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| Monday, December 19, 2011 |
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Joseph Comes to the Pep Rally
By webmaster @ 12:01 AM :: 206 Views ::
0 Comments :: Sister Carol Perry
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Mercifully, I have forgotten most of the December pep rallies I have attended as a high school teacher. They are not usually memorable, consisting of the introduction of the fall sports teams finishing their seasons and the presentation of the winter ones about to begin. Adolescents love cheering loudly; adults shudder.
In addition, each class level rigidly segregated itself, in an effort to win the annual award for the class with the most "spirit", chiefly vocal. As I have said, they are noisily forgettable annual events -- except for the year that Joseph attended.
I was a senior homeroom teacher and, when I surveyed their section of the bleachers beforehand to make sure no one had skipped out (they rarely did. They loved this raucous event), it struck me that they were clustered in a rather odd formation. However, if that was what they wanted, so be it. I gave it no further thought until it was their turn to show their spirit.
After a hearty opening cheer, they presented their special "guest". The cluster parted and seated amongst them was a large, inflatable figure of Joseph rescued from an outdoor manger scene and electrically aglow from within!
I still laugh every time I remember it. There Joseph was, looking a bit Bethlehem-awed, surrounded by the triumphant adolescents who had carefully wired and inflated him for just this moment. Needless to say, they won the class prize that year!
Traditionally pious people might be a bit horrified at the possible irreverance but I am sure Joseph would have had a grand time if pep rallies had been a part of his world. He was a real human being with hopes and dreams, fears and concerns, joys and laughter. We need to remember that. I think those teens penetrated to a profound theological truth when they brought Joseph to their pep rally.
Let us too remember this often-forgotten man of Bethlehem whose faith was so deep and who was so willing to assume an almost unimaginable role, both at Bethlehem and beyond. |
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