Something New

"I am the Lord; that is my name!

I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.

See, the former things have taken place,

and new things I declare;

before they spring into being I announce them to you."

Isaiah 42:8-9, NIV

The above verses were too profound for the brain of a 6-year old boy but, in hindsight, they brought great clarity to an event that took place in my life on December 18, 1980. That morning, all students attending L'Ecole Primaire Mixte Bethanie gathered on the school playground for the crowning event of the trimester -- le jour du carnet.

Privacy not being a real option when I was growing up in Haiti, le jour du carnet was known as the day when whoever wished to attend the event could hear school principals read out loud the full content of each student's report card.

Let that sink in . . .

On such a day, not only did those in attendance find out whether or not a student passed or failed a class, they also became privy to the student's exact scores for academics, attitude, and aptitude. It often glorified the brilliant students and humiliated others who did not perform as well.

As a kindergartener who already knew how to read before attending school, I was not very worried about my academic standing. However, I was quite uncomfortable with the idea of everyone knowing the minutiae of my report card.

I became quite worried when, after reading the names of all the kindergarteners, the principal stopped. It was clear to all present my name was not mentioned. What could this mean? Did my parents owe money? Did I not pass the trimester?

Then, he looked at me, with a big smile on his face, and loudly proclaimed:

"LOUIMA LILITE. Admis en 1ere annee!" (LOUIMA LILITE -- Admitted to First Grade)

What? What could be the meaning of this?

After three months in Kindergarten, the teacher felt I had already acquired all I needed to learn in kindergarten and it would be a waste of time and money for me to finish the year. So, I was to start the second trimester (January-March) in First Grade. 

"Felicitations!" He congratulated me and shook my hand.

Once again, all eyes were on me. Everyone looked proud of me. They seemed excited about my achievements. Yet all I could get myself to think about was the crumbling of this idolatrous shrine I had erected through my singing, good attitude, and charm. Human approval or praise was so important to me I was deathly afraid of the unknown -- the fear of starting school all over again with a new teacher, a new curriculum, a new group of kids, a new set of unknowns. All I could feel was a sense of loss -- losing the familiarity of my kindergarten teacher, losing the hard-earned acceptance of the other kindergarteners, losing the sense of belonging I had grown to associate with my classmates. 

I felt like I was picked unripe from the vine. 

Little did I know then the path of faith is not one of ease or cheap comfort. God loved me too much to let me rot in a comfortable environment. Had I stayed there, I would have been content to rely on my own idols -- my voice, my academics, my attitude, or my aptitude. Gratefully, God wanted me to experience new relationships, to face new trials, to pass new tests, and to overcome new temptations. After all, He knew I would never grow without the hard things that were awaiting me through the first graders of that year.

I could not have written a better scenario. 

Yes, God's hand is always best!

Thank You for Your gracious and loving hand, O Father, which but opens and readily prunes the unnecessary attachments of our lives to make room for new growth. As I continue on my journey, help me to embrace each surprise, each bump on the road, or each detour with joy and faith because it is a new thing You declare. May this follower always see You have newness awaiting him in the unknown! Amen.