The night of Teachers
Oct. 26th, 2005 11:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stitchwhichThe Night of Teachers - not my family members, actually, because I haven't got a dead one who taught me much that I'd want to celebrate, so...
I was hospitalised many years ago for the beginnings of my back problem and because the neuro-surgical ward was over-full, I was placed in the women's surgical ward instead. So my room-mates were in and out, rarely there for more than 2 days. One of them was a feisty and strong-spirited woman. Black, stout, probably about 50 or older, I rarely saw her without her bible in her hand. We chatted, as people do.
She was one of those people whose faith was so strong that it fairly radiated from her. A simple faith - she didn't need philosophy or theology or long tracts on interpretation. She just knew that God loved her, Christ was her Saviour, and Love was the Way. Anything else was gravy... we talked alot. And one day she asked me what my faith was and I actually told her. She asked me what a pentacle looked like and I showed her the one that I wore hanging from a necklace. Then she wanted to know why I hid it behind my hospital gown's cloth. So I explained about "harm none" and how the symbol caused fear in many people and that because I didn't have the ability to explain, teach, and soothe those fears, I felt it was better to keep my faith symbol private. I thought that would be the end of the conversation. Boy, was I ever wrong.
"YOU WEAR THAT OUT!" she said to me, shaking her finger and stabbing at the air in my direction. "Don't you ever apologise for your faith in the Almighty! Don't you ever hold your head meek and hide your love for God! You love your faith, don't you? Then TRUST. Huh!" and she snorted.
I'd expected shock, revulsion, maybe (if I were lucky) mild interest, but never a lecture on my responsibilities of faith from a woman not of my own. And acceptance? I was floored. Then I got it. She trusted. She trusted God utterly and completely. She didn't judge because she had no need to - the Almighty takes care of It's own and she had no need to dictate how that was accomplished.
I envied her that trust. And I honor it. And over the years, I've tried very hard to emulate her example.
In other news, I've learned why my feet still hurt since Pennsic and what to do to fix the problem. Who knew you could get "tendinitis" (as it were) of the instep?
I was hospitalised many years ago for the beginnings of my back problem and because the neuro-surgical ward was over-full, I was placed in the women's surgical ward instead. So my room-mates were in and out, rarely there for more than 2 days. One of them was a feisty and strong-spirited woman. Black, stout, probably about 50 or older, I rarely saw her without her bible in her hand. We chatted, as people do.
She was one of those people whose faith was so strong that it fairly radiated from her. A simple faith - she didn't need philosophy or theology or long tracts on interpretation. She just knew that God loved her, Christ was her Saviour, and Love was the Way. Anything else was gravy... we talked alot. And one day she asked me what my faith was and I actually told her. She asked me what a pentacle looked like and I showed her the one that I wore hanging from a necklace. Then she wanted to know why I hid it behind my hospital gown's cloth. So I explained about "harm none" and how the symbol caused fear in many people and that because I didn't have the ability to explain, teach, and soothe those fears, I felt it was better to keep my faith symbol private. I thought that would be the end of the conversation. Boy, was I ever wrong.
"YOU WEAR THAT OUT!" she said to me, shaking her finger and stabbing at the air in my direction. "Don't you ever apologise for your faith in the Almighty! Don't you ever hold your head meek and hide your love for God! You love your faith, don't you? Then TRUST. Huh!" and she snorted.
I'd expected shock, revulsion, maybe (if I were lucky) mild interest, but never a lecture on my responsibilities of faith from a woman not of my own. And acceptance? I was floored. Then I got it. She trusted. She trusted God utterly and completely. She didn't judge because she had no need to - the Almighty takes care of It's own and she had no need to dictate how that was accomplished.
I envied her that trust. And I honor it. And over the years, I've tried very hard to emulate her example.
In other news, I've learned why my feet still hurt since Pennsic and what to do to fix the problem. Who knew you could get "tendinitis" (as it were) of the instep?
