Why All The Noise?

Psalm 96:1-13

Some days the high school kids I work with can be funny while at the same time touch my heart. Today was one of those days.

Because of a change up in our math department, one of the classes I help out in has been a mish-mash of substitutes. While most of the substitute teachers are pretty cool, none of them have continued the lessons the original teacher began. Instead they've been asked to do math worksheets that honestly fall outside the intended curriculum for their math level.

The math class is one that's somewhere between Algebra 1 and Geometry. It's called Modeling the World with Math. It takes every day things, such as looking at a 6-foot ladder leaning against a wall, measuring how far away from the wall the base of the ladder is, then using formulas to guess the measurement of the sides and angles of the triangle the ladder forms. It's a fun class.

For the last few weeks, however, it's been worksheet after worksheet of theorems, formulas, polygonal calculations, and the like. Not so much fun.

Today was a special day in that class. We had a sub who I don't think knew math. I say this because she looked up how to calculate the area of a circle on her smart phone as what she was teaching us didn't match with the answers the students were getting. It was a frustrating class for some, while others tried their best to help the sub along.

The class pulled together, those sitting next to frustrated students calming them down, and those who knew the answers doing their best to not insult the sub. It was truly a special place to be. As one can imagine, with all the talking, and helping, and frustrations the class got louder and louder. The teacher began to lose control, and I did what I rarely do and stepped in to settle them down. I decided not to shout over the class, rather I went table to table asking everyone to give me their attention.

The class quieted and I began a conversation about how I thought they all did great in helping one another in a time of difficulty. Then I asked them why they they got so loud. One boy raised his hand and said, "Because, mister, we're just happy we figured it out." The rest of the class laughed, as did I and the substitute teacher.

I want to think that's what our Psalmist is talking about today. A time when we all come together, under the one love of one God, every one freed from the bondage of oppression, every one held in the same regard as the next. A time when nobody is better or worse than their friend or neighbor. A time when we can all sing a new song on the earth because a justice  which treats all people fairly has rightly come to the earth!

A time when we all help each other through the difficulties of life so we can all live in joy and peace.