Lent 2014
March 24, 2014

 Read Scripture: Psalm 81 

But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.
O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes. —Psalm 81:11-14  

In the late 1960’s when I was fresh out of college and ready to change the world, I visited with a father who was inconsolable. His wife had died a few months before after an extended and family-draining bout with some form of cancer. The couple had three children including an out-of-control teenage girl and two grade school aged boys.  The teenage girl was the purpose of my visit, but the father was the focus of my concern. It seems that what was then called “new math” had been introduced at the boys’ school. The younger boy had done homework two nights before and the father had helped him. I got the sense that the father finally thought he had found something that he actually could do for one of his children. The dad had been pretty good at math when he was in school. However, the son had brought that homework back the next night bleeding red with each problem marked as being wrong even though as far as the father (and I, as a matter of fact) was concerned every answer was right. Apparently the boy was supposed to show how he had gotten the correct answer not just what the correct answer was. I do not remember the exact words the teacher had written on the paper but it was something to the effect that would the father, please, not help his son in the future as the school was trying to teach a new way of doing math and the mastery of the new way was as important as getting the correct answer. The father was literally crying with great sobs as he handed me the paper saying that he was no good for anybody. The teacher, I am sure, had no idea that she was dealing with such a volatile situation. After the father calmed down, I tried to explain what I thought the teacher was trying to say and suggested that he visit the school and ask how he could help his son. I think it helped the father to hear from me that I did not have a clue how to do new math either and I would have had to ask the teacher for guidance myself. 

In our daily life we are challenged to listen for God’s guidance seeing beyond the obvious and opening our hearts to God’s ways of being and doing. We also must deal with our own insecurities, for example, teaching a new way of doing something very familiar. God will give us the courage to enter new paths as long as we turn to God and lean on God’s everlasting arm. God can also make us arms to lean on. 

Prayer: Almighty God, give me the courage to rise above my own insecurities and see the needs of my neighbors who are struggling with insecurities of their own. Amen.

The identities of students, families, or staff in stories that are shared in the devotions have been altered to protect their privacy. Any similarities between these stories and the experience of others are coincidental. No stories about students, families of students, or staff from Putnam Heights Elementary School are included in any of these devotions.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.