Lowell sits in the front row of my sixth period Gospels class. He is now a junior! Below is an entry I wrote about this wonderful youngster when he was a mere second grader, reprinted from 2-22-07. I hope you like it- you would like Lowell!
I ended up sitting by Lowell in all-school chapel today. Once per six weeks, we gather our entire student body, kindergarten through twelfth grades, to honor the young people and teachers/employees of Westbury Christian School selected during this grading period for special recognition. The parents of Marian, chosen as High School Student Of The Six Weeks, were unable to be present so I stood with my former pupil as she received her award. I felt honored just to be on the stage with Marian, one of the finest young ladies I know. Since I was slated to lead the closing prayer, I plopped down on the front pew of the auditorium so I wouldn't have to walk back down front at the conclusion of the assembly. Lowell was there because he led the opening prayer of the service. It's a pretty big deal for a second grader but he handled himself like a pro. With Lowell, what you see is what you get. I've known him since he was in kindergarten and his sister, Tempestt, played on my middle school girls' basketball team. He asked if I heard him pray and I gave him the big thumbs up. When Jennifer Arnold was announced as Employee Of The Six Weeks, she was joined at the podium by her kids, sixth grader Autumn and fourth graders Jacob and Joshua. Lowell told me he thought Jacob and Joshua were twins- they are. We always compare shoes. Today, he was wearing his fast shoes while I was sporting my slip-on loafers. Last year, we had a grudge race in first grade PE class: Lowell smoked me and I have been challenged constantly by elementary kids in the intervening months. To defend my honor, Lowell and I will have a re-match. Hopefully, if I only wear my non-running shoes all spring, he will let me slide. A coach can only take so much humiliation.
This is what I like about Lowell: there is absolutely no deceit or guile in him. He tells me what is on his mind and I believe him. He is careful with my feelings: he never rubbed it in when he left me in the dust in our running contest. Lowell doesn't pretend he is someone he is not. He is content to be Lowell. In our society, celebrities are constantly attempting to re-make their image, to sell themselves as a new product. Cut your hair, pierce your body, show more skin, and date the starlet/athlete. The Bible tells us the look we should be after. Paul, in 2 Corinthians 3:18. describes the image of the believer.
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the spirit."
Hey, I know that guy! I sat by him in chapel today. I think his name is Lowell.
Applicable quote of the day:
"Pretty much all the honest truth telling there is in the world is done by children."
Oliver Wendell Holmes
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
http://www.hawleybooks.com/
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
1 comment:
Lowell is lovable indeed and I like his gift to you, the wrist band! Do you still keep the I love Little Ceazar's Pizza band? (i laughed heartily when I read about it)
Post a Comment