Being A Bystander
On Monday, through a collaboration I am doing with Marian University’s Center for Vibrant Schools I was working with the teachers at Trinity Lutheran School. It was a great day of visiting classrooms, coaching, working with teacher leaders, and after-school professional development. As I always say when I am in classrooms I pay most attention to what students are doing. In one class the students engaged me in their activity. The students were working in groups preparing for skits. A student proceeded to ask the teacher if she could ask me to be in the skit. He said yes and the student proceeded to ask me if I would portray Jesus in her group’s skit. I was thrilled and I must say our skit was incredible! Another class was studying the book of Matthew and the teacher had a writing prompt for the students to describe which of the persons in the book of Matthew they could relate to best.
After turning in their short essays the teacher asked them to share out who they had chosen and why they best related to them. One student gave an answer that no one was expecting. He said, “The bystanders because they were there listening and learning.” Pretty insightful for an eighth grader, don’t you think? The teacher and I were both blown away by the insight given by this student. I couldn’t quit thinking about it. The student was right, sometimes we need to take the role of the bystander.
There is definitely a lot to learn from being a bystander. By observing situations from a distance, we can gain valuable insights into how people interact, how conflicts unfold, and how different choices lead to different outcomes. Additionally, in situations where our involvement could escalate a conflict or cause harm, it may be better to observe and not get directly involved. It’s important to assess each situation carefully and consider the potential consequences before deciding whether to take action or stay on the sidelines.
Being a bystander can give us the opportunity to reflect on our own values, beliefs, and biases, and consider how they influence our actions or inaction in certain situations. This can help us develop a better understanding of human behavior and improve our own decision-making skills. Bottom line: sometimes it is best for us to listen, learn, and be a bystander rather than being a major contributor.
Byron's Babbles 
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