Most of us carry some kind of memory of school. What comes to you quickly might be something from first grade, or those odd middle school days, or the coming-of-age years of high school or, for some of you, the continuing education days of college. Maybe your memory is a particular classmate who gave you a hard time, or one who actually lent you a helping hand. Maybe it’s a teacher or professor who seemed like the hardest person on the planet, or one who truly tried everything to get you to learn something new. Maybe it’s the cafeteria food that rushes to mind. For me, it’s the rectangle pizza from high school. Or maybe your memory of school is the actual information you learned, and how it’s helping you make a living today. Either way, I’m sure we all have some memory that floods back of challenging times, good times, or, more likely, a mixture of both.
My own experience through school looked different than most. I went to a very small private Christian school through seventh grade, and then, in eighth grade, I was introduced to public school, and my educational world became much, much bigger. The campus stretched across multiple buildings and a couple of city blocks. My classes were scattered across it. Students represented multiple races. Some of them looked old enough to drive, and actually took secret smoke breaks before class. It was a wild adjustment, seeing a much larger world than I’d known up to that point. So why bring all this up? Because one thing I didn’t realize was happening while I walked the halls of Central Junior High in Gulfport, Mississippi, was something my father had already instilled in me, simply because of who he was and how he carried himself. We see a glimpse of that in Romans 12:9-21.
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
—Romans 12:9-211
Fast forward many years, to when I was in my doctoral program at the Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies. Here’s a memory from school I’ll carry the rest of my days. One of our assignments was to select and memorize a portion of scripture, recite it to the class, and explain why it was meaningful to us. When my turn came, I chose Romans 12:9-21, and I stumbled through my words and teared up as I presented them to my classmates and professor. At the end, not surprisingly, my professor asked why I was so moved. I told him it was a reminder of my father, Rev. John Robert Gambill, and how he carried himself as a person, a dad, a husband, a friend, and a pastor.
My father’s kind heart toward everyone, from the homeless stranger to the highest-ranking person in whatever room he walked into, never seemed to change. His heart for people always seemed real in the moment. Though we lost him when I was just twenty-three, who he was to other human beings has stayed imprinted on my mind and heart ever since. Maybe there’s someone like my father in your life. I pray that person has shown you how to lead your life in a way that reflects the Gospel. But if you haven’t had the joy of someone like that in your life, let me challenge you to be that person for those around you. The world needs us to be the hands and feet of Christ. We walk through a dark world in desperate need of a smile and a word of encouragement.
May we go about doing good for others, and not evil. May we be generous with our smiles, our time, our patience, and our love for others.
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
—Book of Common Prayer2
Luke Gambill 