Believe In Potential

I am a teacher. I am paid to recognize potential.

Potential, though, can be a dirty word--an excuse word--a soft word. A fellow coach once said, "Potential means he ain't done nothin' yet." There are times I agree--but other times I don't agree. I need to be patient and believe in a kid's potential.

Take Joshua Godson, for example. On paper, he looked like "no potential." He was born to a teenage mother who decided late in her pregnancy to get married to a young man who was not the father. Financial status--poverty.

Before the baby was born, they moved. Far from home, they had no medical insurance, and Josh was born away from family support. At age two, his parents got into trouble with the law. They maintained their innocence but had no trust in the authorities. So, they fled and lived a refugee life. The first four years of Joshua's life pointed toward future trouble potential.

There were a few bright spots. Josh's family resettled in their parent's hometown. His step-dad found steady work. Other children were born, and things seemed to be O.K. for awhile. But, when Josh was twelve, he got into trouble. While on a family vacation, he slipped away from his parents, was lost for two days, and while his mother was furious, Josh thought it no big deal. He had thoroughly enjoyed his coming-of-age adventure.

That was the beginning of struggle for Josh. He stayed home for several more years, but he wasn't the same. His parents could tell he would leave again, this time for good. They waited and waited, and it happened. He left, and they rarely saw him after that.

After leaving home, Josh became friends with people of all kinds, including some very questionable characters. In fact, many who knew him figured he was lost in a bad crowd that would influence him for the worst, and his parents heard about it.

His life came to tragic end at a too young age. He was arrested and charged for treason against his country. Though the evidence was circumstantial and relatively weak, he was convicted and sentenced to death. His mother watched him die and cried for days. This time it was a big deal. Her oldest son was dead. Too young--too soon--such a waste of potential.

Could he have done better? Was it his upbringing? Was it his education? What was his potential?

At first glance, this was a wasted of another young life filled with hope. At second glance, this was the greatest fulfillment of life in world history. Joshua--Yeshua--Jesus. Godson--son-of-God. Born in obscurity, raised in poverty, always a little different. But now, he is known and has been known by billions who will never forget his name. I guess I still believe in potential.

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