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Education Ministry

Posted on October 19, 2005 ...

?¢‚Ǩ?ìProfessor Ellis Fowler, a gentle, bookish guide to the young who is about to discover that life still has certain surprises, and that the campus of the Rock Springs School for Boys lies on a direct path to another institution, commonly referred to as the Twilight Zone.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù

So begins one of my favorite episodes of the Twilight Zone, ?¢‚Ǩ?ìThe Changing of the Guard.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù Originally broadcast on June 1, 1962, it starred Donald Pleasence as an aged teacher who, after 51 years of faithful service, is being forced into retirement. Haunted by the thought that his career can be summed up by a handful of forgotten lessons, he is convinced that his life never made a difference. He wanders alone on a snowy night through the school?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s campus until he finds himself standing next to a statue with a plaque that reads: ?¢‚Ǩ?ìBe ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù Believing he has won no such victory, he decides to end his life in shame. This is where the story turns. A mysterious bell draws him back to his old classroom where he finds the ghosts of several former students. One by one, they tell Professor Fowler exactly what they gained from him ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú courage, bravery, integrity ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú qualities he had taught, not so much in his lessons, but through his life. The episode ends with Serling?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s matter-of-fact summary:

?¢‚Ǩ?ìProfessor Ellis Fowler, teacher, who discovered rather belatedly something of his own value. A very small scholastic lesson, from the campus of the Twilight Zone.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù

I like this episode for several reasons. Other than being a great story, it reminds me that most of life?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s lessons are better caught than taught. So much of what we give to others comes directly from the deep well of our own character. Who we are speaks much louder and is better remembered than what we say. This should encourage those with small voices and challenge those with big voices. For the quality of one?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s character will echo long after even the most eloquent of speeches has faded away.

It also reminds me that our worth is not measured by trophies and titles. Rather, it is the legacy we leave to those who have known us. When our time is complete, it will not matter that we have or have not held records, written books, made money, or built great empires. Those things are fine, but they have no eternal value. Records will be broken, books will be forgotten, money will be spent, and empires will crumble. But a soul that is introduced to Jesus will live forever, and a kindness done in His name will not be forgotten.

The Lord has kept us on earth for two simple reasons: 1) That we may grow up in all aspects into Christ; and 2) that we may introduce others to Him. If I may be so bold as to rephrase Horace Mann?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s quote: Be ashamed to die until you have lived for Jesus.