This past week, my great uncle passed away. More like a grandfather to me, it was a difficult loss … one that you feel longer than just the allotted time of visitation, services, and burial. Needless to say, I was absent for the funeral yesterday, and before I left on Wednesday, my students had one question, “Will you still come to our Christmas Band Concert?” I told them I wasn’t sure, but that I would certainly try.
Starting my trek at seven o’clock in the morning, I realized that it was twelve hours later that I pulled into the Westlake parking lot for the concert. It was an emotionally charged day with loss and remembrance playing tug-of-war with my heart. Part of me wanted to just excuse myself; I hadn’t gone home, but something stronger was prompting me to show up, regardless of my exhaustion. Entering with nine minutes to spare, I saw the bright faces of my students beaming at me when I stepped quietly into the room.
The next hour was an amazing crescendo of movement and sound. From the gentlest of melodies to the power behind a bass drum, the music was tangible in the air, as were the feelings of joy, comfort, and inspiration. The Spirit moved over everyone, and suddenly, it felt like no matter what kind of day anyone had, we were one in that moment … in that celebration of Christ’s coming. Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco once said about community, “I know there is strength in the differences between us. I know there is comfort, where we overlap.” Last night, teachers and students, parents and friends did just that. We overlapped. Our lives came together for one purpose, in one place … and it was beautiful.
After the performance, I had a myriad of conversations with parents, students, and peers. Their jovial smiles and kind words balmed over the scars of my day, and there was healing. Though my career as an educator is relatively young (10 years) I have worked in, with, or around about a dozen different places. And nowhere have I ever felt the unrestrained care and compassion as I have here at Westlake. This is not just a school, it is a family. It is a place to be brought up in communion with fellow Christians who not only “have your back,” but your heart and your mind as well.
I thank God that he gave me the nudge to push on … to make my twelve hour day a fourteen hour one, just for the sake of love. Just for the sake of Westlake.
-Raquel Harris
5th grade teacher
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