Conversation with Anna

As I was sitting with one of my very good friends at a picnic table during a graduation party, low and behold, one of my favorite high school teachers came sauntering by along the street where this house was. Both my friend and myself became rather excited and I am sure we both shared the same feeling, but also overjoyed when she joined us at the table. Before going any further, some background is required.

Anna Simpson was the high school choir director for my sophomore through senior year. I somehow even managed to get into the auditioned women's choir, Ars Pristina, my junior year and remained in it through my senior year. This was one of my absolute favorite classes, especially when I was in Ars Pristina. It allowed me and 15 other girls to work hard at our music while having a fun time with one another. Also, Anna was the person to introduce this class to our school. She also developed a Jazz Combo and since I have left, a men's choir named Mirth. Everyone who is in her class, especially her auditioned classes work really hard for her, and always feel like shit when they've let her down. And though she developed a lot of musical classes, she also, within those classes helped the music programs develop a larger repertoire as opposed to years past, when simple English songs were all that we sang, gave us some musical history (which also never happened before), added two concerts to the year, added a fund raiser Variety Show, and brings the choirs and bands on tour, not to Seattle (which is wonderful), but to Disney Land and other great music festivals.

As a person, she is very understanding of and sympathetic to people and is easily approachable and wonderful to talk to. While in Ars Pristina, there were many great conversations that took place, prayer concerns shared with honest sincerity, and laughs and giggles vocalized. We even had a day where all we did was learn different dances. It was a safe haven and a wonderful way to end the day.

So today, the three of us were slightly catching up on the happenings in our lives, but also discussing the differences between college and high school, how boys actually communicate and how it is difficult for people to be understanding of one another, which is what leads to cliques. Though the first topic is pretty well understood amongst most college aged people and the second is one that only girls should discuss with one another (though she had some very interesting observations...), the third is what sticks with me.

People are people and should be treated as such, was the main gist of this conversation. But the tendencies of our human nature are to be exclusive and not understanding. This is a painful reality when one realizes it and takes it to heart. I realize that I talk about this a lot, but that must mean it is something that affects me a lot. Then we talked about even though our human nature tends to be this way, it is through grace that we are going to be able to overcome this and be more inclusive. Christ was the premium example of this; he, through his grace, brought all of the outcasts to him. The people who were in the "in" crowd, such as the wealthy, the religious leaders, etc. were more 'out casted' by Christ, if that can be said, because of this. They were cold to the people that he drew near. And when we read in the Scriptures, I know I grow upset with those people and ask, "how could they be that way to other people?" Then yes, the realization sets in, followed by shame.

Anna told us that her husband grew up in a church that was rather large and tended to have cliques, but that his father, as the pastor, was never really apart of that. He was the person who brought the outcasts together in his home. They housed foster children and invited the 'stranger' people of the congregation over for gatherings. As a result of growing up in this kind of environment, her husband was willing to be friends with anyone at school and beyond that point. He was able to see them as people and not put them into stereotyped groups. That got me to thinking about how I would want my children to be raised. I would want them to be able to see people as people, and not as unapproachable because of one thing or another. I would want them to love people for who they were on the inside, not because of material or outer things. It is painful to think about all the opportunities that I have had during my life where I could reach out to someone, but let the opportunity pass because of what labels I would be associating myself with. I don't want my children to have that feeling, but this would mean that I would have to show them through my own life and actions, which is easier said then done.

So anyhow, this got really long. And as you can see, I am still working on stuff that I have been thinking about and struggling with for months. Until next time, pay your bills and drive sparingly... Peace out.