New-man Peter
He was a wiggler. Falling out of his desk or squirming on the story carpet. Calling out questions, chatting with his friends, putting his fingers where they didn’t belong, and often forgetting just what belonged to whom. He was awkward, curious and impulsive, tripping over a schoolbag, stomping in a puddle on the playground, or building a tower out of anything that would stack. He always seemed to be stepping into trouble — willingly and with a smile on his face. In other words, a normal seven-year-old boy but a bit amplified. His name was Newman.
Newman was a charmer with a sweet smile and a lively eyes but his bounciness was a bit of a distraction for the other students, so I did what I often did with kids who had trouble focusing on learning, I gave him a special job. Computers were relatively new in our classroom. Students learning to use them often interrupted instruction to ask for help.
“Newman,” I said, “you are now our classroom computer expert.” I knew little about computers and Newman knew even less, but I showed him how to log in, reboot, adjust the volume on the headsets, and navigate on a page, and he took over. Soon confused computer users began calling “Newman!”
Given a position of authority, Newman rose to the challenge. Even I started asking him for help.
Simon was a bouncy guy too, awkward, impulsive, and curious. Calling out to his friends in other fishing boats or on the beach, just as likely to pull in a net as to fall into the lake and drag it ashore as he was to share a story or a joke with his friends and family. One day, his brother Andrew told him about a new teacher. Simon had to see him for himself so he went along with Andrew to listen. Meeting that teacher changed his name and his life.
Following the teacher, Simon remained awkward, impulsive and curious. Asking questions: Where are we going to get food for all of these people What reward will I get for following you? How many times should I forgive my brother? What plans do you have for that other disciple? Is his reward greater than mine? Calling out answers: Let’s build tabernacles for you, Moses, and Elijah. Don’t say you will have to die! You are the Christ, the Messiah! Jumping into trouble, walking on water, cutting off the soldier’s ear, sleeping when he should stay awake, speaking when he should be quiet, making promises he cannot keep: I will never deny you. I’m ready to die for you.
But when the teacher gave him a special job, “Feed my sheep, care for those who follow me,” Simon rose to the challenge. Throwing out his nets to catch not just fish but people, Simon became the rock, a foundation for the new church, a leader, prophesying, preaching, and evangelizing, fulfilling the commandments of his Savior even until death. First to run to the empty tomb, first to speak out in public after the resurrection, and first to welcome Gentiles into the early church. From awkward fisherman to apostle to leader to saint, Simon, renamed Peter the Rock, did his best.
When given a special job by his teacher, wiggling Newman became computer- expert Newman, a leader in the classroom. When given a special job by his teacher, awkward Simon became Peter, a new man, a rock, a leader in Christ.
Newman or new man. Awkward, impulsive, curious, bouncy — when the teacher believes in you, you grow. What special job is the teacher giving you?
Rise to the challenge.
