Young people will be receiving state examination results shortly. Some will have great success; it will seem that the world is at their feet. Others, however, may be disappointed, feeling they have little to celebrate. The school system can be severe at times and sometimes even misjudge people.
In a term report a biology master in one of England’s top schools wrote this about a student: “It has been a disastrous half. His work has been far from satisfactory. His prepared stuff has been badly learned. Several times he has been in trouble because he will not listen but will insist on doing his work in his own way. I believe he has ideas about becoming a scientist. On his present showing this is quite ridiculous ...”
Pioneering
The student was John Gurdon, now Sir John Gurdon, famous for his pioneering research in nuclear transplantation and cloning. In 2012 he was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology. That school report which questioned his ability to become a scientist hangs, framed, on the wall of his office in the Institute in Cambridge named in his honour.
When people are told they are not good enough and even precluded from making their contribution to society then society can be the loser because everyone has something to offer.
Beatrix Potter is remembered as the author of children’s books but her diaries tell us that she wanted to become a scientist but was barred because she was a woman. She was fascinated by natural science from early childhood when she started drawing animals, plants and insects. What interested her most were fungi, and over 13 years she engaged in ground-breaking research and reached conclusions dismissed at the time because of her gender but widely accepted today. She was prevented from speaking at scientific meetings including the Linnaean Society of British Scientists; a century later that society would apologise.
Christianity underlines the importance of self-esteem – not because of anything we can achieve but because we are children of God.
Jesus demonstrated that again and again by seeing in everyone something of value. He gave those considered unworthy by society status and a measure of self-respect: a thief, a prostitute, a leper, a tax collector, a foreigner.
The best example is Peter as we see from their first meeting: “Jesus looked at him intently and said, ‘You are Simon, John’s son. You will be called Cephas!’ (which is translated ‘Peter’)”.
The words “You are Simon” identify him as he then was; eager, impulsive, generous but unreliable. The unreliable Simon, however, would one day become Peter, the rock. He failed many times along the way of that becoming, but Jesus never gave up on him.
Spirit
There is an advertisement that encourages women to buy their products ending with the punchline, “Because you’re worth it”. That is in fact the Christian view of everyone. But we are “worth it” not because of anything we do or achieve on our own but because we are made in the image of God, gifted by his Spirit and uniquely special, as science proves through DNA, finger-printing and more.
Tomorrow’s epistle reading urges us to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith ...” Looking to Jesus is the key for we see in him humanity perfected and he points us to our own potential “to be the best that we can be”. We never make perfection in this life but we are encouraged to keep trying.
These words from William Thackeray have a special message for those about to receive examination results but they have meaning for everyone: “To endure is greater than to dare; to tire out hostile fortune; to be daunted by no difficulty; to keep heart when all have lost it; to go through intrigue spotless; to forego even ambition when the end is gained – who can say this is not greatness?”