Day Eighteen: Poster Review, Part Two

                There are some main topics and vocabulary I have taught my students this unit. Ultimately, I want two things: first, I want my students to be able to speak intelligently about Jesus Christ. This is easy enough to accomplish with standard, objective learning methodologies like writing, quizzes, etc… Second, I want my students to learn affectively who Jesus is and how they can personally know Him. The latter affective piece is harder to assess. Indeed, often the “slow work of God”, as de Chardin calls it, cannot be measured in human time. To affectively learn who Jesus is often takes a lifetime. All I can really do is give my students the objective knowledge and then create the space and offer the skills they need to Truly encounter Him. Anyone can teach or learn the objective material. But to know Jesus…to fall in Love with Jesus… that is unpredictable. As a teacher I can do everything I can to be the “hands and feet” of Jesus…to be the heart of Jesus... for my students. I can take them to the chapel and give them all sorts of opportunities to feel the Love that Jesus has for them, but until they are ready themselves, I can only Hope to give them some knowledge and maybe some prayer skills that will help them deepen their relationship with God when they are ready. I must be patient. For now, they have a test coming up and I will help them prepare for that objective knowledge.

The Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St. Nicholas in Galway, Co. Galway, Ireland. Though His death was quicker than normal, His work remains slow and deliberate. The act of conversion is never a "one and done" action; it takes a lifetime of learning to Truly "fall in Love" with Jesus Christ. (photo P. Smith)