Miracles

Posted on by Live & Learn

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Back in June, I shared a post on how I had come to be reading books written by John Updike, John Steinbeck and other literary Titans. The post was titled: Lit Boy. My college Professor, John Vande Zande, is responsible. Sadly, I learned that he had passed away.

On Monday, two months after I had written the post, an email settles gently in my inbox among a stack of 30 or 40 others. I see the surname on the email address. My eyes lock-on “from Vande Zande.” My mind whirs back to the Lit Boy post. I read the email.

Dear David,

Thank you for the lovely tribute to my father, John Vande Zande, on your blog. I also had him as a teacher, but I’m not sure a son appreciates this the way a stranger does. Thank you for letting me see him through your eyes. It would mean a great deal to him to know that he inspired you so much. He was always skeptical of his role as a professor. He would say, “What business do I, a kid from Big Bay, have in being in front of a college classroom?” I think the best profs do doubt their business in being in front of a room of students. It keeps them humble and it keeps them trying. The worse profs are probably the ones who doubt the business of their students being in the room.

Thanks again,

Jeff Vande Zande
www.jeffvandezande.com

John Vande Zande had a Son. He’s a English Professor. He’s a writer. (A published writer). And a poet and a screenwriter. (How proud would his Dad be of him today.)

And as Paul Harvey would say, here’s the rest of the story:

Jeff proceeds to share my Lit Boy post with his Mother, Professor Vande Zande’s wife, Elaine. “Mrs Van” adds this comment on my post later in the day:

Elaine VandeZande commented on Lit Boy

David, You put a song in my heart and a smile on my lips by your lovely post. My son Jeff who is an English professor in Midland, MI. came upon your blog and sent it to me. Jeff followed in his father’s footsteps and is an accomplished writer as well. It’s so rewarding to hear from John’s former students and to know that he made a difference to so many. John was a gentle man who cared about his students and would look at them as a father would and comment, “They are somebody’s children.” He would be so excited when his love of great books sparked something in his students. You brightened my day. It’s been eight years since John died and to hear from a grateful student helps to know he is still remembered. Thanks, Mrs. Van

Sunday.

A day for Peace, for rest, for reflection.

A day to down fulls cups of gratitude.

A day to thank this crazy social media / internet / email / blogging thing.

All Miracles.

Credits: Image – Slide Share

 

37 thoughts on “Miracles”

  1. These are the gifts that make one humble, blur our vision and marvel at the magical way in which the world works. You give gifts, you receive gifts and somehow there must be an invisible hand making sure that they are distributed to the right people at the right time..

  2. Wow, DK, this gives me goosebumps… I LOVE the whole arc of this story–that Jeff happened upon your blog post about his dad, that HE is a writer and teacher, that his mom read the post and commented, and that you took the time to recognize someone who has had an impact on your life. Gratitude and reflection indeed.

  8. Your story reminds me of the importance of going back to those who have provided inspiration and thanking them. I am now working on my list.

  9. Oh David, I am so happy for you ~ what a difference you’ve made by telling the difference he made. And so goes on the cycle of connecting with others and appreciating each other for who we are and acknowledging the gifts we’ve been given and we’ve bestowed on others. Beautifully done David. ♥

  10. Somehow, somewhere, it will reach someone that touches one’s heart out of millions readers and that is a miracle, indeed.

  11. My quirky high school English Lit. teachers (yes, two quirky ones) put me on the love path of literature/reading. Books by Updike as well as his biography are on my list of ‘must read’. Thanks for sharing your inspiration. Readers unite!

  13. It all starts with the heart…from John Vande Zande, to you (and many others), and back to his family. Love travels far. This will stay with you forever my friend.

  15. Sadly, I was googling for a picture of myself that I needed. As I was scrolling through the images, I saw a picture of my father that I’d never seen online before. I clicked the picture, and it took me to Dave’s LitBoy post. Obviously, I read the post with great interest and stirrings of memories of my father. He was a great teacher…I’ve been told many times. I have to believe he was an even better dad. I miss him.
    Jeff Vande Zande

  16. Absolutely beautiful, and what a tribute to all of you – being who you are meant to be, putting good into the world, for how can that not come back to you/us somehow? It has, here in this lovely arc of life. This is just such an amazing full circle story!

  17. I have always had high regard and respect for my teachers. And I still have… I remember when I sent Eid Cards to my favourite teachers and after 6 months I got enrolled in a class of one of them. When I entered the class he smiled and asked how am I doing? He used to be a very strict teacher and wasn’t frank at all so coming that from his side was something that I wouldn’t ever forget.

    1. Wonderful. Your comment reminds me of this poem:

      I once found a a bird
      floundering beneath my tree—
      learning flight, it fell.
      I called-in sick and spent the day,
      all day, teaching it to fly.
      +
      Again and again,
      jumping from branch to finger,
      furthering distance.
      Finally he found his wings
      and my day’s teaching was done.
      +
      I well remember
      when he lifted off my finger
      and, too fast, was gone…
      and as with all my students,
      I prayed for his happy life.

      —Michael Boiano

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