Voices from the Past

Voices from the Past

From Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians he said regarding the role of ministers;  “What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul?  Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the Lord assigned each one.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.  Therefore neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who causes the growth.   The one who plants and the one who waters are equal, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor.  For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”  (1 Cor 3: 5 - 9).

We know from experience that the old adage of the one who plants may never see that person again, but with teachers sometimes students from the past may appear in a similar job related educational situation.  Whenever I did find a former student who thanked me, I knew my gift of teaching was the Lord’s gift that I was able to plant on one or more persons.  That is what all of us who teach, preach, or exemplify by our tenacity to give to others is the sign of God using us to promote a healthy understanding of God’s grace and growth in a spiritual atmosphere.

Today I received a phone call from a former student I taught in a trade school.  Thinking back to that era when I was still teaching had to be over 21 years.  The interesting part of this student keeping my number wasn’t too surprising since even after he graduated with a two-year degree in electrical technology he started his own electrical contracting business and would frequently call me for advice on electrical installations and the National Electrical Code issues.  What was uplifting for me today was his thankfulness for my expertise and the manner I treated him in a righteous manner.  This student was a former convict who worked harder than most students and took every seed I planted to heart. The one positive premise I talked with him about was the virtue of forgiveness and the need to place Christ in his heart and work hard in thanksgiving for his own giftedness.  

The blessing of hearing from him or others that may search out myself or others who taught many in the past is a sign of the urging from the Holy Spirit to remind us that we are doing what he sent us to do.  A reminder so our pride doesn’t grow too large Jesus told his disciples after they rejoiced over the demons being subject to their mission;  “Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”  (Lk 10: 20  We must never count how many return with accolades towards our efforts but be pleased that our work was not in vain and these students may also pick up on our teaching prowess and teach others as well.  

Evangelization does not have to be religious alone, but every manner of passing on the giftedness each one has received from someone else, just like us.  Because of the patience of teachers who taught me the ins and outs of electrical wiring, in spite of my ignorance in this electrical field, allowed me to guide many to understand the Electrical Code and receive their own registration certificates and move on to greater levels in the same field.  

Whether I taught many about Christ and the Sacraments of the Church, or many about the reason for electrical codes that are primarily for safety, both areas are the gifts from God, and I am lucky to be one who passes on expertise in areas that are both learning institutions.  I remain thankful that God chose me as one of many who are called teachers in faithful arenas.

Ralph B. Hathaway