Today, we had finished their Spelling and DOL tests, and were working on our 'Plot Chart' for the Lois Lowry story, "Number the Stars" about a girl who lives in Denmark during WWII and her plight to save her best friend's family, who were Jewish, from being captured and taken by the German soldiers. It's a wonderful book; we read it last year during my 6th grade student teaching assignment, which is why I decided to do it again!
After we filled in the Main Characters section and the Setting section, we filled in several of the key events that have happened so far. Long story short, in the second chapter, the girl, Anne Marie, remembers how her father had told her once that he would gladly die to protect their king, the king of Denmark. Two of my students were WAY off in their one-sentence summary of this chapter, so we started talking about why Anne Marie learning this news was so important. You see, as we read in the third chapter, Anne Marie draws the connection to protecting the king of their country and being willing to protect the people being oppressed within their country.
We then started talking about being willing to lay down one's life in order to save or help someone else. It just made me think... what an amazing gift we had in Christ being willing to lay down his life for us, to knowingly go into a situation for us and say, "No, take me instead." Forget even for the moment that He was the Perfect Son of our Holy Creator. Even the fact that he was, as a man, willing to be sacrificed for someone else to LIVE is mind-boggling and forever humbling.
Many of us would say that we would die for those we love. Many of us would also say that we'd "step up" and interject if we witnessed a crime being committed against someone else. It makes me think of a sermon Francis gave at church, a few years back now, about stepping out in faith. He told us about how one of the pastors at Cornerstone had witnessed an old man being beaten violently in his car on the side of the road by another man. The pastor didn't know either of the men, but he acted and became involved because it was the right thing to do: to protect someone who was helpless and needed saving. (Not a key element of the story, but our pastor took the bad guy out in one punch.) Francis asked everyone, "Would you be willing to punch someone out if you saw someone else who needing saving?" Almost everyone replied in the affirmative. Of course we would. What a thrill to save someone! But the next question that followed was, "What if you see someone sitting alone at a restaurant? Would you be willing to step out and go share the message of Jesus Christ with them?"
That one had hit hard, and still makes me stop in my tracks, even today. The point was that most of us would act without a moment's hesitation in the first circumstance... but when it comes to interactions of eternal significance, we stumble on our own insecurities and wonder what others will think of us, which hinders our willingness to step up and out and simply share with others the love that we've been so freely given.
In "Number the Stars," Anne Marie wonders, "Would she die to protect them? Truly? ... there in the darkness, she wasn't sure. ... She admitted to herself that she was glad to be an ordinary person who would never be called upon for courage."
Oh, but I am an ordinary person who has been called upon by my Maker to be courageous! To step out in faith, even when I don't want to talk, even when I want my alone time, even when [insert excuse here]... because our time on earth is precious and it's gone like a vapor in the wind.
Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous!
Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged.
For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go!
~ Joshua 1:9
love you Kris! thanks for your sweet words and reminder.
ReplyDeleteWow you are a beauitful writer. Anyway, that story socked me in the stomach. My gosh, how many opportunities do we waste in one day. Here in Vietnam, not being able to go out and proclaim gives me a safety net and an excuse. I just hope I take advantage of how people are observing my actions.
ReplyDeleteI am excited for what you are doing over there! It sounds like your students are receiving a great eduaction!