When I come across obstinate people, I am always drawn back to Jesus' parable of the annoying neighbor. I am pretty sure JC wouldn't label the parable in that way, but I use that term only so that you can know exactly which neighbor I mean. He and His Father talked a lot about neighbors: treat your neighbor as you'd like to be treated, don't eat or steal your neighbor's food or family. You know - the neighbor rules.
I'm talking about the annoying guy who kept ringing the door in the middle of the night to ask for some bread cause he, like the diligent grasshopper, didn't prepare well enough. Yeah, that's the guy.
Just recently, one of these neighbors came a-knocking on my door, not begging for bread but begging for my time.
A student of mine called my phone this past Sunday afternoon, one of my two days off this week. He's been trying to finalize an application to become a resident scholar at Berkeley this coming school year. In any spare moment before and after class he's asking me to check this letter and translate that resume and offer suggestions as to what to say on the phone. Sure. I can help. I'm still on the clock and you're my student.
This is every week, before and after our class.
Sometimes, he comes during my other classes unannounced... and waits until I'm finished. And I know he's there, silently ringing my door, pleading for a loaf.
So this last Sunday was the proverbial straw that made me drop a steel girder on the camel's back. He wanted to meet me so I could go over a letter he wanted to send. I debated whether or not to call back, but my kind and caring wife convinced me to. So I did, about 5 hours later. He asked me what I was doing and I said "About to take a shower. And you?"
Still he wanted to know if I had time to meet!
I told him I'd call on Monday afternoon after my packages from Amazon had arrived. He sounded happy. In the morning, I called my boss and explained the situation. He agreed that it was outrageous to be expected to work on my day off - which Monday is, by the way - and I should direct any inquiries to him.
After my books arrive, I wait a few more hours then call my student back. I explained to him that it was my holiday and if he really needed help he should visit my boss at our school between 4:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon.
He then asked me for my address!
I stood in my apartment speechless, staring at the distant mountains, wondering how long it would take me to run up to the top and hide. Thankfully, he lost interest when I told him that Yes, I do live far away from the station.
Maybe he got the picture. He said see you on Wednesday for our class and I said goodbye.
Persistence.
It works both ways.
