Wednesday, February 5, 2014

FILMSTRIP

If you were a little mischievous in Junior High and say, during Health Week - when the boys and girls were separated to learn all about their bodies - someone stole the 'Welcome to Womanhood' girls filmstrip (I am neither confirming nor denying such a thing) … but those over 40 remember that, right?  (Reminisce in the pic at right.)

"Your body is beautiful and growing" --- PING!
"There's no need to be alarmed about what is going on inside or outside you" --- PING!
"Boys are evil; stay away" --- PING!

And the principal, Mr. King, would come into the class to try to get to the bottom of it.

'Already, in sixth grade, the value of community was very high.'

'Who stole the filmstrip, boys?'  And he'd cross those two big hairy arms across his chest, partially covering the spaghetti stain on his striped tie.  'No one is going anywhere until someone comes forward with the truth.  Until then, this entire class is going to be punished.  Nobody is going to recess.'

And already, in sixth grade, the value of community was very high because no one was going forward to confess.

Except for Henry in the front row.  There he was, all sweaty, getting ready to break at any minute, even though he knew nothing about the missing filmstrip (Don't ask me how I know that).  And sure enough, there he'd go - hand sliding up slowly into the air, shaking like a leaf.

'Mr. King, I didn't do it, but I'll say I did it if you'll let everyone go to recess.'

Now . . . even in that sixth grade community you realized something wasn't right with Henry.  I can only pray he found a good therapist by now, but poor Henry hated conflict.

But the truth is, it's the very presence of conflict dealt with in a healthy way that makes community flourish.  In fact, conflict is part of community by definition.

(Come back tomorrow for Part II.)

And be blessed.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for saying this: "it's the very presence of conflict dealt with in a healthy way that makes community flourish." There can be no intimacy (with God or with others) unless there has been some conflict that has been worked through in a healthy way. So many people avoid conflict. I want to KNOW people--and that can't really happen unless we talk about things that are uncomfortable. God KNOWS us and loves us anyway. I want to KNOW people and love them, too!