Seeing Opportunities Where Others See Limits

Last night, The Boy asked me for two dollars and to sign a permission slip.  I was interested to see that his school was taking him on a college visit to West Chester University.  In junior year the students are divided into three "academies", one for technical skills, one for restaurant and hotel management and one for teaching.  I was amazed to learn that my son had been entered into the teaching category.  I have been looking into culinary schools for him for after he graduates from high school and here the dear boy has set his sights on becoming a teacher.

When he was first diagnosed on the autistic scale of disorders some years ago, the psychologist freely admitted that she hoped she would be proven wrong but she saw his ability to earn a decent living wage limited to busing tables or building salads in a restaurant.  Now he thinks he wants to go to Penn State.  There is a technical difficulty with this in that he has been resistant to sit for the SAT's because he is convinced he will fail, but we are trying to encourage him to give it a try anyway, because he really has nothing to lose. 

When I was in high school, I struggled mightily with algebra.  I would seek out the top students in the class to help me, and try as they might, they couldn't.  Sometimes when people are on a plane so far above us, they don't know how to relate things in simple terms.  One of the students, determined to help, suggested that I seek out one of the C students instead on the theory that our learning styles and abilities might be closer.  That student was a genius as far as I'm concerned because I instantly connected with my new tutor.  That's why I wouldn't entirely rule out the possibility of this kid of mine going to college and maybe even becoming a teacher.  Maybe he can work with young people who are in a boat similar to his.  The worst thing I could do is tell him he can't do something based on what a psychologist thought years ago.

The youngest has been asked to do another project for our pastor.  He found a series of videos that he'd like her to compile into one DVD so he can use it as a teaching tool for priests who'd like to learn how to offer the Extraordinary Form of the Mass.  She's already busied herself working on this.  I was thinking of how a few weeks ago, the cantor at another church pooh-poohed the TLM because women are not permitted to serve at the altar. Rebecca looked her straight in the eye and told her it didn't bother her one bit.   While it is true that women are not invited to join the altar crew, it's not true that they cannot serve.  There are many ways that a young lady can serve Our Lord and her parish without ever setting foot in the sacristy. I take a certain amount of pride in the knowledge that this little project might enable my young lady, in some small indirect way, to help a priest learn this beautiful expression of the liturgy.

Have a blessed and spiritually fruitful Friday and be on your guard against the Father of Lies.  In the words of Father Dennis, he's walking the streets. 

See you Saturday .