My wife just finished reading Rosanna White’s A Song Unheard. The heroine is a young girl who heard music in her head. For a long time she enjoyed mental music, but was frustrated in her attempts to write out the notes. It took her many years before she was able to get the music out of her head and down on paper. Why did it take so long? A C sharp is a C sharp and there is no mystery about it. An A minor chord is an A Minor chord and that’s that. What’s the problem?
Jerry Sheveland was everything I wanted to be. He was a capable young man, known on campus, the favorite of the faculty as they sensed his superior insight, perception, and abilities. When a student speaker was needed, no one was surprised when Jerry was given the opportunity. Time after time he spoke well, wisely, and winsomely.
During my college and seminary days my abilities were still in the development stage—the prototype. Off the drawing board, but not yet in production, nor on the road. It would be some years before I found my place in the sun and hit my stride as a writer.
Fast forward about 50 years to a lad I know who is very shy, quiet and by himself. In a social gathering, he would be in a corner reading a book. When asked to describe what he was reading, he was unable to differentiate the various factors. So I asked him:
- In what century does the story take place—1700s? 1900s? Now?
- Where is the location—Canada? Asia? Europe?
- Who are the characters–High society? Working poor? Other?
- Who is the bad guy who creates the tension–Disease? Robbers?
Stormy weather? A rich, evil leader? - Who is the good guy and how old is he—Male and 25? Female and 45?
A 55-year-old coach? A team? - What was important to you? What will stick with you?
As I asked him questions, he did well in picking out the factors and piecing together a working description of the book. Why had he not asked these simple questions himself and come to a description without me probing?
Shift from that boy to another. He loves baseball. Of the three major sports—basketball, football and baseball—he majors in baseball. Wanting to build a relationship with him, I asked him about a double play he single-handedly made—fielding a grounder, stepping on second base, and throwing the runner out at first base.
He was unable to say what he had done. We had both lived the moment. I had watched it; he had done it. I wanted it to yield an I’m-interested-in-you grandfather dividend. But he was unable to describe it. I tried to draw him out:
- Was it a hot grounder or a slow roller?
- Was it only a three-bouncer or did it dribble on the ground?
- Before the ball was hit, did you plan what you were going to do if the
ball came to you (Step on second and fire to first)? - Did you sense it was going to be very close at first, or did you feel
you had ½ second and you did not have to throw a fireball? - How would you describe your throw—an arcing loop or a bullet?
Again, my questions helped him sort out what happened and he described it well.
But why did neither of these lads think about what they were doing? Comprehend what was happening? “Get it?”
The answer in both situations is, “They were right where they were supposed to be in their mental development and their capacity to think through the different parts. God develops people on His timetable. He enables a person to grasp what He has for them at any given stage in their lives.
And when I was in school and Jerry Sheveland was getting all the breaks, that was because God enabled him. My development was later.
And resting in His grace and His program for our coming of age brings us contentment and peace. God is able to move people forward in their comprehension and mental acuity. God is able to help any of us know more, see deeper, be aware of more, see how to connect the dots, sense the motives of others, and be more any time He is ready. Mom and Dad, grandparents relax. It will come. The bottom line is all four of these people were right where they were supposed to be.
- While being diligent, a student, should not be struggling to be what he is not.
- The high school basketball player can rest in doing his best even if he is not on the floor when the game begins.
- The young woman can be at peace, even if others get more attention.
- The grandparents can relax, because their grands are . . .
. . . right where they are supposed to be.
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