Thursday, November 6, 2014
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You Cannot Bottle The Wind
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She was God's gift to me, this tiny lady with the fiery red hair, the long fingernails painted a scarlet red, the sweet smile she gave the first time I met her over 30 years ago. But she also had what I would call "spunk"! She was tough. She was "old school", she was my real-life hero, my mentor, my teacher, she was Mrs. Benson. From the time I walked into her class, my life would change. God placed her there to not only teach me, but to help me teach myself, to help me unlock the gifts she saw inside of me, that I had yet to see. She could get you to fall in line with one look and when you made a mistake, she was not afraid to challenge you to do better. She instilled in me a love of the arts & helped me to see my talents & use them. I remember she said once "The 3 R's feed the brain, but the arts feed the soul". She stood by those words and proved it time and time again with every child she encouraged to get up on a stage, to speak, to act, to sing, to dance. She made sure that you pushed your potential to the limit and then told you to go further.</p>
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While in Mrs. Benson's class, we read a novel called "Banner in the Sky" by James Ullman. It was a story about a young boy who wanted to become a mountain guide like his father but his mother and uncle wouldn't let him as his father had perished on the highest peak, "The Citadel" while trying to save a climber under his care. Rudi Matt was the boys name and although the odds were stacked against him, he kept climbing in secret under the direction of his boss "Theo" who had climbed with his father. Mrs. Benson read this novel to us & we did the regular assignments and took notes. But at one point in the book she began reading most intensely. When Rudi's uncle found out he had been climbing, he confronted Theo about it and Theo, trying to convince the uncle of Rudi's talent said "you cannot put out a fire by wishing it out, you cannot bottle the wind!" When Mrs. Benson read those words, her voice was so full of truth, so meaningful, I remember those words often and I believe in that moment Mrs. Benson was trying to tell us that we all have the potential to climb our Citadels and that we should never let anyone try to bottle us up. Later in life, I bought that book, I searched for the movie inspired by the book (we watched it on the old projector in her class) and it took me 15 years but I finally got it from Disney. I have always wanted to meet up with her and watch it but I never got the chance. I have these memories though, of one book, one movie and one lady, whose encouragement, inspiration, knowledge and character helped define me & give me the courage to pursue the gifts she saw within. I do not want her to be gone, I would love one more moment, but "You cannot put out a fire by wishing it out, you cannot bottle the wind" Goodnight sweet lady & thank you....</p>
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