Expecting, Believing, and Giving Thanks

When asked, many people can identify a “most influential teacher”—the one who really made a difference, and whose lessons stuck.

Mine was Mr. McEachen, my high school English teacher. He died unexpectedly last weekend (the weekend before Thanksgiving), while racing his boat in the Holiday Classic, the Santa Barbara Yacht Club’s final race of the 2010 season. He had a heart attack—his first. He was 66.

Dave McEachen was “that teacher” for me for two reasons. First, some character context (almost as important as the reasons):

I’ll sum up his character with three mantras of his. I should say that I never heard him say any of these—his family chose to print them in the program for his service. Sitting at the service, reading these mantras, I was so glad they did. They brought me right back to him, as I saw him exhibit them every day of my junior and senior years of high school:

• Always connect
  
• Err on the side of kindness
  
• Make your happiness
  

As for the two reasons he was “that teacher” for me:

• He expected the world of us—he had a reputation for being very tough, and as my AP English teacher, he lived up to it
  
• He believed the best in us, and treated us accordingly
  

It’s amazing how that combination—high expectations and deep belief—can cause you to be and perform at your very best. They did that for me. He did that for me.

In his eulogy, one of Dave’s sons said how thankful he was that his father retired at 60. He expressed how he’d thought they’d have another 20 years together, but he was at least grateful that they’d had so much of him for six.

There are so many things I’m thankful for this season. I’m thankful for Mr. McEachen’s high expectations, calling me to rise to the occasion of my potential. I’m thankful for his treatment of me—one of firm and respectful belief in my ability. If someone I respect so much believes I have it in me, then maybe I really do. And I’m thankful for his son’s reminder, in a time in which the pressure is fierce to focus on what he’s lost, to focus on what he has—those precious and full six years.

My heart is full, and I pulled it all together into my blog entry this week—the power of expecting the best in others…and ourselves. The power of believing the best, again, in others, and ourselves. And the power of being thankful.

Thanksgiving, giving thanks, may officially be over.

I encourage us to be unofficial and keep it up.