"Maybe God Sent You"
Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>
"I'm sorry, I'm not in right now," she said, then turned and smiled.
She sounded like an answering machine. I looked confused. I had no
idea why she said that to me.
But then, as the conversation went on, I could tell she really wasn't
listening.
I stopped talking for a moment and she didn't even notice. I believe
I could have left the room and returned a few minutes later and still
found her sitting there looking off into the distance.
I didn't know why until much later. Then it all made sense to me.
I've been there myself. I'll bet anything you have, too.
You're physically there at the office. You're standing right there in
line. You may be at a party or seated across the table from a friend,
but your mind is somewhere else, thinking about your troubles, dreaming
above a loved one, wishing and hoping betters days are ahead.
"I'm sorry I'm not in right now. Please leave a message and I'll get
back to you."
There are people in need all around me. They are going through the
motions, but very disconnected from reality.
*Her husband lost his job today.
*Someone just went through some tests to find out if they had cancer.
*Their daughter just left for a college on the other side of the
country.
*He's going through a divorce.
*She was told they might lay her off from work.
*His spouse passed away in June and this is the first anniversary
without her.
*She just finished chemotherapy and now is off on her own with hope
that it worked.
"Earth to Joe! Come in Joe. Are you there?" he says. "Come on,
get over it. Life goes on. Everything will be all right!"
Those are empty, careless words. Where's the kindness and compassion
we are called upon to exhibit to someone struggling?
It could be your best friend, your own sister or the young girl at the
checkout counter.
Why are we often so self consumed that we don't take the time to say,
"Is there anything I can do? Would you like to talk about it?"
A few weeks ago I wrote about a friend who was told her son was being
shipped out to Iraq. Last Tuesday he left. As we were about to
begin a meeting, the chaplain asked everyone to pray for her son and
all the others there.
I watched her as he read a passage from the Bible. Her eyes were so
intently connected to him as if watching each word spoken rise toward
heaven. She nervously shook her head in agreement.
As the meeting went on I looked at her face. Her eyes were glassed
over, her spirit dimmed as she methodically went about her business of
signing papers and reviewing charts.
"What can I do for her?" I thought to myself.
Maybe it would be better not to say a word. Maybe I should just go
about my business and let her deal with it herself.
But what good are we to each other in times like this if we turn away
from someone in need? Are we in such a hurry that we curse the man
moving slowly because he is so burdened with life?
Dear God,
People all around me seem lost and far away
They are looking for an answer to their challenges today.
Some of them are lonely and others are in pain
I know we shouldn't worry, there's nothing at all to gain.
But God, I feel so helpless I want to do what's right
I think about them daily and pray for them at night.
Can you send a little help? There must be something you can do.
Then the answer came from God,
"I did, my child, I sent you."
My friend, the next time you find someone who could use some help, maybe
God sent you.
prospect said: "Let me see if I've got this right.
You want me to go into that room with all those kids, and fill their
every waking moment with a love for learning. And I'm supposed to
instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive
behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and even censor their t-shirt
messages and dress habits.
You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases,
check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their
self-esteem.
You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship,
fair play, how to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook, and
how to apply for a job. I am to check their heads for lice, maintain
a safe environment, recognize signs of anti-social behavior, offer
advice, write letters of recommendation for student employment and
scholarships, encourage respect for the cultural diversity of others,
and oh, make sure that I give the girls in my class fifty percent of
my attention.
My contract requires me to work on my own time after school, evenings
and weekends grading papers. Also, I must spend my summer vacation at
my own expense working toward advance certification and a Masters
degree And on my own time you want me to attend committee and faculty
meetings, PTA meetings, and participate in staff development training.
I am to be a paragon of virtue, larger than life, such that my very
presence will awe my students into being obedient and respectful of
authority.
And I am to pledge allegiance to family values and this current
administration. You want me to incorporate technology into the
learning experience, monitor web sites, and relate personally with
each student. That includes deciding who might be potentially
dangerous and/or liable to commit a crime in school.
I am to make sure all students pass the mandatory state exams, even
those who don't come to school regularly or complete any of their
assignments. Plus, I am to make sure that all of the students with
handicaps get an equal education regardless of the extent of their
mental or physical handicap.
And I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone,
newsletter and report card. All of this I am to do with just a piece
of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, a big smile AND
on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps! You
want me to do all of this and yet you expect me...
...NOT TO PRAY!?"
_U__n_^_''__[. o0o__| |_i_|..|_i_|..||_i_|..|_i_|.| ||
c(_ ..(_ ..(_ ..( /,,,,,,] | Holy Ghost Express | `o/`
,____________'_|,L_____],|____________ _|| |__|_|-|_|
/;_(@)(@)==(@)(@) (o)(o) (o)^(o)--(o)^(o)(o)--(o)^(o) ~
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