Miss Harvey

When I was in high school, my favorite teacher was Miss Harvey.  She was a wonderfully gifted teacher of communications, debate, and dramatic arts.  Miss Harvey loved teaching young people, and I learned lessons from her that went far beyond the classroom.  Perhaps the most profound concept I gleaned from Miss Harvey was the best way to accomplish a demanding task was to create a fun atmosphere.  She built relationships, used engaging curriculum, created intriguing events, and made the work enjoyable.  Her example has served me well over the years. 

My best experiences with Miss Harvey were the field trips that she planned.  She reveled in listening to people discussing things they felt passionate about.  She often took students to places like Albion College to hear a heated debate on the sweeping social changes that were taking place at that time.  We went to see great Broadway shows like “Grease” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” at theaters at Western Michigan University and Michigan State University, as well as other local Civic Theater plays.  We even went to the famous Stratford on Avon Theater near Toronto, Canada to see the Shakespeare play, McBeth.  I don’t know where she got the funding for all of this, but I do know that Miss Harvey could be very persuasive. 

My favorite memory of Miss Harvey was the disclaimer she always attached to any field trip.  She would say, “Okay kids.  Remember who you represent – Lakeview High School.”  She said it with pride.  She said it with sincerity.  She said it as though representing LHS was the most important thing in the whole world.  And to her, it probably was.  We could tell that she really meant what she said.  Not one of us ever wanted to let her down.   

Have you ever paused to reflect on the people who have influenced you, or perhaps on those you may have influenced?  Every one of us has made an impact on other people.  It doesn’t matter how young or old we are.  Our financial status doesn’t matter either.  Every day of our existence we all have the ability to influence someone positively or negatively. 

In 1 Samuel 16:7, the prophet Samuel has been tasked with scouring the countryside in search of someone to rule as the King of Israel.  God speaks to him and gives him this advice, “Do not consider his appearance.  The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 

It is common to assume that physical attractiveness, impressive stature, or verbal eloquence are reliable indicators of a person’s abilities.  They are not.  People tend to be far more concerned with our character and our level of care than in our public persona.   

Leadership guru, John Maxwell once said, “Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.”   

Miss Harvey never would have considered herself a great leader, but she was.  Miss Harvey was all heart.  The people she guided and the legacy she developed was significant.  My prayer this week is for all of us at CityLinC, in our own way, to be just as ordinary, and equally as powerful. 

With love,

Pastor Mike Howard