Coming of Age

Leaving school, we have mixed feelings about our teachers. There is the bunch we’re happy to leave -  the bullies who insisted on every rule; the ones we thank for doing a decent job, but soon forget; and then, there are those spectacular people whom we will miss forever: the ones we loved.  We remember what these teachers taught us. They broke off a piece of eternity and fed it to us lesson by lesson. These cherished few made us feel we counted for something in a world that was against us; who took our part against the rotten system we were in; who taught us more that the subject. These rare few taught us how we should behave and why we should value ourselves. They loved us into our future.  Looking back, we think of them and our heart aches for another lesson – how they always spoke common sense to our wild foolishness. In later life, we’ll be sad when we hear they have died and we tell our kids about what a great teacher Mr or Mrs So-and-So was. We can quote them, even today. We remember the promises we made them.

How did the disciples feel when their great teacher left and returned to heaven? At first, bereft and confused, angry perhaps: but then, they found that with great wisdom, Jesus had taught them all they needed to know. He had carefully prepared them for his departure. They were ready to preach the good news about God.  Unlike, our earthly teachers, Jesus promises never to leave us. His Spirit is with us always. There is no death to mourn, but a resurrection to rejoice over and a future to anticipate in heaven when we meet with our divine teacher once again.

By Duncan Curry – Assistant Pastor of the Dewsbury Elim Church. 

On behalf of the Churches Together in Dewsbury.