I have been assisting a delightful young man, age 17, preparing him for receiving some of the sacraments of the Church. He is devoted to his faith, portraying a strong sense of spirituality through all he says. He is quite excited about receiving the sacraments, something not always seen in a teen. His eyes capture one, as they portray his deep seeded love for God.
A part of my philosophy in teaching is to get to know students as individuals. I want each one to know me on a personal level, as well as me getting to know them. Those in front of me are not just a number or a body; they each have a character, blessed by the Spirit, and I am interested to know what it is. I want to embrace them for who they are. I can incorporate my experiences and wisdom into their lives, but I cannot expect them to be just like me. They are to live their lives in the image of God, not in the image of me.
Following my philosophy, I asked my polite teen if he had enjoyed the weekend. He said it was good, but he was tired from staying up so late the night before. I asked him what he had been doing, to go to bed at 2AM. He had been working on his truck, he told me. As I proceeded to ask him what he was doing on his truck, one question following another, I learned just what a great person he is. In the course of the conversation, I found out what his family means to him, what they have taught him, and what pride he has in everything he takes on in life. He showed me the cross he wears on a chain around his neck, saying how special it is. He told me how he practices humility, using the talents God gave him to benefit others.
Our session time went beyond how long we were to meet. I hated to tell him we had to end, as Mass was ready to start; we needed to go into the Church, leaving the room we were in. He could not believe our session was finished, that there must still be time to talk about more things.
He became my teacher that session. His excitement flowed over, so filled with the love of God. He is truly an example of living the faith.
That young man is an inspiration to all.
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