Fields White for Harvest

A reader writes:

I’m not sure if this will be interesting for you or not, but your “Reasons to Home school” today put me in mind of it. I am basically a failed homeschooler, and my three school-aged girls are all currently enrolled in public school. Every time you put one of those “Reasons to Home school” up, I feel all guilty and panicky (not your fault, of course, it’s something I’m just prone to. Watching HGTV makes me feel the same way.) We have found a surprising phenomenon, though, that has been a comfort to me as far and my own kids go, and gives me a great deal of hope about this upcoming generation.

When we first made the switch from homeschooling to public school, I was terrified. We were leaving an amazing group of like-minded, grounded, smart Catholic families and I was so, so worried about the influence of the public-school students on my kids. I was occasionally troubled as the school year went on, especially that Christmas when the kindergarten put on a concert where they sang a song about Kwanzaa, two songs about Chanukah and. Frosty the Snowman.

My oldest was making her First Communion that year, though, and as it drew closer she became very excited. Being an outgoing kid, she spent a lot of her free time telling her teachers and friends all about the ways she was preparing, etc. I had a moment of cowardice where I considered telling her to keep these things to herself, but luckily the moment passed and I didn’t hinder her from doing what came naturally. To my surprise, her friends were not bored or dismissive or offended. They were fascinated.

We came to realize that most of these kids had absolutely no experience with religion. They have all been taught that Tolerance is the highest virtue (although they don’t call it a virtue, of course) which actually works out perfectly for us. To these kids, Catholicism is just as exotic and mysterious as Islam or Buddism…the difference being that they are actually taught about Islam etc. in school and recognize that the powers-that-be are tantalizingly silent when it comes to Christianity. If the goal of the school was to set the kids up to be drawn towards Christ, it couldn’t have been planned better. These kids are blank pages who have never been taught about God, but their hearts long for Him nonetheless and they are drawn (I have seen it!) to anyone who gives them a glimpse of what He is about.

So when I worry about all of these groups who seem to be gunning for us, I just remind myself that God can use even that. I was worried that my kids would feel alienated or dubious about religion, but as it turns out they are more on fire for their faith than ever before, because the other kids at school so clearly view their Catholicism as something rare and special. It has been an amazing thing.

This has been really long, and I apologize. My 8 year old woke up vomiting this morning and I haven’t had any adult contact all day, and I think I got carried away. But it is so easy (for me) to fear the culture we’re in, I thought it would be a good thing to show an example of the ways those forces can backfire. They say the Devil isn’t really all that smart, when it’s all said and done.

Thanks for that beautiful story. I’ve noticed something similar here in post-Christian Seattle. Being a Catholic can often make you a source of mystery and fascination, as though a living Druid has suddenly emerged from the Mound of Hostages in Ireland and begun speaking in some ancient and unknown tongue. Likewise, some of the elementary truths of Faith (notable the Incarnation) are discovered to be, well, startling and awesome when enough people forget about them (“You mean to tell me Christians actually maintain that God became a human being?!”) The faith is supposed to shock and astound (and deeply attract) us.

So booyah for your little girl! St. Paul would be proud (and, no doubt, is).

May God our Father help you little one get better through our Lord Jesus. Hope it’s cooler wherever you are. Yesterday, we hit 115 degrees here in Seattle.