Long-time readers of this oft-neglected blog might remember the stories I used to tell about my Sunday school class. I'm still teaching the same class. I'm in the middle of my third year, and boy have the record snows around here messed up the schedule! We'll be able to make up the time, so that's good, but Lent's going to be a long one, I'm afraid.
This is the time of year when getting motivated to teach class is always hardest. I don't know why. But between Christmas and that special "light-bulb week" somewhere before the last class in April, it's a slog. It's the time of year when I tell myself "this is it, I'm not doing this again next year."
But then inevitably I have moments like the one this morning.
After a pretty good class this morning, I had to run across the parking lot to read at the 10:30 Mass. I was a little harried, and the church was packed...at least three deep in the back. Probably the busiest it's been in weeks. At the end of Mass, I gathered up all my stuff, stepped out of the pew, genuflected and as I stood up, was greeted by the smiling face of a former student. But not just any former student.
Long-time readers will also remember my stories about my student, Alex, who battled a brain tumor toward the end of his first year in class. The tumor meant that his sacraments had to be administered from a hospital bed prior to surgery. But he returned last year to be confirmed. He was still undergoing chemo treatments, and wore his trusty knit cap for his confirmation.
This was the smiling face I was greeted by this morning -- minus the knit cap and his braces. He's doing great, and apparently saw me reading and wanted to come up to say hello.
The Lord knows I need little reminders of what it's all about to keep me motivated this time of year. This morning, my reminder came in the form of Alex. :)
