Betty Owens Geary

Philemon 21, NRSV

Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

Reflection:

Every student should be so lucky to have a teacher like Mr. Martin. He was devoted to his students, and he made learning fun. We all wanted to do our best for Mr. Martin. Nothing was worse than disappointing him.

Once when I was in high school I was talking to my dad about my teachers. I forget what I said, but Dad responded, “Mr. Martin takes the most irresponsible student and gives him the most responsibility.” I puzzled over that remark when I was a teenager, but even then I saw evidence that it was true.

When Mr. Martin died about 25 years later, I went home to go to his funeral with my mom. Mr. Martin had been a member of our church, and he and my mother had taught together for many years.

The funeral was perfect for Mr. Martin. It captured him so well. Many of his former students spoke. Their stories were quite similar:  “I was a bad student, headed in the wrong direction. Mr. Martin turned me around. He saved my life.” These students had gone on to be successful adults.  Several even became teachers. My mom whispered to me during the service, “You don’t usually expect all the good things you hear about the deceased to be true, but this is.” She was right.

The funeral program included this entry:

Mr. Martin’s favorite Bible verse:    Philemon 21

I confess at the time I wasn’t familiar with the book of Philemon—so short it doesn’t have chapters—so I looked up the verse. 

Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

As soon as I read it, I realized why it was Mr. Martin’s favorite.  It’s exactly how he lived and taught.  He was confident that his students would do as he asked, even more than he asked.  And they did!  It was evident in the testimonials from former students whose lives had been turned around by the faith Mr. Martin placed in them.  It was just as my dad had said many years before.  And it reminded me of how much we all wanted to do our very best for Mr. Martin so that we wouldn’t disappoint him.

Isn’t that a great way to live? Not just for a teacher but for anyone. To have faith that those around you will do their best instead of expecting them to disappoint you. Paul had faith that Philemon would do as he asked, even more than he asked. Onesimus was precious to Paul, and Paul was confident Philemon would take him in as a brother. Living with faith means expecting good from others instead of expecting disappointment. Paul had faith in Philemon. Mr. Martin had faith in his students. We can all have that same faith in one another.

Dear God, help me live in a spirit of expecting good instead of expecting disappointment.  Remind me that all my relationships are with your children, and that you love them just as you love me. Amen.