That which is "fair"

Fair does not mean equal. How many times growing up did I hear this message? (Thanks Mom.) And yet, it didn't always make sense to me. My sister and I are twins - aren't things supposed to be the same? Always? And, if not, why not? Is that fair?

Years later, with kids of my own (so to speak), I finally get it. With students moving at different paces and needing different amounts/kinds of attention, activities, etc., it's impossible to make everything equal. But it is possible to make things fair.

For example, in math, one small group of students may need reteaching in the basic area of making change while another group needs enriching through different word problems requiring them to make change for different amounts. Even though they are doing different activities, those activities are fair because they are based on the specific needs of the students - we're doing what is best for them. (Trying to get the students to understand this, though, is another matter - but who can blame them? I didn't quite get it when I was young either.)

And we can't escape this constant idea of fairness - in today's First Reading, we hear this message (in a sense) again. (And who is more fair than God?)

Maybe this is God's way of letting us know that it's time our idea of "fairness" gets reexamined...