I wonder if He is ever puzzled by the foolish decisions we make. I know He likes being with us. We feed Him.
Written by Roger Bothwell on March 6, 2009.
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org