kindergarden.

i had the privilege of running into our kindergarden teacher mrs. heinen at ohsu the other day. and she is just so sweet. i almost wish we could have had her as a teacher in high school also because even just in our 30 minutes talking she was so encouraging and engaging and just God-honoring. i saw her on the phone as i was helping some people find the elevators and i ran back to find her. i tapped her on the shoulder and just said, "hey mrs. heinen it's austin layton. i was in your class almost 14 years ago..." and then just kinda stood there hoping she'd remember. and she did! her eyes lit up and she gave me a hug. i asked her why she was there and she told me that her mom had been in the hospital for almost a week but was hopefully getting out soon. someone somewhere said (i swear someone did say this about someone else), "you can't help being with her for five minutes without breaking into worship or bowing your heads in prayer because she is so constantly in communication with Jesus" granted that quote is not exact and i think it was someone like billy graham talking about joni eareckson tada but i can't be sure. what i do know is that i felt that way with mrs. heinen. the conversation centered around what i was doing with my life and how she had been which is all very physical but also so spiritual like paul refers to (see "spirituals" post) that concerns the physical.  i walked away from our conversation refreshed and feeling as if God had been right there with us.  mrs. heinen said nothing of profound significance and it was not an intensely theological conversation but instead she just exuded holiness. it was obvious that she was unique and set apart from the world.  let's be honest, she is on the downhill slope towards death but i can envision her wholeheartedly relating to 2 timothy 4:6-8, "for i am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.  i have fought the good fight, i have finished the race, i have kept the faith. finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."