Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: ROAD (05/19/22)
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TITLE: Maps for the Future | Previous Challenge Entry
By Philippa Geaney
05/26/22 -
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I was met with varying degrees of appraisal from the fifteen children as they filed into the single room schoolhouse, found a desk, and sat.
Still, my greeting initiated a register of interest from the smaller children and an air of indifference from others.
It was a louder roll call than the list of student names I held in my hand.
‘My name is Mr. Ryan, and I’m your new teacher.’
I was curious about the already formed adaptive mindset of these young people of the outback. Before leaving my onsite residence this morning, I’d pulled the screen door firmly closed. Word along the stock route was that nearby brown snakes would seek the cooler shelter within. Since it was little more than a shack, I suspected any self-respecting reptile might find the heat-conducting iron roof a blistering turn-off.
The morning sunlight had made me squint. It promised to be a scorcher. My only company was a lazy tumbleweed rolling by in fits and starts and an occasional cicada doing a soundcheck in preparation for the day.
I’d prayed silently. Lord, did I get this wrong? Have I taken a wrong turn?
The answer felt to be a resounding ‘No.’ Although I had only His Spirit’s inner witness and Proverbs 3:6 to encourage me.
I’d momentarily forgotten the growing boredom of the repetitious navigation of a rigid curriculum and religious censorship in the city.
By accepting a position in the Australian bush, I could help plot a route of knowledge for these children, like the district pioneers who laid the foundations for future generations to move forward—learning and growing.
Ulimora, being a provisional school, required the parents to pay for everything but my wages; therefore, as long as I produced academic results, the parents dictated the rest.
‘I’m Annie, and I can’t read, Mister.’ A little face from the front row voiced her concern, bringing me back to the present moment.
‘That’s why you’re here, Annie. Today’s the first day of a fascinating journey for you and all here. I’ll be walking this road with you for a little while, and what we make of each step will be important. Even influencing the direction you’ll take in the future.
Does that make sense?’
‘Spose.’
I scanned the room and saw overall interest. Maybe.
Twenty minutes later, each student had called ‘present’ and received a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress. The first half-hour of our day was earmarked for reading from the book.
By nightfall, I was confident in my calling. I’d learned the children had walked as many hard yards as any other child, had significant reserves of emotional grit, and all were at varying levels of education.
Their opinion of the present drought reflected their parents, who had already journeyed down similar sections of life’s road.
‘My Dad says it always rains after a drought, Mister.’ Annie, the mouthpiece for the quieter children, drew their nods of agreement.
Now a myriad of stars lighted the night sky.
Lord, I’m relying on You to help me teach and show these young lives how every day, every choice they make is their movement along a road that takes them home to You.
A slight breeze carrying the exhaled breath of a eucalypt suddenly drifted through my window, lifting the curtain. It was a salute of agreement.
I will never leave you nor forsake you
From habit, I reached for my Bible to cover my thoughts with His Word, and a bookmark, a letter, fell out. It was from my old school teacher. He’d been an influential educator, and later until his death, he’d become my mentor.
I knew each word verbatim.
Hello Pilgrim, how are you traveling?
It’s been many years since you were my pupil Tom, and I wondered whether I had laid a solid enough foundation for you to travel bravely along the academic and spiritual road. Of course, it takes a village to raise a child, but as your teacher, I’ve always felt you were to take the road less traveled.
I smiled wistfully. ‘I guess you got that right, dear mentor.’
I slid the letter back into the Bible at Isaiah, where it said this is the way, walk in it,+ and I whispered thanks to the Father.
All was well.
Scripture: Hebrews 13:5 Isaiah 30:21
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