My First Class!

• SPACE: We were in a classroom in the BGC.  I've been to Barrows a number of times, but never to a classroom.  The ceilings are high and the lighting fluorescent, so there really wasn't a sense of coziness or intimacy.  But there, sitting on the table in the center of the room was a small vase of flowers.  Bright pink, zinnias, I think.  And there were snacks situations on the table.  
• ACTOR: People with accents from their native countries.  People of all ages, from 21 year olds to those of us nearly fifty.  15 men and 6 women.  Our professor, adorned in a bow tie!
• ACTIVITY: Introductions.  Conversations. Listening.  Sharing.  
• OBJECT: See the description of the table above.  Flowers.  Snacks.  
• ACT: Type on computers.  Write notes.  
• EVENT: Listening.  Talking in small groups about various assignments.  Write our names on sticky notes.  
• TIME: People slowly trickle in.  Some greet each other familiarly.  Class begins.  Dan talks.  We listen.  We introduce.  We break into groups to discuss.  We have a break.  We eat snacks.  We continue learning.  
• GOAL: We are trying to become teachers who can truly transform people's lives.  
• FEELING: Mine:  Excited. Overwhelmed.  Anxious.  Joyful.  Others:  Some of the same.  Also some who didn't seemed daunted by it at all.  

So I did it...I went to my first graduate school class.

I know.  Anyone who has known me well, knows that being a student wasn't my best moment.  If you know something about Gallup's StrengthQuest, you know that one of the Strengths is Learner...my husband's number one Strength and it's so low on my list I don't even know where it lands.  But here I am, 27 years after graduating from college sitting in a graduate level class being told by the professor that his goal is to make us "masters" of the subject matter.  You can imagine my dismay.

And yet, as I reflect back on the evening I am filled with butterflies, not doubt.  But instead of the topsy turvy feeling I felt upon entering the class, those little wings are fluttering with excitement at what I am going to learn!  Praise God!  I might be a student after all.

So let's review the evening to figure out how that transformation occurred.

It started with dinner with some of my favorite people  My husband, Eric; daughter, Anna; our dear friend, Adam; and my new friend and classmate, Drew.  (As a side bar, my other favorite person, our daughter Catharine is too far away at college in Alabama.) An interesting collection of people who all play an important role in my life and who I am certain God has providentially put here to teach me!  And three of the four of them are at least 27 years younger than I am.



We met at Saga, the College's dining hall for dinner.  It was a zoo.  So many students.  So much activity.  It was loud.  It was crowded.  And each of us saw so many people we hadn't seen in a long time.  And each of us wanted to say hello to someone different.  Eric, Anna, Drew and I got our dinner and actually ate...apparently something Drew does with gusto!  Eric was his usual funny self, though clearly frustrated with the constant interruptions and inability to actually carry on a conversation.  Anna kept quiet, thinking more about the first APUSH test she had the next day and actually ducking out early without a goodbye to head home and study.  Adam joined us with an empty tray and just seemed absolutely delighted to see Drew.  It was illuminating to see how much affection they have for each other.  I understand so much more about their relationship after seeing them together.

The goal of our time together was to get to know Drew.  Adam has been like a member of our family for the summer and as his best friend, we wanted to know Drew as well.  Unfortunately, because of the frenetic activity in Saga, Adam's rock star status on campus, my anxiousness about my first class, Anna's about her test, and Eric's desire to kind of check out when he realized this wasn't going to be the kind of interaction that a Relator would enjoy, we didn't achieve that goal.  We all agreed a dinner at the Pierce house was in order.

As an observer of people, I was keenly aware of Anna's discomfort and desire to leave.  Of Eric's discomfort in the lack of real conversation.  Of Drew's desire to talk but inability to complete a story because of the crazy distractions around us.  Of Adam's desire to soak up Drew and also interact with all the guys that kept coming up to greet him.  Just not what we had hoped for.

But...one goal was achieved.  Drew and I walked to class together.  And he was precious.  We talked about my nervousness.  He pulled out a seat for me when we got to the classroom...indicating that we could sit together.  He talked with me all the way, calming my nerves and helping me to feel better about starting this crazy new journey I'm on.

Class was equally interesting.  I'm not sure our group could have been more diverse.  There were people with heavy accents from their countries of origin.  There was a grandmother (not me) and at least four of us around the half century mark.  There were two students, Drew included, who are still undergrads.  Both men and women, though I think there were only six women to the fifteen men.  Interesting for a program that has a reputation for being a little warm and fuzzy...  Single people and those who have been married a couple of decades.  Some who are full-time students and others of us who are just dipping our feet into the program as Special Students.

We sat at tables arranged in a circle...undoubtedly designed by our professor who is so intentional he placed a beautiful arrangement of flowers in the center of the table because "beauty matters," he shared with us.Our first glimpse of the care and intentionality he will exercise as our professor. 

In preparing for the class Dan had us share a brief description of ourselves with each other through Blackboard, this crazy on-line teaching tool...  He also asked us to send an e-mail directly to him with any prayer requests we might have about the class.  Little did we know he was modeling the very first principle we would learn in class....a very wise man.

Class began with us introducing ourselves.  So much to learn in this process.  We shared our names, ministry focus, and a teacher who had a significant impact on us.  And in the process we began to learn who we each were.

WHO...that is the key to this  teaching method:  Dialogue Education.  "If we focus on the content and don't pay attention to the who, we miss the opportunity for transformation," said Dan, our instructor.  It's not that the content doesn't matter, but the WHO must come first.

And then it hit me.  Eric and I have no formal training for the ministry group we facilitate.  But, by God's great grace, this is just how we have tried to lead our group.  And those times when we haven't followed this model...we have failed just a little...or maybe a lot.  When we haven't thought about the kids and their needs but instead our own ideas about what they needed to hear, it just hasn't gone well.

I thoroughly enjoyed class...even though I was terrified most of the time.  Would I be smart enough?  Could I hold up theologically with these kids?  Would I follow the teaching?  Would I have a partner when it was time to break into partners?  God worked it all out...thank You, Jesus!

I left to come home, enjoying the walk as I thought about all I had learned.  Drew and I hugged as we parted ways and tried to figure out when he and Adam could come for dinner this weekend.  And I texted Adam on the way home affirming his choice in a great friend.  When I arrived home, Anna was eager to hear all about my first night of class.  Even though she had a big test the next day.  I was able to share with Eric that, at least on night one, what we are doing in Quench seems to be in keeping with this teaching method.  An affirming realization and one that makes me excited for what is to come.

Perhaps my only disappointment was not being able to talk to the other college student in the family, our daughter Catharine.  When I tried to call her on the walk home, there was no answer.  I'll just have to share my excitement with her another day...and pray that my excitement will continue...as the reading assignments pile up...I have to write my first paper...and this journaling becomes more of a task than a joy.

Lord, You have brought me HERE...take me THERE...by Your grace and provision alone can I do this.  I'm praying for both of those in abundance.