So, as most of you know, it snowed in Nashville, canceling schools and closing many businesses down early yesterday and today. I took some pictures of the snow at our apartment and posted them to Associated Content. Check them out.
This week has been extraordinarily busy. I had my second evaluation at school, plus I have several readings/assignments due for grad school this week and next week. I am also several weeks behind on grading (and we're just a few weeks into school, so...).
Anyway, all that being said, I have a lot of work to do over the next several days, so I'm praying for snow for tomorrow. That would definately give me some much-needed extra time to catch up on work/homework!
You should pray for snow in middle Tennessee, too! :)
"So what? Join the club," you might think. If that's your thought, then you probably don't know me very well.
By nature, I am a peaceful person. In the past, stress hasn't affected me. Even so, lately, I have found myself rushing from one responsibility to the next, and, in the end, looking back and trying to find time for things high on my priority list, much less leisure...
Between teaching full-time, preparing for teaching full-time, going to graduate school, and commuting in annoying traffic, my stress-level is so high that my battery is drained when it comes time to focus on the things that I feel are truly important to me in life: my relationship with God, my wife, and my friends (not to mention any hobbies).
It's not like I am alone in this, though. Quite frankly, many people have much more stress because of their work situations as well as additional responsibilities in their personal life than I do. So, what I am trying to say is this: Why do we live like this?
When I look at the society of America at large, it appears to be obsessed with busy-ness. The most disturbing aspect of this, however, is that most people don't seem to think it's a problem. When I talk to co-workers and friends, often I am reminded of how "normal" this high-stress lifestyle has become. Why does our culture feel this constant need to be doing something? What ever happened to leisure? Just ... relaxing? Just ... being? I want some peace!
But, I need to step back even further. My tendency is to associate this fast-paced, high-stress lifestyle with our American culture, which to some extent is fair and accurate; however, I feel like my tendency here is slightly biased from my travels through Europe where I personally encountered a more relaxed way of living that was full of peace. But, in all fairness, the same stress problem even exists in Europe as well, perhaps it is not as prevalent, but it is present nonetheless. My point is that the problem of living in this state of restless stress is as wide-spread and old as humanity itself and isn't limited to American society.
I propose that we try to live this busy fast, paced life because of a disconnect between us and the people we were made to be. Perhaps, we are all moving so fast and we submit ourselves to such high levels of stress because we know that if we slow down, we just might see what's missing: peace in a harmonious relationship with God. Humanity has lacked this peace since it fell out of harmony with God in the garden.
The psalmist paints God as a "refuge" from this tumultuous world, bellowing "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10, ESV). Maybe, just maybe, if we are still, we can't help but acknowledge that we are living out of harmony with the creator, God himself, and that we long for peace.
Jesus tells us, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt. 11:28-29, ESV). In Jesus and his teaching, I can find peace and release from the burden of stress.
Thankfully, I'm not the first one to experience this trial. Jesus himself felt this burden. If you read through the gospels, you will see a consistent event: Jesus withdrawing himself from the hustle-and-bustle into the wilderness or the mountains to simply be with God. Mark records Jesus as saying, "" Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while" (Mark 6:31, ESV). For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat."
It is tempting to feel "well that's easy for him; He is God." But, I find comfort that Jesus, too, had to make time for leisure and his relationship with God. Jesus kept peace in his life by setting aside time, even with responsibilities pressing down on him from every angle, to spend with God. So that's what I have to do. I have to make time for what is important in life, including leisure; that is the only way I can have peace from the stress of this world.
Will I be as successful in my professional and educational pursuits? Maybe... but probably not. And that's okay, because the stress it induces is simply not worth me sacrificing my priorities. Sure, ungraded papers may mound up on my desk, and my GPA may fall a bit, and I my students may not have the highest test scores, but that's okay, too. Because, when all that is swept away, what will really matter? My relationship with God, my wife, and my friends; whatever else I do is gravy. Who knows, the added peace and absence of stress may actually improve my performance in the classroom as both a teacher and a student.
God, I pray that I never let the stress of day-to-day life keep me from nurturing my relationship with you, my wife, or my friends. Jesus, you know how this world can be; God, give me the strength and consistency to always set aside time for the important things in life. God, guide me in determining those priorities. Grant me your peace. Amen.
My students, although they consistently annoy me, do from time-to-time amuse me with their wit.
If you have heard me talk about my classes this year, you have certainly heard about a particularly difficult group of students that I have to deal with daily. This group of students gives me trouble for a variety of reasons; not the least of which is the amount of truly strong, yet clashing personalities present in the class.
Last semester, one of those students simply cracked me up. I have a few whiteboards that I let students use to take notes on from time to time, and there were a few students in the back of the room who were simply pretending I didn't exist, all of them huddled in a four-person circle laughing and cutting up while I was trying to get the class's attention. I stated, as I often do, "When I ask for your attention it doesn't just mean get quite, it also means I should see your eyes looking at me so I know your a paying attention."
This particular student had his back to me and was doodling on the white board. I decided to continue with instructions for the rest of the class and deal with this student after class. About a minute later, this student quickly places the white board on his shoulders, facing me. Now staring at me are two large eyes with long, curly eyelashes, elaborately drawn on the white board. It had been a long day, and I simply cracked up in mid-sentence.
Unfortunately, I think this just encouraged him...
What I Unlearned from My First Semester as a Teacher
When reflecting on what I have learned this first semester as a teacher, my first instinct is that I have learned nothing. If anything, I have "unlearned" quite a few things. I have unlearned the impulse to control every situation. I have unlearned the idea that what I am meant to do will come easy and natural to me. Sometimes unlearning is more important than learning.
Unlearning the impulse to control situations is a difficult one for me. Over the course of my life, the people who are closest to me have repeatedly pointed out that I have the annoying tendency to be a "one-upper." If someone is talking about a fun trip they had taken, I usually bring up my exciting and exotic three-month stint in Europe. If someone has a difficult time, I have it worse. If someone has an opinion, mine is better. With seventh graders, however, this attitude does not fly. They simply do not have the cultural literacy to understand that my European excursion trumps their trip to TSU's Homecoming. Nor do they understand that teaching hormonal students is much more trying than John liking the same girl as Leon when John and Leon have been best friends for the last ten years. Much less do seventh graders possess the reasoning ability to see every single time when I am right and they are wrong. Now, I bite my tongue. I listen to what the students have to say, what they feel, and what they think. Unlearning to express my dominance over every situation is quite a difficult thing, especially when you are the most interesting, most tried, and most intelligent person in the world like I am. It is hard; it is worth it.
Unlearning the idea that what I am meant to do will come naturally to me has been a struggle. Somewhere, back in the recesses of my childhood memory, there lurks a memory that explains why I feel like I should not have to work very hard to be successful. I have no idea what it is, but it is there. In life, there are those people who seem to be awesome at whatever they do; they never have to work hard to make millions of dollars or to woo women or to be the best at whatever they do; that is not me. But I am so close to being that person I can taste it. I am good at almost everything I try, but I am not quite awesome. I was good enough at school to make it by with "A"s in my classes, but they were always on the lower end of the spectrum, never the top. In college, I had to have a 3.6 to keep my scholarship; I did not work very hard and I graduated with a 3.64. I always seem to be good enough, but never great. So because of this, this nagging idea keeps haunting me: when I find what I am meant to do, it will come easy to me and I will be the best at it, and if it does not come easy, then I am out. I quit. Going into the classroom, I thought teaching would be a breeze. I relate well to people, and I know my content; I will naturally be a good teacher. Then my fourth period class entered the room. Quickly, they triggered that part of my brain that told me, "I am not meant to do this. It is too difficult, too unnatural." It is not supposed to be easy, though. It is not supposed to be natural. So, I am in there. I give it what I can. And then I go home, and I live the other parts of my life, and I am okay that I am not a good teacher. At least, not yet.
Unlearning is just as important as learning. Sometimes our natural tendencies are our worst enemies. Although I am still unlearning the impulse to be in control of every situation and the idea that good things should come easy to me, I am unlearning them.
Nashville-Based Healing Hands International Brings Relief Efforts to Haiti
Healing Hands International (HHI) of Nashville, Tennessee was recently featured on Fox 17 news for their relief efforts in Haiti.
HHI has sent down a team to assess what the greatest needs are in Haiti. The organization is asking donations to aid in the purchase of water filtration devices, food, and medical supplies
According to HHI, when disaster strikes, one of the first and strongest needs to arise is the need for clean drinking water. Unfortunately, in countries like Haiti, waterbourne diseases is one of the leading causes of death during times of crisis. HHI is purchasing water filtration systems to send to the people of Haiti so the maximum amount of poeple possible can have clean drinking water.
Food supplies are always in need in developing countries, but when disaster strikes, resources become even more scarce. HHI needs sustained financial supporters to aid them in getting food as much food as possible to those in need.
Yesterday, an orthopedic trauma unit supplied by HHI left Nashville for Haiti. During the coming weeks and months, the people of Haiti will need a continual stream of medical supplies that they simply do not have access to in their country. Your donation to HHI could help provide medical treatment to countless people who need it in Haiti.
"Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD , and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3:7-8
It's interesting how sometimes certain scriptures reverberate with me. So often, I catch myself trying to sound wise or even trying to be wise. When I trust in my own wisdom, however, I seldom turn away from evil.
Just as much as turning away from evil brings healing to my flesh, so turning toward evil brings destruction to my flesh. My own wisdom has mangled my flesh. Not in any physically observable way, but mangled nonetheless. Through all the times I turned to evil, I have entrenched my flesh in the path towards that evil. My own wisdom, ultimately, leads me down the same path every time.
When I lean on God's wisdom and turn away from evil, I begin to heal. With each decision to lean on God's wisdom, I become less and less entrenched in the path toward evil, and, bit by bit, the healing continues.
God, help me trust in your wisdom, not my own. Turn me from evil. My flesh needs healing that only you can bring. Help me stay out of your way as you heal and refresh me. Amen.
Last year, while unemployed, I got the bright idea that I was going to be a freelance writer. Well, that never really panned out for me, partially because I am not driven and partially because I get distracted easily. Then came a new job opportunity, then a move, and I completely forgot about the whole freelance writing attempt.
And here I am,one year later, gainfully employed, and $1.10 richer thanks to Google Adsense. I still enjoy writing so I thought I would give this thing another shot. Who knows, now that I actually have a job, I might have something to write about besides publishing old papers from college (although I think I still have a few more of those).
Here is a little update on me and what my future articles will be about.
I am still a Christian who is trying to delve daily into a deeper, more intimate relationship with God; for me this process goes much more smoothly when I take time to reflect on (and sometimes write about) my daily interaction with the creator. I am married (for two years now) to my favorite person on earth, and this relationship has helped me more than any other become the man God needs me to be. Also, I teach seventh grade Language Arts and Reading at a middle school in Nashville. Although the students drive me crazy at time, I know that God is shaping me through this job. I love reading and hopefully will be writing some book reviews for you (and my students). And sometimes, I am just random so you never know what you're going to get.
All of these things somehow intertwine in my day to day life, and that's mostly what I will be writing about. The writing is mostly for me, but hopefully you can benefit from it, too.
