Soap Box: Changes

There have been a lot of changes in my life lately. I've gotten two more godchildren which brings my current total to three boys and five girls. I got a new job four months ago Friday. I no longer get to work directly with priests but I still get to talk to them regularly. My best friend is getting married next month (in twenty-seven days but who's counting?)  My much loved, barely tolerated cat passed away from old age. I started my second year as a teacher of English for non-native speakers and it is tiring but worth it.

 

I've seen a lot of the worst of humanity in my current job and sometimes it makes me jaded.  I think I teach my class because it allows me to witness much of the good of humanity too.  It also allows me to be part of something good, even if it exhausts me.  I work hard with my students but they work harder. These adults, many of whom are old enough to be my parents if not my grandparents, humble themselves to be taught in a classroom two to three times a week by a wildly abnormal teacher, in order to learn another language so that they may improve the lives of their children and grandchildren. They work two or three full time jobs a week and are never late for class. They always do their homework and come prepared with questions and all the materials I've asked them to bring. They are enthusiastic- they read the books I give them- they study and form study groups to help the weaker members of the class. Over and over again they humble themselves and I have yet to have a class where they have not thanked me for my time. They don't see that I am blessed by them.

 

Lately I've been hearing one too many people talk about "those people" who move here and don't speak English. I am first generation of some of those people so maybe my opinion is jaded, but it seems to me that if you go back far enough, all of us come from "those people".

 

Learning English is not a moral choice. Treating people like they are still people is a moral choice. So if you don't like your neighbors, as long as you love them, I don't really care, but for pity's sake, be nice to them. Be charitable. See the world through their eyes. And if you don't like what you see when you run into someone who doesn't speak your language, well I can always use an assistant teaching English.  Be the change you want to see.