Under Pressure

"Often, when I am reading a good book, I stop and thank my teacher. That is, I used to, until she got an unlisted number. " ~Author Unknown

I used to teach Gospel Doctrine (Sunday School). I taught it in Missouri, the Azores and New Mexico. I love teaching.

I would prepare by:
Reading the scriptures. Reading the lesson. Pondering the lesson. Re-reading the scriptures that applied to the lesson. I'd print out selected readings that I would have individual class members read, and prepare questions to ask. And pray. a lot. My class is more of a directed discussion than a teacher/student scenario.

When we moved here, we sat in our new Sunday School class and watched the teacher weave in and out of the scriptures, pulling in threads of world history and adding relevant linguistic touches. We'd leave her classroom blanketed in the understanding of something previously elusive to us.

She is a scholar. Her IQ must be off the charts.

When this teacher presents the New Testament, she comes laden with engaging details to set the stage for whatever scriptural account we're studying. She brings pictures, drawings, charts-- whatever it takes to break into our child-like minds.
Ours isn't a quiet church, but you won't see us standing and applauding or rolling on the floor-- that's usually reserved for the 4 and under crowd. However, a few of her lessons have made me want to jump up and shout, "Amen! "and "Encore!" She's brilliant.
And best of all,
she's humble.

So imagine my reaction when I was approached by the Sunday School Pres. and asked to substitute for her class for two weeks. And my day was going so well....