Foot Washing & Stacking Chairs

Christians around the world are preparing to observe what is known as Holy Week, the week of recalling Jesus ‘ crucifixion. Together with many other Christians I have this week been reflecting upon another ritual of this week:  Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. In remembering that event I recall an experience of some 50 years ago that still sticks in my mind. It involves the simple act of stacking chairs.

I was principal of Concordia Lutheran School in Hong Kong. At the end of the high school assembly we were getting ready to repeat that assembly for the primary grades. This required a bit of chair rearrangement. So I began doing that. Immediately my two assistant principals (both respected Chinese scholars) ran up to me. “Principal Kieschnick, don’t you move those chairs! That is not a job for a principa,. We will call the janitor who’ll immediately take care of it.!”

Now this was a new experience for me. One of the jobs I always felt went with being principal was  doing the little stuff like moving chairs. Now I was told to not do that. I had been in that Chinese society long enough to stop and reflect. My two colleagues were speaking out of a long tradition. They felt that moving chairs was below the dignity of a school principal. If he did that the entire office of the principal would lose some respect. I had to take that point of view seriously. After all, if the office of principal was lowered in the eyes of the students that would also affect their view of his assistants.

Yet my mind had other thoughts. “I do not find this demeaning. The elementary school kids are about to arrive, I have a few minutes, I can get the chairs set up and be ready to go almost by the time the custodian would get here.” And I must admit I also had a slight feeling of  being called to “wash feet”-that is to humble one’s self.

About that time the janitor arrived and set up the chairs. But those conflicting impulses still prevail. Respect the traditions of those among whom you serve. On the other hand don’t let tradition n keep you from doing what your more sanctified impulse is urging you to do.

What would you have done?