Sitting in the back corner of the classroom, I was wading somewhere between boredom and content. The hood of my sweatshirt was pulled over my head. At that moment, I didn't care what the teacher was saying but half-listened anyway.

After some careful re-examination of my life I had decided to give college a second chance, despite the fact that my attitude and my actions failed to show it at the present time. Nevertheless, at this point in the semester I was content with just getting by, passing through classes undetected and somewhat unnoticed. If I could go through the entire semester with a minimal amount of effort, I would be in “heaven.”

Then came something I didn’t expect. The teacher looked into my corner of the room, past my uninterested disposition, called me by name and simply asked “What do you think?” For a moment I was taken aback. Did she not receive the memo? Had she not been informed that I was taking it easy and should not be asked for questions and comments? Apparently not. So, after the initial shock of being called upon wore off, I proceeded to give my opinion on the discussion.

As I look forward to my graduation, I will forever remember that as one of the defining moments in my college experience. To this teacher, I was more than just an enrollment number or an owner of her syllabus. She was willing to look past what everyone else saw and give me something that I appeared to not want — an opportunity to learn.

The Greatest Teacher of all works much the same way. Despite how we look to the rest of the world or the façade that we put up for everyone to see, Christ looks past all things with the desire to give us what we need. He looks for us no matter where we hide: corners of classrooms, with our friends, behind the television, on the Internet. He wants to give us the opportunity to be with Him and be more like Him. Even if we don’t want His love, He offers it anyway. He calls upon us and asks us to learn from Him, with the promise to remove our hoods or disguises, and covers us with His blood.

Teachers in classrooms have the ability to look at the potential of the mind. Jesus has the ability to look at the potential of the heart.

I am grateful to still be learning from both.

Pierre Quinn is a 23-year-old college senior. He is majoring in communication at Andrews University and is a member of the Lake Region Conference Pontiac Southside Church.