3. WHAT ARE THE LEVELS OF TEACHING? P 2
2 The simplest level of teaching appears to be quite superficial. It consists of what seem to be very casual encounters; a “chance” meeting of two apparent strangers in an elevator, a child who is not looking where he is going running into an adult “by chance,” two students “happening” to walk home together. These are not chance encounters. Each of them has the potential for becoming a teaching-learning situation. Perhaps the seeming strangers in the elevator will smile to one another; perhaps the adult will not scold the child for bumping into him; perhaps the students will become friends. Even at the level of the most casual encounter, it is possible for two people to lose sight of separate interests, if only for a moment. That moment will be enough. Salvation has come.
Journal
This paragraph has made such an impact on me. I used to treat casual strangers as if they did not exist. I looked away from them. When they were waiting on me, I acted like they were machines performing a function. After reading this paragraph, I saw what I was doing and it changed everything.
I still get wrapped up in my little story sometimes and fail to notice an opportunity for salvation, but I make a point to not do that. I have started thinking of everyone in my life as a potential for a holy encounter, a chance to put aside my separate interests, if even for a moment, and acknowledge our oneness with at least a smile.
At first, it was just a thing I did, but as my mind healed more and more, it has become a blessing that I bestow and receive. It is not just a gesture, but a real connection. When I fail to take advantage of that chance encounter, I regret the lost opportunity. I understand now, that it just seemed like a chance encounter. It was really a gift that I either accepted or rejected.
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