THE SPACE BETWEEN
Mark Hederman, a former headmaster of Glenstal in
Ireland and later Abbot of the Benedictine community that runs the school,
says, “The soul of any society is in their system of education, which
elaborates the values they wish to promote.”[1] He
goes on to explain, “The work of education can never be that of supplying a
world view. There is a real world out there which is more than my perspective
on it. There is a child who is about to enter that world and who may be the one
who is going to provide us all with an insight never before imagined. The genuine
educator is one who makes that connection between each child and the world we
live in, without pre-empting the possible result. Anything can happen when
personhood meets the universe.”
Hederman goes on to cite Martin Buber, the Jewish
philosopher, that we only become persons by releasing ourselves from the
solitary confinement of the womb and developing what Buber called an ‘I-Thou’
relationship with someone outside. “We extend ourselves into the surrounding
orbit which makes up the space between us and other people.” This exodus is
what we call ‘education’
I find this an inspiring description for it shows
great respect for each child and states the wonder of what education is all
about. It is an exploration of “the space between” which is a sacred space whose
contours no educator should presume to dictate to any child. The implication is
we explore together with great respect, teacher and student, the more
experienced explorer with the beginner.
When the woman of Samaria met Jesus at Jacob’s well
in Sychar such an exploration took place. Jesus started with a simple request
for some water to drink. The woman, confused by the upset of custom, makes her
initial response. A conversation develops in which, step by step, Jesus, the
master educator, opens door after door for her to explore. The woman, who turns
out to be a good student, goes through each door as it opens until she finds
herself at her limits and says, “I am getting lots but I know that the Messiah,
that is the Christ, is coming, and when he comes he will explain everything to
us.” This response leads to the climax of the conversation when Jesus simply
says, “I am he.”
It is a powerful example of a dialogue that explores
“the space between”, which, as I say, is a sacred space a good teacher knows
not to force his way into. He or she enters it respectfully sensing the child’s
ability to follow.
It is how God deals with us all the time. He never
intrudes and imposes on us more than we can take. But he does open doors – to joy
and to suffering – that help us explore what it is to come to perfect
personhood.
19 March 2017 Lent
Sunday 3 A
Exodus 17:3-7 Romans 5:1…8 John 4:5-42
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