Teachers and Mentors

        The recent death of my mentor The Rev. Murray Powell has led me to reminisce about the way he shaped me, along with other mentors in my life, including many teachers and professors along my earthly pilgrimage so far.  I met Murray in a smoky diner on the North Side of Houston before I went to seminary and I spent a lot more time with him after my ordination when I served at two parishes back in Houston. 

        The Rev. Murray Powell was ordained the same year I was born, so he had a lot of wisdom to share

with me by the time I was ordained 29 years later.  He was never preachy or arrogant about it the wisdom he shared. It was much more about his welcoming presence and Murray just being himself. He was creative, a poetic sermon writer, and helped me see God at work in the midst of the world. When he served as vicar of Lord of the Streets, he taught me about respecting the dignity of every human being, and not turning away from my neighbors who lived without conventional housing.  

        Murray and I started a drum circle with a couple of other friends in ministry. We moved among our churches each month, and would share percussion instruments with those who had none. He got so into drumming, that he made a couple of drums, including curing the goatskin drum head; I play one of his drums in church sometimes. For a time, Murray got into cycling, and would lead groups of friends, mostly church folk, on organized rides on country roads outside of Houston. I liked hanging out after the ride a lot more than the rides themselves. I was in a clergy support group with Murray, and that's where I started learning the importance of my own soul work, as I learned to care for other souls in my churches. 

    This week is teacher appreciation week. While my teachers have handed down knowledge and opened doors to the wider world through my education, the teachers who have taught me the most showed me how to be authentic, and live life well. Like Murray, those most amazing teachers saw me for who I am and loved me even through times I was probably difficult to love. Thanks to all those teachers who give so much to others, showing love often without using that word. Teachers often never know the impact they have on students, as we all move off and play grown-up in our various vocations, but I hope this week gives you the opportunity to show your appreciation to a teacher in your life, or if you are a teacher, that you feel seen and appreciated for what you do for others.