Teachers and Students.

With school just around the corner, I'm thinking about my kids going back -- but I'm also thinking about the days when I stood in front of a classroom. I miss it almost every day. This Summer, I ran into a former student at the graduation of her younger brother. She's married now, making a significant contribution in her church and professional sphere. She is one of so many students who marked me deeply. Awhile back, I wrote this about her and every other student who called better things out of me...

I used to have students.
You know, like in a classroom, sitting at desks, me up front waxing eloquent on some topic I thought they just NEEDED to know to get them to the next level of learning.
I was sure I was teaching them so much.
Shaping young minds.
The thing I thought I would do the rest of my life.
Then I stopped.
Preparing lessons, going to a classroom, standing up front.
For almost 3 years I haven't been that person and I miss her.
Until today, I thought I knew what I missed.
I thought somehow it was connected to my love of learning and my passion to see that come alive in the next generation.
And while that may be part of it...
What I learned today, was that I miss them.
I miss the 18 year old, away from home for the first time.
Trying to figure out how not to be overwhelmed by college and yet look like he belongs.
I miss the 19 year old just figuring out that the mind REALLY is a terrible thing to waste and so she starts engaging hers, in discussions and conversations and matters that really matter.
I miss the 20 year old who wakes up one morning and realizes that she wants to make a difference for God's sake, at the same time her singleness is making her heart ache and she doesn't want it to matter so much.
I miss the 21 year old, with the "just ready to launch" look in his eye. Ready to take on the world, the church, his parents, the "system"...whatever - just ready.
I miss what they did for me and to me.
How they wrecked me for settling.
How they constantly made me laugh and want to pull my hair out.
How they called me to look for God in all the strangest places -- late papers, forgotten projects, missed appointments, and the most amazing "what-if" questions I've ever heard.
I learned all this today.
When I opened an email from a used to be 18 year old who's now a full-fledged grown-up person. With another degree, a great job, and a huge passion for living.
In the midst of her "catch up" email she taught me.
She told me thank you.
"Thank you for loving me.
Thank you for teaching me.
Thank you for challenging me.
Thank you for speaking truth."
Julia, it was my pleasure...
You're teaching me more than I ever taught you anyway.