Sara took a course on...
Illustration
Object:
Sara took a course on spiritual practices. While she was not majoring in religion she
thought she could strengthen her spiritual life with the class. The textbooks covered
spiritual practices from the early church to the present day.
As part of the class, each student would give an oral report on a person and that person's spiritual practices. Sara found each presentation interesting as did the rest of the class.
Sara chose to report on Meister Eckhart. Upon graduation from high school, one of her former Sunday school teachers gave her a paperback book on Meister Eckhart. She told the class how he lived his life and sought an intimate relationship with God.
When Sara finished her report there was silence. No one in class said anything; no one asked her any questions either. Sara was hurt. After other presentations there was applause. No one clapped for her.
Sara shared her hurt with other students in the Christian fellowship group on campus. Clearly she was hurt by the experience. Other students tried to help her by suggesting that maybe the students had other things on their minds that day. Someone told her not to take it so personally.
T. J. was able to put the experience in a better perspective. Quoting from 1 Thessalonians, he read, "Just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts." While deep down Sara desired the approval of her peers what was of utmost importance was the approval of God.
As part of the class, each student would give an oral report on a person and that person's spiritual practices. Sara found each presentation interesting as did the rest of the class.
Sara chose to report on Meister Eckhart. Upon graduation from high school, one of her former Sunday school teachers gave her a paperback book on Meister Eckhart. She told the class how he lived his life and sought an intimate relationship with God.
When Sara finished her report there was silence. No one in class said anything; no one asked her any questions either. Sara was hurt. After other presentations there was applause. No one clapped for her.
Sara shared her hurt with other students in the Christian fellowship group on campus. Clearly she was hurt by the experience. Other students tried to help her by suggesting that maybe the students had other things on their minds that day. Someone told her not to take it so personally.
T. J. was able to put the experience in a better perspective. Quoting from 1 Thessalonians, he read, "Just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts." While deep down Sara desired the approval of her peers what was of utmost importance was the approval of God.
