The Tea Room

“Bobina,” my new friend instructed. “Remember, bobina!”

I was the official teacher of our new westside Charlotte sewing class, but it soon became clear that I had a lot to learn! As I taught the English words for sewing terms, my students in turn taught me the Spanish words.

But that wasn’t all. As we talked and laughed together, I also learned more about the culture, language and geography of their home countries. It was a beautiful time (as sewing classes always are) that leave me knowing at least a little bit more about my students and their lives.

This type of mutual education is at the heart of all the programs we are launching at The Tea Room. Yes, we as teachers have something to offer, but oh, there is also so much to learn! When we enter into the classroom with this type of perspective, the experience is so much richer and deeper for all involved.

“…charity and welcome are different things. Why do we ask the desperate to strip off their dignity as the price of help?”― Dina Nayeri, The Ungrateful Refugee

Jesus tells us to “love our neighbors as ourselves.” Yet how do we truly love the person we don’t know? Assumptions, cliches, othering – it is too easy to assume about the student in front of us, to interpret their actions and attitudes based off our understanding and experience which is limited and faulty. Taking time to learn about each other allows that type of neighborly, welcoming love that Jesus called us into to grow and flourish.

When we recognize that our students are fellow image bearers and that also carry truth and wisdom outside of our experience, then we are willing to take the posture of learning as well as teaching. The gift of dignity, instead of demeaning charity, is shared.