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Rebecca Bailey
On the bulletin board between the ground and first floors of the Yates Wing is a bulletin board created by the fourth grade Church School class. One of their teachers writes about the creation of their poem based on the story of Blind Bartimaeus. (Mark 10: 46-52)
Our new bulletin board reflects the boundless energy, curiosity, and lively imagination of a fourth grade class consisting of 11 exuberant boys and 2 stouthearted girls. To recreate the account of Jesus' healing of blind Bartimaeus, I asked the students to cover their eyes, and imagine that they were dependent on others for handouts. Where would they go? They decided to position themselves downtown on Franklin Street, just before a Carolina game ended. This strategy gave us the title, "The Big Win" -- in this case a spiritual victory.
With their eyes closed, students responded to questions like, "What do you hear?" and "What can you smell?" Their replies gave us the concrete imagery in the poem as well as the put-downs that a present day street person would encounter. At news of Jesus' approach, students described their mounting energy and hopefulness. Most fun was the attempt to describe what the sudden light was like. This class has a special fondness for martial imagery.
Using phrases generated by the class, I arranged a text to retell the account I Mark 10: 46-52. The following Sunday, students illustrated various parts of the text. I especially like the cut-out hands on the bulletin board. Guided by teachers Sally Rohrdanz, Patty Askling, and Nancy McGuffin, each student traced his or her hand on felt and then chose a spot on the board. The hands are open, lifted toward Jesus; they can represent praise, prayer, and service to others.
Teaching this class brings praise and thanksgiving into my life in a bold rush of chaotic joy. The fourth graders are intensely alive with questions and conjectures, and every Sunday gives me something to wonder at, chuckle over, or share with my family and friends. Essentially, the class and my fellow teachers renew my spirit, and I thank them for that gift!
On Franklin Street with a tin can, hoping for coins
The smell of gasoline, the honking of horns,
More and more people, passing, talking,
laughing: "Look at that bum!"
In the dark, I hold up my can.
Beer, cigarettes, coffee, sweat.
"Hey, Jesus of Nazareth is coming!"
I lift my head straining to hear.
"Son of David, have mercy on me!" I shout.
"Get that bum out of the way."
I call even louder: "Have mercy on me!"
Voices rise like a storm? "He's asking for you!"
Heart racing, my body grows warm.
I leap up, and throw off my cloak,
"What do you want me to do for you?"
I didn't want coins. I wanted to see his face.
"Go, your faith has made you well."
Daylight comes like a sword,
So bright, so much light.
Colors and strangeness, I see!
And follow the Lord.
© 2002: Chapel of the Cross
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