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The halls bustled with the stampede of middle school people carrying their prepubescent worries and feelings, bouncing off each other as laughter and speech mingled together to create a cacophony of mind splitting sounds. It was just another day in this tunnel, a school setting owned by the people and administered by the Little Rock School District.
A dear friend who is a middle school teacher in the Little Rock School District had a recent encounter in school that touched me.
It was the first class of the day and she was getting her class ready for that day's work when she noticed noise coming from across the hall. That teacher was out and a substitute teacher had been hired to fill in. She surmised that this group of rowdy kids were off the chain and probably had the substitute bound to his/her chair by it.
So, putting on her best - I am not happy and you are the reason - face, she stepped out of her room and stepped O so purposefully across the hall and opened the door with just enough force to make sure everyone knew she meant business. That's when she heard…
….clapping. They were clapping! Clapping rhythmically. Their hands coming together in perfect unison and perfect beat with a …… song! They were singing. Beautiful, cherub, heavenly voices. An ad hock choir of voices singing with smiles and bright eyes…. this little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Let it shine till Jesus comes, I'm going to let it shine. Let it shine till Jesus comes, I'm going to let it shine. Won't hid it under a bush, O NO! I'm going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
My friend stood with amazement as these students were not out of control. They were in their seats, singing about their love for Jesus and how He lights up their lives and they are not about to let that light become dimmed.
My friend's face had changed and she was now smiling from earth to heaven. She asked them, "are you in here having church"? They laughed and said yes. My friend said, "I don't know if you love Jesus, but I sure do"! There was a very brief moment of silence followed by a student exclaiming, "God is good", and the entire class responding, "all the time". Then a different student, "and all the time", followed by the entire class, "God is good".
With a smile that can only be made by the spontaneous praises of children to Jesus, in a public school, my friend reminded them to not disturb other classes with their church. As she closed the door she heard them singing - Jesus is on the mainline, tell Him what you want. Well, that line ain't never busy, tell Him want you want, wo that line ain't never busy. Well if you want His kingdom, tell Him what you want.
I know Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up, call Him up, call Him up, call Him up
Call Him up and tell Him what you want!
I have always held the belief that it is impossible to legislate God in or out of school, and we can not legislate the values of God, (those things that God holds dear, actions, and omissions of behavior that not only pleases God but helps us live in harmony on this planet). God will go where it suits God to go. God will do what it suits God to do and "where 2 or 3 (or a class full) of you are gathered in my name, I will be with you".
I have always held the belief that God is not interested in the politics of man. The only time His own son spoke regarding a question of politics, He threw the coin back and said the very famous words, give to Cesar what is Cesar's and give God what is God's. It is my belief that God has no desire to be in this or any other government, he desires to be in our hearts. That's where change takes place in ourselves, and that is the only way we can be in a position to help make changes in the world that we meet on a daily basis.
