by Anita Benedict
A former teacher, Mrs. O’Toole was on my mind a few days ago. For those who knew her as a teacher, you know when I say “be a thinking student.”
We analyzed books in her class and looked for the deeper meaning. I could not read a Harlequin Romance without analyzing it after her class; never did find anything. Some days we were thankful for “Coles Notes” because we did not have the internet at our disposal as we do today. We also knew to throw in some religious reference for an A grade. There, I had a slight advantage; I was in the church choir and she was a member of the congregation. What a good student was I! (Insert laughing emoji)
Anyone remember “The Stone Angel,” with Hagar as the main character? I barely remember the story line; I just remember my project - a funeral. I was grateful for classmates who helped with this, right down to the shyest classmate playing the dead Hagar, lying in her coffin. There was an angel and a devil to take her to her fate. I chose to save Hagar’s soul and sent her to heaven. Dear Betty, (Mrs. O’Toole) believed she was to go the other way, and I told her I was about saving souls.
What a united front we were that day, one of my best high school memories, and Betty would tell people in church about it. I also remember Betty talking about her father Rex. He was a sweet old fella when I met him. We were talking about things being lost to time, like churches and she said her father always said it wasn’t government or committees that closed churches it was regular people, people not attending, not stepping up to save, but then complaining when it was gone and blaming someone else.
This reflection came to mind as I read threads under posts or memes on Facebook that created arguments. Things that have changed, things disappearing, or the way we used to do something has changed. Some comments were heated, some rude and some were well thought out. The hatred was evident in some, the divisiveness was also obvious and while some were strangers to each other feeling safe behind their screens, sadly some were neighbours and community members.
My point with this is that we the people are allowing some puppeteer to cause angst, to keep us divided in our anger, and self righteousness. I am guilty, but I make every effort to fact check from several different sources and post in kindness. Blame whether needed or not is being directed in the wrong direction. And whether they know it, many if they took the time would see they are actually saying the same thing, just in different words.
The expression “Y’all need Jesus” has been popping up, not sure where that came from and I read someone saying we are in the end times. Perhaps we are; or maybe we need more teachers like Mrs. O’Toole to teach us to dig deeper, to go to the source. Like my project in high school, I still believe in saving souls. Religious, agnostic, Satanist or atheist. We can do better. Follow the trail back to who is doing the
dividing, who spouts hateful things, choose the light over the dark.
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