Last week, I had a bit of a rough week. It all started off with losing my wallet last Sunday. That complicates matters. However, this post isn't about my difficulties....
Over and over again last week I was reminded of how rough life is for some of my students. Kids shouldn't have to deal with some of these things... they just shouldn't.... possibly terminal illness, parents in the hospital, absent/abusive parents, dangerous neighborhoods, abandonment (or worse, parents who leave and come back and leave and come back)...
Last week was also rough because my students were rough - moody, antsy, unfocused, talkative, etc. This directly relates to the previous paragraph, and that's what's hard for me. How do I hold my students to a standard of excellence while still loving them through the variety of really hard things that they are experiencing? Sometimes I wonder if it's possible to do that well.
Friday marked the end of the 3rd quarter. That means that in 8 weeks my first year of teaching will be over. Incredible.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
My New Sport
So, I've probably mentioned this before, but I'm coaching tennis this spring. My skills (and I use that term loosely) are rusty at best, and so I've been a little hesitant to demonstrate for the girls. I can show them the mechanics of a forehand, but I'm not terribly eager to jump in and just hit a forehand.
Today we taught the girls to serve. There was no avoiding it, I had to serve. I haven't served a tennis ball in years. The first one, net. The second one, perfect. It was a miracle. Who knew I could play tennis?
Today we taught the girls to serve. There was no avoiding it, I had to serve. I haven't served a tennis ball in years. The first one, net. The second one, perfect. It was a miracle. Who knew I could play tennis?
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Reading in Numbers
As I was just reading in Numbers, a few things really stuck out to me:
First, in Numbers 33:55-56, God CLEARLY says, " 'But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.' " And this is not the only time he says something like this. Yet, the Israelites don't do it, and they're surprised when they have trouble... they blame God for abandoning them... They betray him because they feel that He has betrayed them first. Hello, Israelites! It doesn't get any clearer than this.
Why is it that we as human beings have such short/selective memories? We soak in the goodness of God in the times when His plan is clear, when things are moving, new, exciting, or just easy. Yet, when things get more difficult, monotonous, or tiring, we very quickly forget the promises that God gives, the clear instructions on how to live our lives.
Speaking of God's instructions, the second thing that really stuck out to me is that once again in Numbers 34 God is giving the Israelites incredibly detailed instructions on how to divide up the land that they will conquer. It's kind of a tax system - the tribes who have much give more towns as towns of refuge, give more land as pasture land to the Levites, etc. It's like the rules to a very complicated game... you know, the ones you make up when you're little and you just keep adding rules as problems arise or as your friend does something you don't like. But, God's rules aren't like that... it's as if God is once again ready to establish His perfect order on earth if only the Israelites would follow directions like Adam and Eve failed to do.... and yet the Israelites will fail.
In my mind, this all comes down to one thing: obedience. If the Israelites had merely obeyed and done exactly as God instructed, they wouldn't have had all the problems they face in the OT. Yet, what brings them down is, essentially pride. Assuming they know enough to handle the situation instead of continually relying on God.
I do that, all the time. I assume I know what I'm doing, I realize too late that I don't, and instead of being energized by serving the Lord in the way that He planned, I leave frustrated because I have failed to accomplish what I wanted to accomplish. Stupid Israelites. Stupid me.
First, in Numbers 33:55-56, God CLEARLY says, " 'But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.' " And this is not the only time he says something like this. Yet, the Israelites don't do it, and they're surprised when they have trouble... they blame God for abandoning them... They betray him because they feel that He has betrayed them first. Hello, Israelites! It doesn't get any clearer than this.
Why is it that we as human beings have such short/selective memories? We soak in the goodness of God in the times when His plan is clear, when things are moving, new, exciting, or just easy. Yet, when things get more difficult, monotonous, or tiring, we very quickly forget the promises that God gives, the clear instructions on how to live our lives.
Speaking of God's instructions, the second thing that really stuck out to me is that once again in Numbers 34 God is giving the Israelites incredibly detailed instructions on how to divide up the land that they will conquer. It's kind of a tax system - the tribes who have much give more towns as towns of refuge, give more land as pasture land to the Levites, etc. It's like the rules to a very complicated game... you know, the ones you make up when you're little and you just keep adding rules as problems arise or as your friend does something you don't like. But, God's rules aren't like that... it's as if God is once again ready to establish His perfect order on earth if only the Israelites would follow directions like Adam and Eve failed to do.... and yet the Israelites will fail.
In my mind, this all comes down to one thing: obedience. If the Israelites had merely obeyed and done exactly as God instructed, they wouldn't have had all the problems they face in the OT. Yet, what brings them down is, essentially pride. Assuming they know enough to handle the situation instead of continually relying on God.
I do that, all the time. I assume I know what I'm doing, I realize too late that I don't, and instead of being energized by serving the Lord in the way that He planned, I leave frustrated because I have failed to accomplish what I wanted to accomplish. Stupid Israelites. Stupid me.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
It's a weird transition time...
I'm feeling out of place again, and thinking about it, I'm recognizing that this is another stage in transition.
I've been in Boston for 7 months. I've adjusted to my job, the city, living on my own. I've made friends, gotten involved at church, etc. I love it all, I really do.But at the same time, it's only been a few months.... and I don't REALLY know these people... they don't REALLY know me.
I've also been away from my friends from TU and camp for 7 months. I've changed a lot, they've changed, too. They don't know the new people I know, the new experiences, the city. I love them and they still mean the world to me, but it's different.
I remember this from college: this weird "I'm not home here, I'm not home there" stage. It passes. Someday I'll have the deep relationships here in which I feel known. It's just the in between that's awkward and leaves me feeling a little lonely.
I've been in Boston for 7 months. I've adjusted to my job, the city, living on my own. I've made friends, gotten involved at church, etc. I love it all, I really do.But at the same time, it's only been a few months.... and I don't REALLY know these people... they don't REALLY know me.
I've also been away from my friends from TU and camp for 7 months. I've changed a lot, they've changed, too. They don't know the new people I know, the new experiences, the city. I love them and they still mean the world to me, but it's different.
I remember this from college: this weird "I'm not home here, I'm not home there" stage. It passes. Someday I'll have the deep relationships here in which I feel known. It's just the in between that's awkward and leaves me feeling a little lonely.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Hanging out in Boston
The rest of the day will be spent grading history tests and trying to recharge after a few very long weeks. However, before I return to work, I thought I'd put up a few pictures of hanging out in Boston.
Cooking up some Mexican food at a birthday party for my friend, Jeff. Note the location of the women.
And the location of the boys. It was probably better off that way.
The best part of the night was the game of Guesstures that ended the event.
Ji and I were a kick-butt Guesstures combination.
As evidenced by our scoreboard here... the cards in the foreground are all of our points. Yes!
Cooking up some Mexican food at a birthday party for my friend, Jeff. Note the location of the women.
And the location of the boys. It was probably better off that way.
The best part of the night was the game of Guesstures that ended the event.
Ji and I were a kick-butt Guesstures combination.
As evidenced by our scoreboard here... the cards in the foreground are all of our points. Yes!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
All I do is school...
I was going to take a picture to show you what I've been doing with myself in the week since I posted last, but the truth is, I look exactly like the picture in the top right corner, just wearing glasses and buried under a stack of grading/lesson planning. School is life these days.
I'm assistant coaching tennis. That started yesterday. I was in charge of the conditioning circuit. It was very basic. The girls can barely walk today. None of them can do push-ups.
I agree with this article on push ups.
I'm assistant coaching tennis. That started yesterday. I was in charge of the conditioning circuit. It was very basic. The girls can barely walk today. None of them can do push-ups.
I agree with this article on push ups.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Ah, 9th graders!
The 9th grade boys get ample discussion time on this blog, but I feel that I've neglected to give you an adequate picture of the 9th grade girls... here's a little anecdote to help even the score:
Setting - history class. I am writing something on the board and making a stupid joke.
Student K: Miss, that's not funny.
Me: K, you really need to get a sense of humor.
Others: Yeah, you always think people are weird (etc.).
K: No, I HAVE a sense of humor, you're just not funny.
Me: Really?
K: Yeah, if you were to go to an 11th or 12th grade boy they wouldn't think you're funny.
Me (blinking, staring in a confused manner, attempting to hold in a guffaw): Uh-huh......
This is funny because (Dave Rudd, that's for you): 1. my sense of humor has not changed since day 1 of class yet she doesn't mention my weirdness until now? Did she just figure that out? 2. Since when are 11th and 12th grade boys the judges of funny? Why 11th and 12th grade? Why boys?
For a good laugh, check out the blog : http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/
Setting - history class. I am writing something on the board and making a stupid joke.
Student K: Miss, that's not funny.
Me: K, you really need to get a sense of humor.
Others: Yeah, you always think people are weird (etc.).
K: No, I HAVE a sense of humor, you're just not funny.
Me: Really?
K: Yeah, if you were to go to an 11th or 12th grade boy they wouldn't think you're funny.
Me (blinking, staring in a confused manner, attempting to hold in a guffaw): Uh-huh......
This is funny because (Dave Rudd, that's for you): 1. my sense of humor has not changed since day 1 of class yet she doesn't mention my weirdness until now? Did she just figure that out? 2. Since when are 11th and 12th grade boys the judges of funny? Why 11th and 12th grade? Why boys?
For a good laugh, check out the blog : http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/
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