Yeah I bet it sounds funny to many but that’s the circumstance I now find myself in. I’ve touched on the connection I have to my church before. 30+ yrs (I add the + due to my parents going to and getting married in this same church) I’ve been a constant there so the level of familiarity goes without saying. Anyway, last Sunday was interesting. I came in the building to the sound one of my favorite songs “Give Thanks” which I hadn’t heard in a while. That was a sign and I knew it the moment I heard it. I had things on my mind as well. Friends and associates that were/are seriously ill, the murder of friend Megatron, friends suffering recent close family death in their lives (hold your head Meka) and this life in general here and around the world is crazy.
Service goes on and eventually comes to a close and I make my rounds greeting the members of my small church family. One of the women there that runs a lot of the administrative things for the church asks if I have a moment and I tell her “Sure I’ll be right back.” I wanted to quickly go greet our pastor, who is also my god mother. While hugging her she says you really should “come from the back and step up to the front of the church.” I didn’t fully catch what she had said until later. Again this is a bit of foreshadowing as she had no idea what I was about to be asked. I go over to see what the sister wanted to ask me. Easter is in 2 weeks so I figured it was to briefly speak on something which isn’t new to me. Instead she says. “Brother Francis, we need a teacher for these young adults. I think you the perfect person to speak to them…” I was flattered but also unsure for a few reasons. I told her let’s try it out and see how it works but to keep in mind when I travel it’s usually on weekends. She agrees.
You see when I was younger and the idea church, faith and belief started becoming more then just that thing Mom and Dad were into I taught Sunday school for the younger kids. Speaking and operating in that manner aren’t new to me. But I’m not who I was then. The Jason that taught had never cursed, drank, never had sex….I was young and innocent. Now I’m grown, mature and anything but innocent. Imagine the Black Bruce Wayne teaching Sunday school…….the thing is it’s not that I don’t want to do it because I do. It’s a chance to give back. My Pastor runs a foster home as well and many of these kids that I’d be teaching live with her and have been raised by her over the past 4-6yrs. So for me to be called on to help transition those youths into adulthood is major. I just need to sure in myself that I’m giving these kids the real. I would die for my faith but I’m far from the ideal model Christian. Especially in the Lust/Physicality/Sex related area. I’m so used to things of that nature due to much of the business I’ve been around that I wonder if I’m being hypocritical. So as I look these Sunday lessons over and attempt to rationalize and connect those classic tales to modern reality I will be as much checking myself as I am these kids.
In the end this may spark the bigger change in me then anything else…..
"Leave it up to me while I be living proof....To kick the truth to the young black youth"
2 comments:
YEY!!! That is wonderful news J, you are exactly who I send my future kids to for Sunday school...seriously. You are very patient, a good listener and very wise. The kids will def look up to you...Ohhh this is exciting man, congrats :)
Yes. I fully agree you should do this. I see you as a MAJOR part of any children I have, their lives will be heavily molded by you. This is something you are put here to do. You are an amazing teacher and listener. You always put yourself in the position to "how would I feel if this were me" - I fully agree with this move. You are a teacher in your everyday life and these kids NEED you. Please do it. I am in FULL support of this.
You say "I just need to sure in myself that I’m giving these kids the real." - You do that daily.
All you gotta do is say yes.
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