Sometimes I feel like I'm being sustained by the notion that "If I just keep working long hours and get everything done, soon I will be able to slow down." I chase this idea that the harder I work now, the less hard I will have to work in the future. While this holds merit in some circumstances and professions, it is not a reality of teaching. I have this image of myself "chasing the slow down," where I am running after a tortoise, hoping to catch up with it so that we can talk a slow, leisurely walk together. I can never seem to catch the tortoise. He remains ahead and sometimes hidden, elusive.
Is peace and rest elusive in your teacher life? You are not alone! If you resonated with my word picture while at the same time found it ridiculous--we're on the same page. Peace is not something we can find and catch by wearing ourselves out running pell-mell after it. Both Psalm 34:14 and 1 Peter 3:11 tell us to "...seek peace and pursue it." But it seems counterproductive to sacrifice peace in order to pursue it. Maybe our pursuit of peace should be daily, hourly. I do not think working harder, faster or stronger will really put us on the path of peace.
We cannot always count on our circumstances to change in order that we might have peace. We can count on God's provision in giving us peace when we seek it. A peace amidst the chaos. A peace that seems out of place for our circumstances.
So if I nix my crazy "chasing the slow down" image. What does it look like to pursue peace?
Here we are, gearing up for another Monday. Here are some Monday thoughts for you:
- If you have a rough Monday, let that help you look forward to the rest of the week.
- If you were to count the number of Mondays left in your school day, you might be pleasantly surprised.
- You may not be looking forward to Monday, but there's a kid in your classroom who's been aching for it all weekend--Monday means a return to stability and a safe place.
- Lastly, Mondays are a fresh start-make the most of it!
What about me? While watching out for the fun God glimpses amongst my students, how can I also be an image bearer?
Because each of us was made in God's image, we reflect Him. Period. That's truth. It doesn't always seem like it though.
Overwhelmed.
Stressed.
Frazzled.
Frantic.
Tired.
All of these things we teachers feel on a fairly regular basis. How can God be found in these things? When things are piling up both on your desk and inside your head...where is God in that?
Although He is perfect and infinite, and we are neither. I believe that my teacher life has attributes that can reflect who He is. Here are two of my favorites:
1. Faithful
For some of your students. you may be the one of most consistent adults in their life. Your days may have ups and downs, but you show up. Your faithfulness in being there for your students, consistent with your procedures and expectations, mirrors a quality of our God. May your faithfulness in showing up for your students (in all the ways that may mean) point them to the One who is the most faithful.
2. Loves the individual
Some days, when I look around my classroom, I feel such a relief to know that my God is limitless. As a teacher, I care about the needs, strengths and weaknesses of each individual student. But as a teacher, my day is full and busy and I am stretched thin among many individual students. I so wish I could meet each student's need on a more individual level. This could be a slap in the face of my finite, limited self (it often is). I can't do it all. I do serve One who can. That teacher instinct of wanting to love and serve individuals makes us image bearers of our God who desires an individual relationship with each person on the planet. We carry the reflection of His compassion and empathy. I pray that I can keep in perspective the reality of my humanity alongside my potential as an image bearer of our King.
