Previous | Next 

A story for the living

Janet Panning

I went with a family to check out wheelchair access in a local school the other day. The principal, at first formal and aloof, warmed up to us and began telling stories of her experiences as a teacher with students with disabilities.

Teen-age Jamaican girls at a women’s centre in Kingston. MCC photo by Howard Zehr

She had an 11th-grader one year who had cancer. The student had her leg amputated below the knee. Eventually, the doctor amputated above the knee to relieve the pain, but not because he thought she would recover.

This girl had to spend time in the hospital during the all-important preparation period for grade 11 exams. Her girlfriends daily took turns visiting her in the hospital, carrying her assignments to her and carrying her homework back to the teachers. She was out of the hospital in time for the exams.

“She used to be my colour (brown),” said the principal, “but when I handed her the test, she was as white as the paper. I asked if she felt OK, and she nodded yes.”

The day after the exams, the girl went back into the hospital. Two weeks before the exam results came out, she died.

“She got five passes and two distinctions (honours),” the principal said. “Her friends planned the entire funeral, and carried the coffin. Just before they got to the hearse, they all started crying and dropped the coffin. Fortunately, the undertakers were standing there and caught it.”

The story moved me greatly. I felt shaken as we left the school. I said to the others, “What a sad story. She even died without knowing that she passed her exams.”

“That is not the point of the story,” the others said. “It is a story about the girls rallying around when their friend needed them. It is a story of inspiration, a story for the living.”

The crucifixion story is also one of suffering and death. Instead of people rallying around, the story tells of sad and frightened people running from their friend. Only a few stayed behind to help with the burial. It is a sad story, of people at their worst in a time of need.

The crucifixion story, however, is also a message of God’s presence – even in suffering and human weakness. It is a message of God’s nearness and God’s overwhelming faithfulness to us as we flee from God’s ultimate sacrifice. It is a story for the living.

This article was distributed as a news release by Mennonite Central Committee in February 1998 when Janet Panning was co-director of MCC programs in Jamaica.

Previous | Next 

Last modified May 4, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Masthead and usage information.