Yesterday I lamented, if you will, on how parts of the bible seemed to be exclusive while my heart absolutely understood God to be inclusive. It was a struggle for me all day, my heart and my head were at odds as to which was right. I watched people as they interacted, listened as they talked, and smiled as they said hello.
The students had a project due in social studies class yesterday, and the major part of that project was an oral presentation of some kind. The subject was the overthrow of Hawaii's Kingdom and they either had to draw a poster and explain what it meant, write and recite a poem, or perform a song which was original in words and music, all of which had to relate to the subject.
We have a new girl in our class. She is not from Hawaii and is finding it a little difficult to fit in and find friends. People have tried to befriend her, it's just that she is honestly in a culture shock as most people are when they come to Hawaii for the first time. In time I'm sure she'll be fine, for now we're all engaging her at a pace she is comfortable.
This new girl decided she would sing a song; not the easiest of the three choices. Imagine being in a new place, maybe a friend or two to support you, and you have to stand before 100 people to sing a song, solo and acapella.
As she began to sing the room quieted, really quieted. She had a great voice and the tune she sang was what I would describe as folksy. The words she wrote told a compelling story and she honestly had everyone in that room listening. Then, from a corner of the room, one of the boys let out a muffled laugh to which he received glares of disapproval and a few comments of, "That's messed up, just wrong".
When the song was over the entire class applauded with hoots and howls and a little more than half even stood in a robust ovation. The new girl smiled as wide as I have ever seen someone smile and I swear her eyes showed a glimmer of joy. She had given to those in the room an offering of her first fruits and in return she was blessed with an abundance of love and acceptance.
The last verse in today's passage reads, "Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house." Nothing showed that point more than what happened in that classroom in that moment.
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