Hot tears were streaming out of my eyes, leaving tiny tear tracks between the letters on my laptop’s keyboard. That didn’t bother me as I continued typing. The brewing storm outside did not concern me. The once packed lecture room was now empty. I sat at a weathered brown table in the lecture hall, typing away my dissatisfaction.
It was my first semester as a full-time lecturer. I was asked to co-teach another class which I was not ready for. The teacher who had taught this class for many years was temporarily immobile. He had been my teacher, my mentor and “guru” of Adventist Education in the South Pacific. He has served as an inspiration to many aspiring educators who attended his classes. Students would be excited by his teaching approaches, and I felt called to fill shoes that were too big for me.
When I took my first class on a sweltering Tuesday afternoon, I lacked confidence. I was aware that I couldn’t fill those enormous shoes.
I sat in the lecture hall after everyone had departed and thought back on the lesson I had just given. In my 15 years of teaching, it was the worst I had ever done.
So, I sent him an email, expressing my disgust with myself. The response came quickly and read: “Pray that the Holy Spirit will lead and use us.”
Paul highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in our life. Acts 1:8: “But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive POWER, and you will be witness in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, as well as to the ends of the earth.”
The Holy Spirit is our source of power, enabling us to be effective witnesses to those around us. This heavenly empowerment acts like a spiritual fuel, igniting our hearts and minds and instilling in us confidence and conviction.
Think of the Holy Spirit as a gentle yet strong wind that fills our sails and leads us on our journey. We can look to the Holy Spirit for direction and strength when we feel lost or helpless. It is like having a friend who always knows what to say and the right direction to take.
Complete dependence on the Holy Spirit was necessary to finish that semester successfully. Without the Holy Spirit’s leading, inspiration, direction, leadership and instruction, I could not have accomplished that feat. I need to be taught by the Holy Spirit before I can teach.
Dulcie Motamota is a lecturer in the School of Humanities, Education and Theology at Pacific Adventist University.
