Respond please? Pretty please?

In making an effort both to find lessons for myself in order to better my teaching (and character) and to make contact with the ten people that actually read this....

To my teacher (and non-teacher) friends:

How do you find you best show Christ to your students? (Especially in a public school setting).

or

Have you seen another teacher really demonstrate this well; how so?

Go!

Lundi Lecon

It's no secret that almost all new teachers come in to teaching full of enthusiasm and idealistic.Many burn out within the first year and a certain-significant-percentage-I-cannot-recall don't make it past their 5th year.

Being in the midst of my 2nd year of teaching, I am in no way claiming to be an expert, just slightly more worse for wear. I had an interesting discussion today about a certain student (teachers, you know these students; the ones who you cheer for when they are absent...); now, I have had similar discussions with other teachers about other *lovely* teenagers, but for some reason, today's stuck in my mind and made me really sit down in my car on the way home (ha) and think.

The discussion went from the usual frustration and venting to the words, "She won't pass anyway, so I'm not going to bust my butt trying to get her to do the work," passing my lips. Ouch.

Am I so disillusioned from my ideals after only a year that I would completely give up on a kid? Yes, this student is a gift of frustrations galore, but how is it that I got to this state?!? Was it through some kind of weird ritual baptism students give teachers during their first year on the job? Is it simply me venting? Or is it exhaustion from a job I'm not meant to do? Hopefully, not the latter, I'd like to stick somewhere in the middle. And while I may be venting (and mathematically, this student is in no way going to pass my class), how could I let those words come out of my mouth? For words to pass my lips, I must have thought them at least once; words are telling of that upon which a person's mind dwells.

Ironic that I just finished studying James, no? I think I have to change my thought process a bit and then will not linger on the bad qualities of those students, but rather look for an opportunity to encourage them and hopefully make part of their day brighter, even if they don't consciously acknowledge it.

Taming the Tongue

3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, [1] and set on fire by hell. [2] 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, [3] these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

- James 3:1-12

P.S. I had my day made a little brighter by a student sending me a carnation through the student-council run flower exchange! Aw, gosh!

Aaaaand lesson-of-the-week brought to you by THE BIBLE!

Whilst discussing future possible devotionals this week, I got into an intense discussion (more me listening to something I really needed to hear) about God not just showing us where we need to go and having "moments of clarity," but also that we need to constantly be searching for God in our lives and looking for him without rest. He has given us so much, how can we not give him our all??

I read the following passage earlier today and got a lot of encouragement while dealing with a tough situation at home and some kid-stress at work.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self [3] is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

- 2 Corinthians 4:7-16 (ESV)

I especially like verse 15, what more encouragement can I ask for than to be reminded of the blessings God has given to me and to spread that joy even through dark days and situations? I'm still a little frustrated about not finding a church yet, but I am encouraged for now that God will provide and all is in his hands!

Thoughtful Thoughts

Decision made, I am going to attempt at least 1 (one) "deep", thoughtful post or lesson learned each week; this is both for my readers (all five of you! gooooo readers!) and for myself. This way, I can look back in a year and say, "My how I've grown!" or, "Wow, I forgot about that!" (Most likely the latter as I am getting older.

Lesson #1 this week: surprises happen all the time.

Now, I know as a teacher, that this should really be no surprise (hahaha - punny!) as I deal with about 5,203,432.44 unanticipated events per day, but after my surprisingly amazing mid-year evaluation yesterday with the administration, I was really astonished - both at how well I have been seemingly doing and at reflecting upon last year and how much I have changed and learned as a teacher. I think that is one of the big rewards of teaching is that you never stop learning! And much like my students, I'm not always learning what I want to. If I had a choice, I would be studying more French or maybe an Eastern European language like Romanian or Czech. However, I am stuck learning how to put on a "teacher face" and kicking kids out of class - neither of which comes naturally, but is slowly becoming ingrained.

Lesson #2: God's timing is His own, not yours, Abby. Silly goose.

Again, something I already head-know, but need more lessons for my heart to realize this. Finding a new church is difficult! And a year and a half into the search, is not going much better. Part of this, I realized, was frustration on my own part and attempting to take over the search. But a good bout of venting and much more prayer should help. It is not a situation to be "solved", but a time in which to grow.