Do Not Put a Pastry in Your Mouth.

"Do not put a pastry in your mouth, for you shall choke when you hear what I must say!" I know I almost did. Tonight's composition class was the strangest moment I think I've ever had. Our professor has been telling us since the first class that we're the best class he has... that we're the strongest group he's taught, etc. etc. So when he came in today, I was sort of surprised to hear what he had to say. "I went through, looked at your grades, looked at your papers, and I ranked the top five of this class. And trust me, top of this class is accomplishment." 

I'd been wondering all week how he would respond to the essay I wrote on our last assignment on "chance". We had to write a few paragraphs explaining how we defined chance and whatnot. I didn't think he'd think very much of mine... I mean, I said right in there about how I believed in providence rather than chance. I used the story of Joseph to back up my argument. In fact, every single real essay I've written for the class mentions something spiritual if not God directly. He scorns religion, I know, and I was a little shaky handing in a paper like that to this atheist who was likely to give me a failing grade. 

Professor Yattaw turns to the whiteboard. "In fifth place, we have..." he wrote the name of one of the men in the class. Jah, that makes sense. The self-acclaimed evolutionist... but he is a really impressive writer. "In fourth place..." The woman who sits behind me... another really, really good writer, in my opinion. (We've gotten to be pretty friendly... but that's another story.) He went on through third and second, and with a little sigh I resigned myself to the fact that I was not in the top five. Ah, well, maybe I made the top ten. "And in first place is someone you wouldn't guess at first." Huh, I do fit that bill. "Any guesses, though?" A few fingers pointed around the room. I was curious to know who it was.. he kept us guessing for a few minutes at least. Finally Karen (the-woman-who-sits-behind-me) spoke up. "Is it Sarah?" 

I don't remember what exactly he said after that. It was something to the effect of "yes". All I remember is feeling a sense of shock, then... 

"What?!" 

Okay, so it wasn't my most brilliant speech, especially not after being awarded such an honor. I've never blushed that hard... I could feel my ears burning. The class was amused, and when they'd finished being amused, our professor made his little congratulatory speech. (Of which I don't remember a word.) But I almost wonder... maybe God put this experience in my life to sort of shake me out of the "ooh... maybe I shouldn't put in a reference to "divine providence" mindset. Ach, it all seems so surreal. Now I only have to keep my title. It'll be quite the challenge, judging from the previews of other folks' papers tonight.