Sister John Edward

 

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules4 of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-12 ESV).

 

My early education was in parochial schools. They were all staffed with nuns of the Sacred Heart Church of Galveston, Texas. I remember one that had a penchant for using her wooden ruler to remind me of any infraction of the rules. Her name was Sister John Edward. It might have been not paying attention during chapel and singing without the appropriate gusto that ended with a whack on the back of my neck; or, perhaps I was chewing gum in catechism class and the whack on the back of my head to make me immediately dispense of the offending element in my mouth. Somehow, I was always a target of her wrath and correction. At the time I thought she was at least ten feet tall; and I am sure she was without peer in meting out her “whacks.” Once as I was running up the stairs to the second floor classroom when she caught me at the top of the stairwell. Grabbing me by my shirt collar and lifting me so that my dangled above the floor, she said, “Mr. Emmitte, unless you wish to be boiled in oil and skinned alive, I suggest you walk up the stairs.” Well, I could only answer “yes, ma’am” with an appropriate tremble in my voice!

 

Later she would saunter by desk in class and whisper in my ear, “Just remember, God sees everything you do.” I thought: “He doesn’t have to watch me. You always catch me!” It was maddening having someone watching my every move, though it did help keep my actions in check. Thank God she could read my mind!  

 

That’s where the Scripture comes into play. The psalmist knows that he cannot see his faults by looking into a mirror. He looks instead into God’s law and asks God to forgive not only his visible sins but also his hidden faults. And the God of the Bible does forgive. Knowing the fact of God’s forgiveness assures the psalmist that he will be blameless in God’s sight. Not perfect yet, but blameless now. Oh… by the way… that forgiveness does not come at the end of a wooden ruler. Jesus has paid the debt I have earned; and, died the death I deserve!