Sunday, January 26th 2020. 2:56 PM.
Remembering Eileen in the 8th Grade
At St. Charles School
In 1966
This message is for everyone.
“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” -Mark 4:23. NIV.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” -Revelation 2:7. NIV.
Don’t be a fraidy cat.
Man up. Acquit yourselves like men.
Yet be like young children in your hearts.
God wants us to be of good courage – like a young child who has a big heart, a heart “after His own heart” – like David, the king of Israel.
The following song is led by a lady teacher who really reminds me of Eileen. Eileen had blonde hair just like the teacher in the video – and she wore her hair like a Dutch boy. And Eileen really became a 3rd-grade teacher. And she really liked the color green, like the green top the teacher wears in the video. Many years ago, I was driving down Clinton Street and saw Eileen walking with her Dad. Eileen’s dad had been a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps during World War Two. She was wearing a bright green raincoat that was as green as the teacher’s top.
18 The Lord’s Army
In my little book of names for boys and girls that I found at Women & Infants Hospital in the late 1990s, I learned that the name Eileen means light.
Eileen, can you remember being in school at St. Charles that many years ago? I was just reading a story called “To Bee” and in the story is a song by John Denver, “Sunshine On My Shoulder” — and I somehow got to thinking of you; and lately the thought of you brings me back to St. Charles School when we were in our last year there. I had to give a report to the class that Sister William Mary had assigned to me. It was either a report on German U Boats during World War Two, or another report about ChiangKai-shek. Can’t remember anymore which one. I may have been assigned both — at separate times. I remember walking back to my desk after the report in front of the class. I guess I wasn’t destined to be a schoolteacher — the anxiety I felt for days before my speech. Anticipation anxiety I suppose it’s called. It was a relief to get back to my desk and away from the limelight. Anyway, when I got back and sat down, you turned to me from your place in the first row to my place in the second row and said something like: “You did that very well, Mark.” Or “Good job, Mark.” I can’t remember exactly what your words were; but they were kind words, supportive words, encouraging words.
Alfie – Burt Bacharach (With Lyrics)
So, a half century later, I still remember your kind, supportive, encouraging words, Eileen. Another thing I remember: your desk was moved clear across the classroom; so, you weren’t sitting close by me anymore. I could still see you; but, you were far away.
Carole King – So Far Away (Audio)
Once, I saw you playfully nudging Michael’s shoe with your shoe. He sat right in front of you in the last row next to the school yard side of the classroom near the front of the room. Well, that did it! The next day, I returned very early after lunch and moved my desk from far away to close to you – right in front of your desk!
Eileen, I just had a sweet notion:
In our next life . . .
It’s gonna be like “To Sir With Love”
Remember that love story about a teacher and his students coming of age in their teenage years?
To Sir, with love (1967) – the ending
Το Sir With Love – Lulu (Lyrics)
One of us will be Sir
And the other will be Love
“Wouldn’t that be Loverly?”
[You’ve already been the teacher . . . Eileen;
So, maybe it’ll be your turn to be Love next time.
And, maybe, I’ll get over my anticipation anxiety and finally man up and be a teacher.
Now, what should I teach?
How about English?
English literature
And writing
Creative writing
Alright, I think I could love that.
I’ll love teaching and writing and my students
And you’ll love me.
And I should love you too.
Love’s a two-way street, they say.
The story I was reading that got this writing started is right here:
https://marksimaginings.com/2019/10/23/to-bee/
Christina Perri – A Thousand Years [Official Music Video]
Speaking of a thousand years and remembering something now . . . that is written in Holy Scripture about a thousand years. I suppose many are not able to behold this. Well, maybe this thought will encourage them: remember the movie, “A Few Good Men”? And the famous words spoken by Jack Nicholson’s character, “You can’t handle the truth!” Well, let’s all try to man up and handle the truth. God’s Word is the truth.
The Last Three Chapters of Revelation
God’s Way of Salvation (John 3:16)
The Rapture
Bad News for Good People, Good News for Bad
Above All Powers With Lyrics (Lenny LeBlanc)
Above All [with lyrics] – Lenny LeBlanc
He Lives
Does He live in you?
Does “the resurrection and the life” live in you?
Have you received him, by the grace of God through faith in his Son — and faith in his finished work of redemption on Calvary’s Cross for you?
Isaiah 2
John 11
And class began . . .
And the teacher opened his mouth and spoke these words:
Teacher: “Class, is this song still in vogue?”
And the class opened their ears and their hearts and began to listen:
Turn Around, Look at Me
I don’t know for sure about the line in the following song about “adoring me.” We’re supposed to worship only God.
Till …. by the Vogues
On the other hand, it is written in the Scriptures:
Colossians 1:1-29. NIV.
And
Revelation 21
Jerry Lewis and Carol Burnett on The Garry Moore Show ’61
Honestly, it was in 1961 that Eileen first came to St. Charles School in the fourth grade – the same year as Jerry Lewis & Carol Burnett’s performance on the Garry Moore Show.
It is written: “The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God.” -1 Corinthians 8:2, 3. NIV.
So, I guess, loving God is much better than knowing anything.
To love God, though, you must know who He is.
So, study the Holy Scriptures to learn about the only true God;
Otherwise you may be led astray into worshiping false gods.
Only A Boy Named David with lyrics – The London Fox Players
I realize that, maybe, all this [my writing] doesn’t make perfect sense; and, maybe, doesn’t have a perfect ending, either. Seems like my life might be like a car accident where those involved get out of their cars and they’re stunned by what happened. They look at their wrecked cars and then at each other; and they’re not sure what to do about their situation. And I spent over twenty years going to a mental health center – and that also turned into a wreck. It seems that the whole world just doesn’t work right. And, I suppose, I don’t work right either. Could it be that the Creator designed our lives to be like this?
It is written:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in the hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
‘For your sake we face death all day long;
We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:18-39. NIV Study Bible.
Christina Perri – A Thousand Years | Piano Cover by Pianistmiri 이미리
The Highwaymen – Michael (Row The Boat Ashore)
The Seekers – Kumbaya
The Bridge To Life
Jesus Paid it All – Fernando Ortega – Lyrics
This is the song I was listening to, Eileen, that got me thinking of you, and remembering you.
‘ Sunshine On My Shoulder ‘ John Denver with lyrics
PETULA CLARK – THIS IS MY SONG
1 John 4
Crosby Stills & Nash – Southern Cross (Remastered/lyrics)
Cool Change Little River Band
As I was listening and looking at the video of “Cool Change” of those dolphins [or porpoises (?)] swimming and “flying” together out of their natural habitat into the air, I thought of Barmet Bay off the coast of Bayport, the fictional city where Frank & Joe Hardy lived – and where they had many adventures in their boat, the Sleuth, and with their friends. And, I recalled Frank’s girlfriend, Callie Shaw. She was always described as Frank’s special date and having blonde hair and being vivacious in the Hardy Boys stories. And I also recalled the play at School that Eileen and I were in at the close of the 8th grade at St. Charles School in 1966. The play was called “Queen of the Prom.” And Eileen played the part of the girl who was the queen. My part was of a high school football player. And during practice one Saturday morning in the auditorium, I made a mistake reciting my lines – I was speaking to the queen of the prom ( I can’t remember her name, anymore). And I accidentally called her, Callie. And I Eileen burst out with, “Callie! Who is Callie?” I was embarrassed. I don’t recall if I was able to explain that I was confusing the queen of the prom with Callie Shaw, Frank Hardy’s girlfriend.
Time For a Change?
Thinking about the name of the group that sings the song, “Cool Change Little River Band” reminds me of the Scriptures in the last book in the Bible — and in the last chapter of that last book, The Book of Revelation, chapter 22: It is written:
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
“The angel said to me,’These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.’
“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” -Revelation 22:1-7. NIV Study Bible.
Mark's Imaginings 
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