John 13:34-35
4 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The story of Glenn Best is a story of not just one hero but a class of heroes. It is the story of the courage to lead and the courage to follow. It is a story of choices. Glenn was a third-grade student in Mrs. Michlear’s class. He was odd and annoying. He didn’t have any friends. He was picked on. He liked to pat his head. Yes, Glenn was different. The whole class could see it and so at the beginning of the year, they chose to focus on how much he annoyed them. Because of this they were not very kind to him. But a few of the students eventually had the courage to start being sympathetic to Glenn. They stood their ground and little by little, what once was once just a class became a family. Glenn was odd but loving. Glenn didn’t understand social space but had good intentions. He may have invaded everyone’s space but did it with gentleness, a beautiful smile and a pat on his head. He patted his head perhaps to find comfort, find courage or to feel more approachable. No one understood why. It was just something Glenn did.
It became evident as the year went on how different Glenn really was from the rest of the class. He wasn’t like his classmates, Cindy, Norman, George or Neil. He came to school with a burnt hand. He explained he knocked over a pan full of hot water. He came to school with cut earlobes. He explained he fell. His mother showed up every day and stood outside the lunch room to watch him eat. Was this odd? Indeed. One day Glenn didn’t make it to school. He collapsed on the way.
Yes, Glenn was different. His home was not a safe place for him. But he had a family at school. He had that family because at the moment that God called and said take care of my own, a decision was made, by a class full of third graders, to do so. A decision was made to move forward and not turn away.
Not an easy decision. It is easier to follow the status quo, follow the crowd and not stand out. But easy isn’t always right. Glenn was a victim of his circumstances. His class could have chosen to victimize him more, and by doing so, contribute to the ugliness of the world instead of its beauty. But they didn’t. There is voice inside of you that calls you to do the right thing. There is a voice that says stand up for the weak, broken, abused, the lost and weary. What side do you stand on? It may not always be the popular side. But make sure you are on the side of justice and not injustice. Make sure you are on the side of love and not hate. Make sure you are on the side of embracing and not avoiding. If you are unsure of what side to be on ask what side would Jesus be on? That is the side to choose.
Glenn was a victim of an adult’s behavior. An adult chose to abuse him. An adult chose to hurt him. An adult chose to murder him. Glenn passed away the summer after third-grade. His mother had starved him and burnt him with cigarettes. Mrs. Michlear’s class learned that year to make courageous choices. Choose to stand up for the person you don’t understand. Have courage to lead and have courage to be the first person to follow a courageous leader. Because of the choices made in a third-grade classroom, by third-grade students, lives were impacted. Legacies were made, and ripple effects occurred. No one left that class untouched. No one left unloved.
You are faced with choices each day. What choices will you make? Add to the ugliness or beauty? Advocate or hide? Choose to lose yourself to bring God praise. Give mercy even where you think it is undeserving. Mercy isn’t your choice, it is God’s. Step out of your comfort zone, fight for a person and fight for a cause. When all else fails and you need a little courage think of Glenn Best, find comfort in patting your head, push forward and strive to be your BEST.
Prayer
Father God,
Thank you for a third grade class that had the courage to stand up and embrace your child. In doing so they touched the lives of many and I am sure this had a huge ripple effect. Thank you for showing me what side to choose. Thank you for your ever presence. Forgive me for the times I choose to contribute ugliness to the world, rather than beauty. Forgive me for choosing to hide rather than advocate. Consume me from the inside out. Help me to choose to give you my heart and soul. When you call, may I answer and may I always choose You over being right, popularity, and worldly gain. When all else fails my purpose always remains, to love You!
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