Quebecish

What languages are spoken in Quebec?  That was the question on a seventh grade geography test that my friend, Jeff, happened to be grading at my house the other day during a football game.  Unfortunately, one of his students answered this question with “English and Quebecish.” 

This answer sparked peals of laughter from the sports fans gathered in my living room.  While I was chuckling at the wonder that is the average middler schooler, I found myself thinking  “Everyone knows the answer is English and French.  I've always known that.”  But then I realized, that I couldn't have “always” known this.  I had to learn this.

Somewhere, at sometime, in a classroom far, far away, a teacher presented that piece of information in a meaningful way, and I remembered it.  Perhaps more accurately, the information was presented over and over in a variety of ways, and I learned it without even knowing that it had been learned.

That is a great thing about working with children and the truth of Scripture.  We get to present truths in a variety of meaningful ways.  We get to use music, games, stories, maps, crafts, movement, and play to teach students the truths that will change their lives.  We get to subtly, yet purposefully, weave truth into the lives of the children in our classes.

Sometimes when we present truth we see the spiritual lights come on.  We are there when the student really grabs hold of a truth and begins to live it out.  Those times are to be prayed for, planned for, sought out and treasured.

Many times, however, in our week to week classes we are laying a foundation that another will build on.  We see spiritual sparks that will later be fanned into flames.  We find ourselves living out John 4:37 “One sows and another reaps.” 

This is when we have to dig deep in our preparations and remind ourselves often of the joy of first discoveries.  We have to handle the truth with joy and awe as if we, ourselves, are learning it for the first time. 

The challenging part of this is that your lesson preparation can't be thrown together at the last minute.  You can't fake joy and awe.  I've written this before, but it bears repeating as we begin a new year together—give the Holy Spirit time to teach you before you try to lead your choir on a spiritual journey.  Give yourself time to remember when you first learned something.  It will help you be a better disciple.  It will help you be a much better discipler.

Finding joy and awe in English and Quebecish,

Rhonda

(This article originally appeared in Share the Music, a newsletter for Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation.  It is used here with permission.)