An odd thing happened to me today. Not a bad thing, just an odd thing. Odd, because it never happened before. So much so, that I didn’t know how to react.
A few days ago, I stopped at a computer store to ask about some problems I was having with my computer. I was talking to the woman who owned the shop, and I told her my name, which caused no reaction. Logical, since I didn't know this person at all. But when she found out I was a teacher, that's when I got the “Oh, Mr. Morgan,” with a tone of recognition. Now for those of you who are teachers, you know this happens all the time. When someone you don’t know, calls you “Mr.” (or “Mrs.” or “Miss”) you can be pretty sure you taught one of her kids. And it could go either way. At that point they may praise you like you're the greatest teacher since Carl Sagan, or somehow infer your relationship to Hitler. So I held my breath and asked, steeling myself for the worst. She just said that her daughter had attended my school, but didn’t have me as a teacher. Somehow she knew about me though. Whew! Crisis avoided.
So today I took my computer back to her to get it fixed. (Yes, I know I usually fix them myself, but this one is beyond me.) I mentioned her daughter, and what I remembered about her. At that point, the woman looked right at me and said “You’re a Christian.” I just stood and looked at her, not really knowing what to say. Nobody had ever said that to me like that, especially someone who I don’t even know.
A hundred thoughts went through my mind all at once. How did she know? Was she pleased? Did her daughter tell her? And if so, how did the daughter know, as I barely knew her. And I don’t normally give sermons at school. And on and on...
I finally just said, “Yes, I am. But how did you know?” I mean, I wasn’t carrying a Bible, I don’t have a Jesus tattoo. And it’s not something I just come up and tell people. (Hi, my name’s Richard. Nice to meet you. I’m a Christian....)
She told me her daughter was a Christian. Like somehow that just explained the whole thing right there. (Must be a secret network or something that I’m not aware of?) So I prodded a little further, asking how her daughter knew. And she replied. “All the Christian kids talk. They know who the Christian teachers are. It’s good to have them.”
You know, I haven’t really been a Christian all my life. Maybe if I had been, this wouldn’t have seemed so strange. Yet it was odd. And cool. And neat. And eerie. All at the same time.
I cautioned her that I may not be the Christian she is picturing. That while I’m a Christian, I’m also a scientist, and I accept the views of both disciplines without conflict. I’m probably not what non-Christians think of, when they think of a Christian. She seemed fine with all that.
I’m not really sure of any conclusion here. Although it definitely took me aback, I was secretly pleased, I think, that some student I hardly knew realized this about me. It made me feel good, in a strange way.
And to be completely honest, even a little proud.
A few days ago, I stopped at a computer store to ask about some problems I was having with my computer. I was talking to the woman who owned the shop, and I told her my name, which caused no reaction. Logical, since I didn't know this person at all. But when she found out I was a teacher, that's when I got the “Oh, Mr. Morgan,” with a tone of recognition. Now for those of you who are teachers, you know this happens all the time. When someone you don’t know, calls you “Mr.” (or “Mrs.” or “Miss”) you can be pretty sure you taught one of her kids. And it could go either way. At that point they may praise you like you're the greatest teacher since Carl Sagan, or somehow infer your relationship to Hitler. So I held my breath and asked, steeling myself for the worst. She just said that her daughter had attended my school, but didn’t have me as a teacher. Somehow she knew about me though. Whew! Crisis avoided.
So today I took my computer back to her to get it fixed. (Yes, I know I usually fix them myself, but this one is beyond me.) I mentioned her daughter, and what I remembered about her. At that point, the woman looked right at me and said “You’re a Christian.” I just stood and looked at her, not really knowing what to say. Nobody had ever said that to me like that, especially someone who I don’t even know.
A hundred thoughts went through my mind all at once. How did she know? Was she pleased? Did her daughter tell her? And if so, how did the daughter know, as I barely knew her. And I don’t normally give sermons at school. And on and on...
I finally just said, “Yes, I am. But how did you know?” I mean, I wasn’t carrying a Bible, I don’t have a Jesus tattoo. And it’s not something I just come up and tell people. (Hi, my name’s Richard. Nice to meet you. I’m a Christian....)
She told me her daughter was a Christian. Like somehow that just explained the whole thing right there. (Must be a secret network or something that I’m not aware of?) So I prodded a little further, asking how her daughter knew. And she replied. “All the Christian kids talk. They know who the Christian teachers are. It’s good to have them.”
You know, I haven’t really been a Christian all my life. Maybe if I had been, this wouldn’t have seemed so strange. Yet it was odd. And cool. And neat. And eerie. All at the same time.
I cautioned her that I may not be the Christian she is picturing. That while I’m a Christian, I’m also a scientist, and I accept the views of both disciplines without conflict. I’m probably not what non-Christians think of, when they think of a Christian. She seemed fine with all that.
I’m not really sure of any conclusion here. Although it definitely took me aback, I was secretly pleased, I think, that some student I hardly knew realized this about me. It made me feel good, in a strange way.
And to be completely honest, even a little proud.
I wondered if you felt like you had to defend your intelligence after you acknowledged you were a Christian?
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