"Stand up for the truth!"

Writing about my response, then Mom’s, to Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People got me to thinking about my personal experiences growing up, learning about the core doctrines of my birth faith. 

In looking back, it seems that the way they were presented by most of my minister-teachers was rather dry.  I recall getting a lot of information, a lot of detail to remember. 

Two ministers stand out in my mind as going against that grain.  One taught religion to my elementary school class, so I didn’t technically have him, but I heard him interact with my students.  The other wasn’t a minister when I had him in college, although he might as well have been (and soon was).  Both men infused their lessons with life, with energy, with color & imagination.  

A smile comes naturally whenever I remember David Holm striding into my 6^th Grade classroom, proclaiming, “Stand up for the truth!”   Did he know the connection between having children DO something, take some action, instead of just sitting passively at their desks?  His religion lessons were delivered with emotion, inflection and his strong, deep affection for the truth.

Prescott Rogers was a singular experience, shunning the lectern to stride from side to side of his college classroom, charged up with the ancient history he loved & loved to share.  It shimmered off  him.  Again – affection is the word that comes to mind.  Affection & energy & imagination.

I'm not saying that a light bulb flipped on when Dr. Covey talked about being proactive, about knowing what we want & pursuing it.  It wasn't  a startling new truth.   Instead, it was as if he took basics already in my mind & heart and added fresh liveliness.  

Self-awareness, conscience, creative imagination, independent will – those are the very things that David stirred within me, that Prescott set humming.  What Dr. Covey did was take ALL  the lessons I learned through the years & infuse them with an energy worthy of both those remarkable teachers.

May I always remember all the teachers in my life,                                                                                         building & expanding on what they gave me.

May I always feel special gratitude for the rare educators                                                                          who helped show the life force within doctrine.  

May I always off up thanks to Dr. Covey for helping me                                                                  embrace that independent will stands 4-square on our                                                                                                      self-awareness, conscience & creative imagination.  

And may I always, “Stand up for the truth!”

"Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire." 

William Butler Yeats