April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
PERSPECTIVE
You're it
You're it
Fresh out of college in 1981, I got a job teaching second grade at St. John's Elementary School in Olean, New York. That's how I met Christopher.
He sat in the front row, a little to the right of my desk. He arrived every day smelling like a bar of soap and looking as if he'd just hopped off an ironing board -- not a hair out of place nor a wrinkle to be seen. His handwriting was impeccable, as well.
Although he was one of the brightest kids in the class, anytime I introduced a new concept, Christopher "hid."
The first time he "hid," I thought he was goofing around, but, sensing his obedient nature, I decided to defer comment and simply observe. His hands opened palms up and quickly covered his eyes as if he were playing hide-and-seek with friends and he was "It."
As the lesson drew on and he began to understand, his fingers slowly separated, allowing his eyes to peek through. By the end of the lesson, his hands came down to rest on top of his desk.
Trusting the situation, he'd pick up his pencil and get to work. This coping method continued throughout the entire year.
Like Christopher, when life gets "unsettling," I feel like I'm "It" and in the middle of something I'm supposed to understand, but don't.
Initially, I spin the proverbial record: "Why is this so hard? I should know how to do this. Look! Everybody else does!"
That never helps, so I clean the house or start weeding the garden. I'm not sure why, but I do it every time: I put my head down and hide in these mundane tasks, praying for discernment and the ability to "pick up my pencil" and carry on.
It is interesting to observe the many ways we "hide:" praying, playing, eating, reading, sleeping, not sleeping, exercising, drinking, shopping and so on. We all have a method.
Over the past few years, I have enhanced my cleaning/weeding strategy with a song. The lyrics are a combination of four Scripture passages I put to a simple tune to remind myself of God's promises.
I'll never succeed in covering all my bases. No matter how prepared I am, there will always be wrinkles and clutter. My best bet is to keep both eyes open enough to peek through and trust in divine guidance.
I'll share the words to my helpful ditty for those who might want to give it a try the next time life becomes unsettling:
"For you are with me and for me.
You'll never leave nor forsake me.
You go before me always.
I have nothing to fear."
(Bernadette Bonanno attends St. Mary's Church in Albany.)[[In-content Ad]]
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