Irritated much? ….when what irritates turns out to be a blessing in disguise.
To say I was mildly irritated was a bit of an understatement.
We had been told, on pretty short notice, that all of our secondary students had to participate in ‘patriotism training’ – and it would go each morning. For ten days.
Yay. Our candidates (our first batch of Senior 4 students, who are getting externally examined) are hurtling towards their finals – who’s got time to lose four hours a day for 10 days?? Not us!
But as the Ugandan saying goes, ‘Nothing to do’. We had no option. We – and every other secondary school in Buliisa – were summarily required to participate.
My irritation didn’t lessen as the time grew closer. I muttered and grumbled to our staff. I pursed my lips. I wasn’t very complimentary to the (unknown) initiators and organisers. I passive-aggressively listed all the possible reasons this was suddenly being rolled out now.
Not happy Jan.
(At least let’s offer to hold it at Amari so our students can go straight back into class after the training and not have to waste time walking to other schools!)
The morning of Day 1 arrived. We were ready at 7.30am. Students from the other participating schools were also around and ready.
But no organizer. And no Army drill sergeants. Yep. Going to be JUST like other events here in Buliisa. If you arrive on time, you’re at the very least two hours too early.
“Well obviously”, I told our acting Head Teacher, “tomorrow you keep the students in class, and only join everyone on the oval once the organisers walk through our gate.” (Yes, Madam)
Those leading the event finally arrived around 10am (they’d been held up ‘doing briefings’) (Uh huh – briefings that could have been done last week, or a lot earlier today, right??!!)
However – seems I might have been somewhat irrational in my irritation. The students are enjoying the training (think ‘scout training’!). They are behaving cooperatively and enthusiastically participating (well, most of them are!). Once the physical activity is done, they are sitting down and getting a rousing talking to by visiting speakers and by teachers around the topics of patriotism, discipline, hardwork and integrity. (And they are listening attentively)
We are now half way through the second week (finishing on Friday) and the novelty might still wane by then. But I’m looking forward to seeing how they perform (marching-wise) on the final day. And how they conduct themselves from here-on-in at school assemblies. And what impact the speeches have made on character and discipline in general.
And hey – they might have lost a bit of academic preparation and study time. But they’ve gained on many levels. And I’m now tending towards the view that rather than being an irritation, it’s actually a blessing in disguise. The engendering of the meaning of patriotism, citizenship and unity is commendable, and something that wouldn’t go amiss in my home country (Australia) and other developed nations, where it seems many are side-stepping this kind of thing for fear of offending or being accused of racism.
And God is reminding me that while I don’t always know the bigger picture, He does. And He knows what is best for our students, and how to best inculcate our students with the right values, and a respect for their country and their culture.
Linking the following two verses together helps me to remember that God knows how to handle things better than I do, and He works for the good of those He is invested in – in this case, our students.
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (NIV)
Romans 8:28 “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.” (NIV)