-By Lee Culpepper
My students would have never guessed how God would use Shrek’s life to better my relationship with them.
The Monday before Thanksgiving, Shrek was alive and happy. His day began with a walk through the woods and around a pond that we called his swamp. Strangers always recognized how the green-cartoon ogre had inspired his name.
Shrek was a happy and handsome English bulldog — well, he thought he was handsome anyway. His massive chest, narrow keister, and chubby-round head truly brought the cartoon ogre to life.
Shrek made every day a great day to be alive. He had a knack for making people laugh and grin. He had mastered this undertaking so well that he could even do it in his sleep. Simply looking at Shrek’s wrinkled face, protruding teeth, and oversized-crinkled tongue made people happy. His obnoxious snoring and deep breathing were strangely comforting, too. Most of all, his tenacious spirit would have made Winston Churchill smile.
Sadly though, Shrek died that Monday afternoon. His departure caught us off guard, as he had shown no signs of aging. We had adopted Shrek just before his fifth birthday, and he died only a couple weeks from his tenth. Ironically, the little dog that we loved so much passed away the same day that a disgraced Michael Vick began serving his sentence for his merciless treatment of man’s best friend.
As Shrek faded away that fateful afternoon, I held him in my arms and told him how much we loved him. He died before we could get him to the vet. At Thanksgiving, we remembered the treasured time Shrek had shared with us. We smiled, too, when we saw the giant, green balloon — of the ogre who had inspired his name — flying high in the Macy’s Day Parade. The celebration seemed like a fitting tribute to a little spirit who had provided so much joy, as well as trouble, to many people during his short life.
Man’s relationship with dogs is interesting. And God clearly has a plan for everything. I would have never imagined He would use a 57-pound, white English bulldog to teach me so much about the value of patience and composed leadership.
As a former wrestler and Marine, I learned how controlled aggression and an austere demeanor could serve as assets for me in certain situations. Even as a high school English teacher, those qualities occasionally proved helpful when reprimanding a student lacking self-discipline or respect for authority. However, in dealing with a strong-headed English bulldog, my aggressive nature served only to exacerbate conflicts involving Shrek’s incredibly stubborn determination.
Through trial and error, I eventually discovered that a quiet and austere character could always defuse Shrek’s worst acts of defiance. By failing to control my frustration or anger, I exposed my weakness. This little bulldog instinctively recognized my failing, and he would become embolden to behave even worse than when the confrontation began. A bulldog’s tenacity is something to admire, but it will certainly test any human being’s resolve and character.
Unexpectedly, working with Shrek helped me to mature as a leader and a teacher. I learned that loving and encouraging those who depend on us is not always enough. Neither dogs nor people follow someone because they simply like or trust that person. It is respect for someone else that compels others to follow. The way we conduct ourselves is what commands that respect from others. Losing our self-control is a surefire way to lose the respect of those who depend on us.
As much as they don’t want to admit it, teenagers are searching for someone to follow. They need teachers who are willing to lead. And amazingly, Shrek assisted me in that mission.
In fact, some of the patience I learned from dealing with Shrek is captured in a touching note from a former student:
Dear Mr. Culpepper,
The first day I was in your class I wanted to kill you
because you’d put me on the spot with a simple
question; you could tell I wasn’t plugged in, and you
called me on it. You weren’t going to settle for [my]
“stoner” image, for me to just take up space in the
class.I was really mad but [the confrontation] also challenged me.
It made me take a hard look at myself and
motivated me to prove there was more to me; you
motivated me to give you my best. You also reminded me
of my love for literature.You were the first teacher to confront me, to make me
care, and over time you gave me a lot of self
confidence with my writing. You aren’t there to just do your time
in the classroom; you really care about your job –
about us learning. That sincerity really connects with
students. It really made a difference in me. After
completing your class, I looked at teachers
differently. I began participating, got more out of
classes, and was able to connect with other teachers.I want you to know that you got through to me; it will
have a positive influence on me forever.Thank you! Nick
Nick’s thoughtful letter articulates the message I have for Shrek. I hope he knows that he got through to me, and that he will have a positive influence on me forever. I thank God once again for bringing that little dog into our lives.
____________________
Lee Culpepper is a Marine turned high school English teacher. Currently, he is writing his first book, Alone and Unafraid: One Marine’s Counterattack Inside the Walls of Public Education. Lee is also a contributing columnist for The North Carolina Conservative, The HinzSight Report, and The Publius’ Forum. An increasing number of publications, including The Conservative Voice and MichNews.com, have run his recent articles, as well.
Lee can be reached at drcoolpepper@yahoo.com.
Visit Lee’s blog at http://wlculpepper.townhall.com/