Thanks for Goodness

 

We just finished watching the final chapter of the movie Wicked. I first became entranced by this story reading the book by Gregory Maguire, and then totally captivated by the play, having the privilege of seeing it on stage in London’s West End, and now the movies. I enjoy stories that give us the “other side”, and this makes us look at Baum’s Wicked Witch of the West’s story through different eyes. Maybe she’s not so wicked.

We see people like that too. They may present themselves one way and then we get the opportunity to see them through a different lens and suddenly everything changes. Too many times we view people through the lens of labels – good, bad, tall, short, fat, thin, Republican, Democrat, straight, gay, Christian. Whatever those labels have come to mean, that’s how we see the people who wear the label. But sometimes we are allowed to see behind the curtain, to meet the actual person and they often defy their label. “She’s nothing like I thought she would be.”

What a blessing to have been a teacher. I met students with lots of labels. I had the opportunity to see them as the people, beyond the labels. As a result, when I hear a label, I see a student. Their names and faces stand out from words like trans, gay, autistic. My students taught me to drop the labels and just seek to see the person. I am forever grateful for that lesson.

Once a fellow teacher asked me how I, as a Christian, could stand being around all these “unbelievers” everyday?  Wow, the question left me stunned. I’d, thankfully, never thought of my fellow teachers or students in that way. And that’s what I told the questioner, as well as asking what type of witness for Jesus would I be if I saw “us” versus “them” or “them” as the enemy, someone hard to “stand”. Too often we allow the labels (or presumed labels, because in this case there were a lot of believers teaching alongside us) get in the way of really seeing the people and all they have to offer us.

The final film features my favorite song from Wicked, “For Good”. The song reminds me of all the people who have changed me, because I knew them. The list of my students could go on forever, so many touched and changed my life for good. And friends who continue to make me a better person by being in my life.

The words “for good” can take on several meanings.  I can be permanently changed, “changed for good”, and I can be changed for the positive, “for good”.  Good people are kind and encouraging. They love unconditionally, seeking the best in the other. How lovely to be told you’ve impacted another’s life “for good”.  Even better to imagine you’ve made a permanent impact – for good. Goodness is most importantly part of the Fruit of the Spirit. All of us professing Christians should be and give good.

So we come to Thanksgiving this week. We have this special day to give thanks for the good that has occurred in our lives, and for the people who have changed us “for good”. Whenever the song “For Good” sets on repeat in my head, I think of my sister, Leah. “Because I knew her, I’ve been changed for good.” I think of how blessed I’ve been with family (both from birth and my chosen family) who have played such crucial roles in making me a better human. I can only hope I’ve done a little of the same for them. Then there are my friends who hold me up and daily seek and encourage the best in me. I’ve been richly blessed for good and with good.

During this season of giving thanks, let’s make sure we let people know how grateful we are for their presence in our lives. Let’s make sure they know that because we’ve known them, we’ve been changed “for good”.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

“For Good” from the musical Wicked, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz