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Among all the attributes to which I
aspire, and wish to nurture in my own life are those of Humbleness,
Encouragement, and Servant-Leadership.
The
latter of the three attributes speaks to the quality of setting aside the time
and care to mentor another human being; the wherewithal to add value to a life
representing a third, and altogether crucial variable in the mix, of course.
The other day I was scrolling through a
social media site, and ran across a video which was posted by a friend in the
Atlanta area. The film footage ran all of 12 or 15 seconds, and depicted Lynn’s
conductorial work among the youth of that area. For over many years, she has
mentored literally thousands of adolescents and adults in the inestimably
wonderful genre referred to as “Song.”
Following
is a response I left beneath the segment:
“Lynn, when I played this short video,
tears sprang to my eyes, and an involuntary sob sprang up in my throat. I have
served as a formal mentor to numerous young people over the years, and
therefore I can relate to what I viewed here in an especial way. You have
learned well from one of your early mentors. As I have inferred in the past,
Miss Clark would be inestimably proud of you, my friend.”
Miss Clark was, in the terminology of our
era, an “old maid.” She graduated from the same school in which she,
ultimately, taught. I was blessed to “sit under” her tutelage, as was Lynn, a
full half century after she walked across that familiar stage, and received her
“sheepskin.” (As a matter of fact, her faded high school diploma still graces
the school trophy case).
As I finished my 11th year, and
began my 12th, Miss Clark was forced to retire from teaching, as the
result of a terminal illness. She was replaced by a much younger choral
director. Though “Mrs. Franklin,” (not her real name), was personable and adept
in her chosen field, the students who had known and loved Miss Clark were left
with a proverbial hole in their hearts, (and it apparently showed in the music
they produced).
For while Miss Clark’s Summerlin choral
group had consistently rated “Superior” in the annual state contest, the first
year we were without her, we received an “Excellent” rating.
And reminiscent of that scene in the
movie, October Sky, in which Homer Hickam visits his teacher, Miss Riley
in her hospital room, and shows her his prestigious science award, it is said
that in the closing weeks of Miss Clark’s life a similar thing occurred.
It seems one of our aged conductor’s
students was visiting her at home, or in a hospital room, and Miss Clark asked
the inevitable question; which begged to be answered.
“So, how did “we” do at state contest this
year?”
Whether that student had prepared herself
in advance for that proverbial “elephant in the living room,” or whether she
merely possessed the insight to answer in the way she did, I cannot say.
However, it has been reported that
“Grace,” (at least this is the name I have chosen for her), responded with,
“Well, Miss Clark, of course we rated all
“Superiors.”
And with that, I like to think our beloved
musical mentor smiled, and that the little white lie momentarily assuaged her
pain, and helped usher her from this sphere to the next.
I have recently been exposed to a couple
of wonderful adages; (which I have made my own).
“I am planting seedlings under whose boughs
I never expect to sit.”
(and)
“My students are living messages to a time
that I will never see.”
The inestimable privilege and power of
mentoring.
The indescribable wonderment of wrapping
one’s mantle around the shoulders of a younger someone, and entrusting him
or her with all the future years which have not been afforded to you.
One of my interns once gave me a gift,
among the greatest treasures I have ever received on this side of
heaven, when she spontaneously said:
“Dr. Bill, I don’t want to disappoint you.
I’ll go when you can no longer go. I’ll share your message when you are no
longer able to share it. I’ll speak for you when all your speaking is done.
I’ll continue to impact lives, and teach others to do the same, long after you
have gone on to your reward.”
For there will come a time, (as it once
came to Miss Clark), when they who refer to me will do so in the past tense,
“He was.”
But until then, the privilege and power of
impacting those who come after us… continues.
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