‘A teacher’s wisdom’
Good morning,
This is the last day of the last teaching week of the Candlemas Semester for undergraduates. A semester which began on Monday 27 January has finally, wearily, reached this point. Two weeks of revision followed by two weeks of exams remain, and for many students, written assignments. Congratulations to undergraduate students who have reached this stage, and to their teachers who have inspired and guided them in their discovery.
That week beginning 27 January seems so astonishing now – during it the Chaplaincy held five services of Morning Prayer, two services of Choral Evensong, one service of Compline and the University Service on Sunday morning, at which the preacher was the Principal, Professor Sally Mapstone (whose fine sermon is here: https://sermons.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/good-better-best/). Compline took place in St Leonard’s Chapel, the other services in St Salvator’s. I took part in eleven face-to-face meetings with staff and others; saw nine people in my office for a pastoral conversation; led two discussion groups in my home; attended a lecture on the Fife Pilgrim Way and a housewarming party; played golf on the Jubilee Course; took part in the Holocaust Memorial Vigil and Pier Walk; and conducted a wedding. And, oh, the United Kingdom left the European Union, which the Chaplaincy marked in a day for reflection, with St Salvator’s Chapel open for prayer and meditation. None of these events could have happened in the same way last week, though most can still happen in a remarkable form. (Not the golf, sadly. Nor Evensong. Nor the wedding.)
We are slowly and fearfully recognising that this pattern of social interaction and public events may not return as soon as we had hoped. I am aware that many of our academic staff have been looking forward to today, the final day of teaching, as the chance to breathe, to take stock, to reflect on an immensely busy couple of months preparing for online teaching and then doing it. But it now seems that next semester will involve heavier workloads in teaching students in two ways – in person and online – alongside hugely disappointing restrictions on research leave and other aspects of the academic career. And beyond next semester – who knows?
And so let’s hear it for the teachers – from tutors to professors – who share their knowledge and expertise that others may learn and be expanded in their understanding and humanity. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Are all teachers?” (1 Cor. 12:29) No, we are not. It is a particular gift, and we are grateful for those who exercise that gift at any time, and particularly in these difficult circumstances.
(St Anne teaches Mary to read)
The biblical book called Ecclesiastes is the words of the Teacher (Qoheleth in Hebrew). The final chapter of the book conveys the Teacher’s work (male in the text, but surely true for teachers regardless of gender):
9 Besides being wise, the Teacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs. 10 The Teacher sought to find pleasing words, and he wrote words of truth plainly.
Not a bad description of our teachers today. And yet, who could blame lecturers and tutors for echoing the words which begin the book?
1 The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What do people gain from all the toil
at which they toil under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains for ever.
5 The sun rises and the sun goes down,
and hurries to the place where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south,
and goes round to the north;
round and round goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
7 All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they continue to flow.
8 All things are wearisome;
more than one can express;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
or the ear filled with hearing.
9 What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the sun.
Perhaps this Teacher’s wisdom may give some comfort as we reckon with the likely extension to our constrained lives.
This Sunday, while we can’t meet in St Salvator’s Chapel, we will worship remarkably via Zoom. We’ll have a fine recording by St Salvator’s Chapel Choir and a live sermon from Jeremy Rios, PhD candidate in the School of Divinity, on The Gift of Leisure. 11 am, this Sunday 26 April. All are welcome: here is the invitation to participate – just click on the link on Sunday morning from about 10.45 am.
Donald MacEwan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: University Worship for Sunday 26 April
Time: Apr 26, 2020 11:00 AM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98773808104?pwd=WEJhaUVYMXFjbk5wbm1vejlWbW9uUT09
Meeting ID: 987 7380 8104
Password: 8pQXWC
Yours,
Donald.