Abstinence

[freedfromsin]

I could not figure out where to put this so if it needs moved be my guest.

I received this in an email. While I am not sure if this is actual it certainly makes a point.

Abstinence

(By Robert Layton)

I WAS HOLDING A NOTICE FROM my 13-year-old son's

school announcing a meeting to preview the new course

in sexuality. Parents could examine the curriculum and

take part in an actual lesson presented exactly as it

would be given to the students.

When I arrived at the school, I was surprised to

discover only about a dozen parents there. As we

waited for the presentation, I thumbed through page

after page of instructions in the prevention of

pregnancy or disease. I found abstinence mentioned

only in passing. When the teacher arrived with the

school nurse, she asked if there were any questions. I

asked why abstinence did not play a noticeable part in

the material.

What happened next was shocking. There was a great

deal of laughter, and someone suggested that if I

thought abstinence had any merit, I should go back to

burying my head in the sand. The teacher and the nurse

said nothing as I drowned in a sea of embarrassment.

My mind had gone blank, and I could think of nothing

to say. The teacher explained to me that the job of

the school was to teach "facts, " and the home was

responsible for moral training. I sat in silence for

the next 20 minutes as the course was explained. The

other parents seemed to give their unqualified support

to the materials.

"Donuts, at the back, " announced the teacher during

the break. "I'd like you to put on the name tags we

have prepared-they're right by the donuts . . . and

mingle with the other parents. "Everyone moved to the

back of the room. As I watched them affixing their

name tags and shaking hands, I sat deep in thought. I

was ashamed that I had not been able to convince them

to include a serious discussion of abstinence in the

materials. I uttered a silent prayer for guidance. My

thoughts were interrupted by the teacher's hand on my

shoulder. "Won't you join the others, Mr. Layton?" The

nurse smiled sweetly at me. "The donuts are good."

"Thank you, no, " I replied. "Well, then, how about a

name tag? I'm sure the others would like to meet you."

"Somehow I doubt that, " I replied. "Won't you please

join them?" she coaxed. Then I heard a still, small

voice whisper, "Don't go." The instruction was

unmistakable. "Don't go!" "I'll just wait here, " I

said.

When the class was called back to order, the teacher

looked around the long table and thanked everyone for

putting on name tags. She ignored me. Then she said,

"Now we're going to give you the same lesson we'll be

giving your children. Everyone please peel off your

name tags." I watched in silence as the tags came off.

"Now, then, on the back of one of the tags, I drew a

tiny flower. Who has it, please?" The gentleman across

from me held it up. "Here it is!" "All right, " she

said. "The flower represents disease. Do you recall

with whom you shook hands?" He pointed to a couple of

people. "Very good, " she replied. "The handshake in

this case represents intimacy. So the two people you

had contact with now have the disease." There was

laughter and joking among the parents. The teacher

continued, "And whom did the two of you shake hands

with?" The point was well taken, and she explained how

this lesson would show students how quickly disease is

spread. "Since we all shook hands, we all have the

disease."

It was then that I heard the still, small voice again.

"Speak now," it said, "but be humble." I noted wryly

the latter admonition, then rose from my chair. I

apologized for any upset I might have caused earlier,

congratulated the teacher on an excellent lesson that

would impress the youth, and concluded by saying I had

only one small point I wished to make. "Not all of us

were infected, " I said. "One of us . . . abstained."

[SeekerOfTruth]

I believe the same story was posted before here on Worthy. It's still a great read and yes, it brings the point across quite nicely. Thanks for the share.

[SeekerOfTruth]

Oh, sorry. I double posted (can a mod delete my post? thanks)

Edited August 10, 2007 by SeekerOfTruth