Imagine you are a student at a school. One morning, whilst your teacher is standing in front of the class talking, you notice a bedraggled looking man wander in. His face is a mass of wrinkles, grey hair shaggy and wavy, glasses askew. He shuffles in, glaring at the ground. His hand darts out from robes of clothes, clutches a piece of chalk, and he starts writing frantically on the blackboard, mumbling quietly to himself. Your lecturer glances around as the class starts laughing, and immediately rushes for the telephone, frantically yet quietly calling for security. The security person arrives and says in a loud voice, "Sir, you need to leave now". The grey haired man turns around with a friendly expression, which soon darkens as he apprises the situation. "Sir, come with me". "But, but..." the visitor mumbles. Then the visitor yells "Hey, don't grab me!" as security bundles him out the door. You hear his yells fading as he is marched down the corridor and out of the school. And, as just as calm returns to the room, your principal wanders in, says good morning, and asks you to watch out for Albert Einstein, who is visiting the school and who you might be lucky enough to hear explain some complex theories. Your lecturer's face turns red as he rushes out to find the visitor....
Perception of intruder by lecturer?: possibly a homeless man who presents a threat. Intention of intruder?: to convey his great store of knowledge. How could they miss each other to this extent? We see behaviour, we do not see the heart. Perception may be very different from reality, or from intention. You might see someone shouting, surrounded by people, and you might assume the person is in the wrong; you do not know she has been bullied for years by other people and has finally snapped. You might see someone who joins a group and seems to want to control everything as she's always talking; you do not know she has a disability and keeps looking for someone to listen and no-one ever does, yet she keeps trying. There are often many ways to interpret a situation, and often we assume without knowing what the facts are. If only we would sometimes take a moment to question and wonder. And consider, is it so wrong when someone still has lessons to learn? Is it wrong when someone is different from the norm? The world often progresses because of the people who are different, who see things differently, who see how things could be....
Relevant to what I have written above are these words Paul spoke to Timothy; Paul used to persecute Christians, when he was known as Saul, then one day he had what is now called a Damascus moment and encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, and became transformed: "And I thank him who enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to service; although
I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I
obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. However,
for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might
display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to
believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:12-17 WEB)
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