As someone who may be too quick to answer “Yes” to too many things, I may have swung to the other extreme in my zeal to keep balance in my life. However, this was one time when the answer “No” was not what God desired.
I teach American Sign Language (ASL). Last Easter, I was invited to sign with a team of people, along with the choir and praise team at my church. One of the people I signed with was a student from my advanced sign language class.
From the worship pastor’s playlist of songs, we would choose a song to sign. I thought one of the more popular songs was powerful, but was also lyrically challenging. So, I decided to say “No” to it. I felt that I simply didn’t have the time to tackle something that difficult in a short amount of time.
Two weeks before Easter Sunday, a choral professor at another university who wanted to teach his students how to sign an excerpt from a song they were performing the following month, emailed me to ask for my help. The song was coincidentally the same one we had chosen not to sign on Easter Sunday.
I read his email 30 minutes before my advanced sign language class. Immediately, I brought this challenge before them. As their professor, I was confident that this class would rise to the linguistic challenge.
However, when I played the song for them, most didn’t understand the meaning behind it. For a class that was usually up for any task, they were at a loss. I felt my lesson was a failure that day. I was ready to say “No” to helping this professor.
After class, I felt God leading me to learn how to sign that song for Easter Sunday and to help the choral professor. Not only did God provide the time for me to work on this challenge, but I sensed my excitement growing as the student and I worked together to translate the song.
As I pondered this challenge, I saw it would be a great way to open up a conversation with my class.
Unexpectedly, the student who had helped translate the song suggested that we sign this song for all three of my ASL classes. I jumped at the opportunity. The response to our signing was astounding. It sparked spiritual discussions, different in each class, but all lively.
As I connected the dots: the invitation to sign at my church, the choral professor’s request for help, and my student’s encouragement, I realized there were clear signs God wanted to change my plans.
I am so thankful he didn’t take “No” for an answer.
Michelle Freas
American Sign Language
Santa Fe College