Sometimes, it’s funny how life turns out. When I was a substitute teacher, I was often called for to take the head of the English department’s advanced classes. Since I liked to interact with the students in a positive way, rather than just being their babysitter, I would often bring along some fun lesson related to the learning of English, and would use it, if no other plan had been left. As a result, and because I was present so often in one particular school, the kids got to know me, and seemed to look forward to my showing up.
On one particular day, I had arisen early in the morning before any of my family had stirred, and had gone into the kitchen to make cream of wheat cereal. The sun had come up and there was light enough in the kitchen to see to light the gas stove. After I had prepared the cereal and had been eating it, I decided to read something, so I flipped on the kitchen light. To my dismay, I had been eating some wildlife in the breakfast dish – worms! Much to the delight of my students, I announced that I’d eaten a bowl of worms for breakfast, and then explained. They were charmed. I became known as “the sub who eats worms.”
One student even wrote a poem to me, based on the worm experience. I have saved it and come across it every now and then in my file. This information is an introduction that is leading up to the rest of the story!
The same student had a habit of performing his “routine.” He did a terrific Nixon impersonation, and another one of an (unnamed) evangelical minister. I would never stop him when he asked to do this stand-up comedy act. He would say in solemn sincerity, ” Friends….pray for me. Pray for my ministry. Pray for yourselves, and then, Friends, wriiiiiite me a check!”
A few years went by and I was working in the NH State House. The student had, of course, graduated from high school about five years earlier. As I was crossing the lawn, full of statues of important men, to go pick up some lunch downtown, I ran into this former student. Although I had not seen him for awhile, I certainly remembered his name. I said, “What are you doing now?” He replied, “Oh, I am a minister. I have a congregation (in a nearby town).”
Ah,….sometimes we are our own best teachers.
Food for thought.
Pat
