Our twins just finished a second grade lesson on Famous
Americans. They studied former
presidents like Washington, Lincoln, and JFK; figures like Lewis and Clark who
chartered new territories; civil rights leaders like MLK and Rosa Parks; people
like Neil Armstrong who first walked on the moon; and many others who left
their mark on the formation and development of our country. As part of this lesson, each child researched
a Famous American and had the chance to become that person at the 2016 Second Grade
Wax Museum. Ella chose to be Sacagawea
and Mattie chose Helen Keller. Their
research taught them many facts about these women. On the day of the wax museum, they each
donned clothing appropriate for their character and they were ready to share
their story with all who visited. It was
impressive! Visitors to the wax museum
could approach each child and touch the “red button” on their hand bringing the
wax figure to life allowing them to tell their story. Each child shared two facts about their
character and something their character was quoted as saying. I was inspired that day by all the women and
men who have left their mark on our country and helped to shape a land where
freedom, justice, respect, and opportunity is accessible for all.
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| Mattie as Helen Keller |
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| Ella as Sacagawea |
As our family studied and learned alongside our second
graders about all these American heroes, I began to ponder the heroes of our
faith. Our biblical narrative is filled
with characters who left their mark on the world and in turn help to shape our
faith. In particular, I pondered the
female characters and the stories they offer us. Women such as Deborah, who is the only female
judge mentioned in the Bible; Mary, who willingly offered her life to be the
mother of Jesus; and Mary Magdalene who encounters the risen Jesus at the tomb
and is instructed to go and spread the good news. In addition to these women, I feel certain
that if we offered a Biblical Wax Museum, we would find the following women and
their stories, as well:
Ruth:
A Moabite woman who upon the death of her husband is left barren and
alone except for her mother-in-law, Naomi.
She offers complete devotion and agape-type love to Naomi and because of
her faithfulness appears in the genealogical line of Jesus. She once said, “Where you go, I will go,
where you lodge; I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God my
God” (Ruth 1:15).
Lydia: A woman from Thyatira
whose trade was to sell expensive purple cloth desired for purchase by royalty. She heard the gospel message from Paul and she
and her household were baptized making her the first European convert to
Christianity. After her baptism, she
invited Paul and the others to her home saying, “if you have found me faithful
to the Lord, come and stay at my home” (Acts 16:15).
Women have played an important role in narrating our
faith. Ruth and Lydia both demonstrate
radical hospitality and show us how to love others as God has loved us. They each overcame significant
challenges. As a widow and childless
woman, Ruth had no place in society and yet her faith placed her in Jesus’ genealogy. Lydia, likely was a freed slave whose trade
made her wealthy and able to overcome the odds and be the first Christian
convert in Greece. I am inspired by Ruth
and Lydia, as they exemplify perseverance, equality, compassion, and
commitment. They help to tell a story of
the diversity and inclusivity found within our faith story.
Perhaps less famous, there are women and men who have also
shaped my faith outside the biblical narrative.
Mrs. Elaine, who first taught me how to draw a tulip as she read stories
of God’s love to me in Sunday school.
She would later take me to the most rural parts of Western North
Carolina where dirt floors and no running water homes exist, all the while
teaching me that we are called to love the least, last, and lost. A recovering alcoholic and homeless neighbor
named RG shared Christmas dinner with my family my senior year of high school
and taught me that being welcomed to the table is transformative. And precious 7-year old Angelia who I met in
the Dominican Republic, shaped my faith through her broken English and hand
full of cherries teaching me that truly the greatest of these “is love.” Mrs. Elaine, RG, and Angelia will likely not
be called famous and yet their lives and their actions forever changed my life
and my actions. They narrate the
wideness of God’s mercy and the depth of God’s love. Perhaps it’s not so much about being famous,
as it is about using the life God gave us for faithfulness. And perhaps in our faithfulness, we live out
our calling to bring God’s kingdom a little closer to this earth.
