"As for the saints who are in the land--they are the glorious ones, in whom is all my delight."
-- David, Psalm 16:3
She had her most fashionable outfit on. She stood up from her desk and walked to the front of my classroom. It was her turn to give a persuasive speech, and she was visibly nervous. Before she even opened her mouth, tears of nervousness and emotion welled in her eyes.
She played a 30-second Youtube video. The speaker on it said, "He's the centerpiece of civilization. ...He is the loftiest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy...He's the only one qualified to be an all-sufficient savior..."
And then she began her speech, her voice often breaking, to persuade us that a personal relationship with Jesus was something worth having.
It was one of the bravest speeches I have ever seen, and she showed the courage to face her nervousness like a lion. Despite her emotions, she shared her heart with other students, and in such a way that they knew she cared about them, loved them--that she wasn't just doing some religious obligation. She judged no one--she just poured out herself in her desire to tell others about God's love for them.
I didn't give her a great grade for the speech. She received high marks for passion, for her introduction and conclusion. She lacked some of the depth of outside research I demanded for the activity, and her nervousness didn't win her points for her vocal performance.
But I felt privileged to be in the same classroom with such a beautiful and brave person. Actually, I felt privileged to be walking on the same earth.
"As for the saints that are in the earth, They are the excellent in whom is all my delight."
-Psalm 16:3 ASV
"I say of the holy people who are in the land, "They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.""
-Psalm 16:3 NIV
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