During our recent visit to France, to collect the remainder of our belongings that were stored in a friend’s garage, my wife and I also visited some other friends. One of those friends is an English language teacher and, a few days before we left, he 'phoned with “an idea – a crazy idea”! “Would, you”, he asked, “be willing to come and speak to two of my classes about Scotland?” After some thought, I agreed to do so, and was then requested to wear the kilt for these classes, something to which I also happily agreed.
When we arrived at our friends’ home, we talked about the
forthcoming classroom visits, and he suggested that some visuals, in the form
of a Power Point presentation, might be useful, as well as a worksheet! So, my
first day was spent attending to all of that, and making necessary changes to
the lesson plan I had prepared!
My first visit to the
school - Collège and Lycée (together, similar to a Scottish Secondary School) –
was on the Wednesday of our week with our friends. I confess to having had some
trepidation – after all, it has been more than 15 years since I had stood in
front of a class of teenagers! However, I need not have feared. In every case,
they were a friendly, and interested, group of young people, some of whom asked
relevant and pertinent questions as I took them through a potted history of
Scotland, before introducing them to a number of famous Scots from the past.
Something else had happened. My friend had mentioned to one
of his colleagues that I was coming, and she had asked if I would speak to some
of her classes. My friend wanted me to speak to some additional classes of his
own, and I was even taken to the attached École (Primary) for one class!
Altogether, I spoke with eight classes – and enjoyed every minute! Photographs
were requested, and taken; the usual enquiry was made as to what I was wearing
under the kilt!; and the very last class with which I met even gave me, at the
end of the period, a rousing round of applause! That was a definite first in
all of my 25 years of educational experience!
So, is there a spiritual lesson in all of that? I believe
that there is – indeed, more than one! Having entered the ninth decade of my
life, I keep wondering what the Lord might have in store for me. He has blessed
me with continuing good health, and I like to think that my mind is as sharp as
ever it was (my latest school experience would certainly suggest that it is!).
When my friend made his suggestion, I was a little unsure, but it was only two
classes! With the complete experience now behind me, I realise that sometimes
the Lord works in such a way. I am drawn into something with which I am
comfortable, before He increases the scope of the task – like, in this
situation, six additional classes!
I was also reminded that, regardless of the apparent
difficulty, it is possible to bring the Lord into situations. You see, two of
the famous Scots to whom I made reference were Mary Slessor, and David
Livingstone – two disciples of Jesus who served as missionaries in Africa, in
Nigeria and Malawi respectively. I was also able to suggest that they do some
personal research into these two disciples of Jesus. Who knows what might touch
a young heart in so doing? Of course, my good friend also has an opportunity, should he be able to do so, to
introduce some appropriate teaching into future lessons.
If you are a disciple of Jesus, take every opportunity He
provides to serve Him. Who knows where it may lead?!