Commencement

by Lawrence Cherry

“What was going on between all of you children during the welcome address?” asked Lena after the Pastor had finished saying grace over the meal.

  “Allen just noticed that his friend from work was one of our new members. We had coffee with him this afternoon”, answered Tamiko.

  “Just look at that! Allen is working to bring people to Lord. Maybe the ministry is your calling Allen”, beamed Mother Rose.

  “Actually, I really can’t take credit. That belongs to Daniel.”

  “And what does he have to do with this?” asked Mother Rose peevishly.

  “Our friend Davis, went to the youth festival that Daniel organized and he was the one that invited Davis to our church. It’s just a coincidence that we happen to work together”, Allen explained.

  “May not be much of a coincidence, after all. God has ways to bringing people to himself. Maybe Daniel brought him in, but you may be the person that will help him to stay”, suggested Lena.

  “Maybe.”

  “But he is planning to stay at our church already. He’s going to sit with us next Sunday, and we all may get a chance to know him a little better, once I convince him to come to one of our Sunday dinners”, sang Tamiko.

  “You seem to be very happy about this new friend”, observed Pastor Bynum.

  “I’m always excited to see people come to the Lord!” exclaimed Tamiko.

  “Really?” said Mother Rose with a hint of suspicion.

  “This is a sudden change from last week. You were so down in the dumps because of what was going on at work. Things getting better?” asked the Pastor.

  “Actually, they’re not”, Tamiko sighed. “It just so happens that I’m actually planning to quit after the end of next week.”

  “What?!” gasped Tamiko’s mother “What could possibly make you want to do that?”

  “God blessed me to overhear a conversation that the assistant principal was having with the lead teacher and the literacy coach. The principal doesn’t think I can be helped, and she’s planning to fire me at the end of the year. I figure I’d just beat them to it.”

  “I can’t believe they would do something like this! And after all the work I’ve seen you put in!” Mother Rose huffed.

  “Are you sure this is what you want to do?” asked Pastor Bynum.

  “I think it’s what’s best, daddy. I can’t see myself trying to explain to a prospective employer why I got fired. Besides, I think God allowed me to find out what they were planning so that I could quit, without being disgraced.”

  “Or maybe He let you find out so that you would be able to see and experience the Glory of God. I don’t think you should quit Tamiko.”

  “But daddy, the principal thinks I’m a loser, and that racist lead teacher is probably doing everything she can to keep the principal from changing her mind.”

  “I know what it looks like. Were you listening to my sermon today?”

  “Yes, I understand all that about how we can’t look at our circumstances, but…”

  “But what? God didn’t bless us with a record of what happened to his apostles just so that we could feel good at the end of the day. He did it to provide an example to us for how we should put our faith into practice. Tamiko, you need to learn to stand still and keep your eyes on the Lord. Stop thinking about what this one says about you or about what someone else is going to do. Don’t let those waves toss you. God told you, you were supposed to teach. He put you in this school. If he has let you know that you will be gone at the end of the year, you don’t leave until the end of the year. I’m not saying you can’t look for another position, but until you find another, you need to remain a good and faithful servant and do your best no matter what. Keep in mind the One you’re really working for.”

  “But how can I do my best under these circumstances? I constantly feel so isolated and depressed when I’m there. I just think that if I quit, things can only get better.”

  “You may feel better for a while, but the situation may not get better, in fact it could get worse. And what would really make you feel better would be to change your focus. Don’t go to that school everyday thinking about people. You go to school thinking about God and how he can use you to help those children. That’s the only thing that counts. You do like Nehemiah: stay on the wall.”1

  “With all due respect sir, if her boss is out to get her, what else can she do?” asked Tim.

  “Though you may not think so, I know there is no boss on this earth bigger than God.”

  “For Tamiko’s sake, I hope so”, said Tim doubtfully.

  “I believe the Lord is putting a Word in my spirit for you young man. I don’t know if you are still having problems down at your job or not, but I feel God telling me that you need to learn to love your enemies. That no matter what they have done to you down there, you need to keep on working and doing good for them. You may be tempted to just give up and not do your best just to get back at them, but I want you to know that God is looking down and having mercy. Continue to do good, despite what they do to you. Now, I don’t know if that makes any sense to you, but that was what I believe the Lord wanted me to tell you.”

  Tim thought for a moment about what the pastor said. He had to admit that when the pastor said it, he was kind of shocked because in some way it did resonate with him. He was going to just sit back and let Preston run everything and try to get away with doing as little as he could until he was let go. After all, with what they did to him, they deserved it. He knew Tamiko hadn’t told her father about what had happened, and Tim hadn’t told her about what he had planned to do. It was eerie: almost as if the pastor was able to read his mind. But how could he “love” Preston or any of the others at Herns and Marshall. It was stressful enough just being civil with them. Tim couldn’t picture himself working merrily with them like elves in Santa’s workshop. That just seemed ridiculous.

  “I’ll take it into consideration”, Tim responded politely.

  “So, Pastor do you have a word for me?” inquired Allen hoping that the pastor would give him some insight into what was in store for him.

  “I don’t have a particular word for you Allen. Anyway, I think you are doing just fine where you are.”

  “I don’t think I’m doing fine. It’s hard being in the dark. I know God is with me. I just wish he would reveal more of his plan to me. Tell me what’s next, or what to expect, or what it is that I’m supposed to be learning from him at the Sheraton.”

  “Allen, I couldn’t tell you those things. You may not learn them until you are on the other side of this trial. You’re just going to have to wait.”

  “It seems like the hardest part of having faith is the waiting.”

  “That’s because when you’re young, you want everything to happen right away. But trust me, God will never leave you hanging too long. What’s that saying ‘He may not come when you want Him, but He’s right on time.’ That’s the way he’s worked in my life. Just keep holding on Allen. Everything will fall into place.”

  Allen simply smiled half-heartedly at what the pastor said. All anyone could do is hold on. In real life it was much easier said than done.

  Thirty-Eight