Unforgettable Things I Have Heard

November 28, 2023

When I was about twelve years old, I heard a very unusual guest speaker at our little Methodist church in Mobile, Alabama. I’d never before heard a woman speak from the pulpit. I do not recall her name, but this lady was quite a preacher, even though ordination for women would be years away.

During that period of my young life, I felt inferior to other kids, and my fledgling inner critic labeled me a failure. But this wonderful preacher gave me hope; so much so that I recorded her talk in my journal that evening. Of all she said about faith, there is one thing she said that has remained in my heart since that day:

“Education is the training of the faculties of the young so they may face all the experiences of life victoriously.”

Her words inspired me to learn about as many things as possible. I was tired of being an inferior and a failure. But my newly inspired quest to learn pulled me out of my self-demeaning cycle. Soon, and thanks to this amazing preacher, I began to feel more confident than inferior.

As life progressed, I discovered more and more depth to her statement that I didn’t understand at age twelve.

First, I learned that education was not confined to academics or to the gathering of degrees. In fact, education includes everything that life has to teach. An educated person is not someone who necessarily has degrees, but who has allowed life to teach them consciousness.

Next, life taught me that education is not only for the young in age, but for those who are young in curiosity, regardless of their age.

And finally, I learned it is impossible to be victorious in all life experiences, but it is possible to face them victoriously.

I wonder if this dear soul, a natural preacher, felt oppressed because she and all women were considered non-qualified for ordination? I imagine so. But her effectiveness as a preacher obviously penetrated her oppression. She truly faced the experience of oppression victoriously! Finally, years after I heard this preacher, the church’s collective consciousness grew. The church became more educated.

Inquiry: How would you define education?

Dear God,

I do not know her name, but she ministered to my young soul. I give you thanks and praise. Amen.

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