Teacher Dedication

Story:

I have a story today about a teacher named Dr. Alexander Papaderos - and a Unitarian Universalist Minister named Robert Fulghum.

Sometimes, at the end of long classes or meetings, a speaker asks if there are any questions. Sometimes, Rev. Fulghum would ask - "What is the meaning of life?"
You never know, he said, someone just might have the answer, and he'd hate to miss it because he didn't ask.

Mostly, though, people would laugh, and pick up their books and start to leave. But one time, he got a serious answer.

Alexander Papaderos was a man who had created an institute of peace - started after the second world war to heal the hatred among the people of Germany and Crete. There were many classes offered at his institute - and Dr Fulghum was taking a two week class. On the last day, Dr Papaderos said, "Are there any questions?"

Rev Fulghum asked: "What is the meaning of life?" People laughed, and started to leave, but Dr Papaderos held up his hand and said, "I will answer your question."

He took his wallet from his pocket, and took out a very small mirror. What he said went like this:

"When I was a small child, during the war, we were very poor and lived in a small village. One day, on the road, I found the broken pieces of a mirror where a German motorcycle had crashed.

I tried to find all the pieces and put them together, but it was not possible, so I kept the largest piece. This one. I made the edges smooth by scratching it on a stone. I began to play with it as a toy and became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect light into dark places where the sun would never shine - in deep holes and crevices and dark closets. It became a game for me to get light into the most hidden places I could find.

I kept the little mirror, and as I grew, I would take it once in a while and continue the game. As I became a man, I began to understand that this was not just a child's game, but a guide for what I might do with my life. I came to understand that I am not the light or the source of light. But light - or truth, understanding, knowledge - is there, and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it.

I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world - into the black places in the hearts of others - and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life.

And then he took his small mirror, and holding it carefully, caught the rays of the sunlight through the window and reflected them onto Dr. Fulghum's face.

Much of what Dr Fulghum learned in his class that summer faded from his memory. But to this day, in the wallet of his mind, he still carries a small piece of mirror.

Are there any questions?

Teacher/Advisor Dedication:

DRE: Teachers are like fragments of a mirror whose whole design and shape we do not know. While you are not the sourc of light itself, you will reflect the light of truth, understanding, and knowledge into the dark places of this world, into the unlit corners of our hearts. So we ask you now: Will you devote yourselves to the spiritual growth of our children and youth?

Teachers/Advisors: We covenant to do our best to guide, honor and nurture the children and youth of this congregation. We also welcome the opportunity for our own spiritual growth that teaching provides.

Congregation: We are grateful to you for your willingness to assume this responsibility. We offer our support in the shared task of nurturing the spiritual growth of our members of all ages.

Children: We promise to come on Sundays, ready to learn and grow. We will help to make this a place of education, fun and friendship.

DRE: We dedicate these teachers, then as partners on our spiritual journeys. We join you and bless you with willing hearts and hands held in a common purpose. May you reflect the light of truth and the warmth of love into the unlit corners of our hearts.