If you know me, you know I am a teacher. For the most part we are a liberal lot, so when the Supreme Court handed down its decision on marriage last week, many colleagues that I love and respect swathed their Facebook profiles in rainbows, while I, well, I did not.
I experienced a moment of pain. I was a kid again, feeling left out of the group. I wondered what they would think of my rainbow-free profile. I wondered if they were shaking their heads in dismay. If I'm painfully honest with you, I'm still wondering.
I have friend, relatives and students who embrace homosexuality and who believe the High Court did the right thing in legalizing gay marriage. I love them every one, but on this topic, we have to agree to disagree. I believe in the Biblical definition of marriage. And so, like the cheese, I may find myself standing alone from time to time, but stand I will because Jesus said if I was ashamed of Him, that He would be ashamed of me, and I choose not to allow that to happen.
You see, I'm a broken little cookie. (Notice the present tense. I'm a work in progress.) Once upon a time I was immersed in my own version of sexual sin, and let me tell you friends, it was not a happy place for me. I was so terrified of being alone, that I embraced a cheaper, imitation version of God's plan, and it did not bring me joy. It brought me guilt. And shame. And sadness. Jesus saved me from all that, and He is truly the only One who could. My gratitude for His rescue means there's nothing He could ask that He isn't due.
But from what I read, sexual sin is no different than any other type of sin because sin is all about rebellion. It's man saying, "Sorry, God. I know you created me and all, but I think this way will work better for me." Oh, I know. We don't say it out loud. But we might as well because our actions speak ever so much louder than our words.
And this may come as a surprise to some, but we live in a world that is cursed by sin. It's so bad the Apostle John used "the world" as a metaphor to represent everything that is against God. And Jesus said that "the world" hated Him and so will hate us as well. They were hating us before the Supreme Court's decision, and they will hate us afterward and in increasing measure as time goes on and as society continues to "normalize" behaviors that the Word speaks against. Some believe this is the beginning of new era of persecution for the church. They may be right.
So what do we do? Do we throw our hands in the air and quit? Nope. Wail against the government? Nope (although praying for our leaders is a pretty good idea). Show our dismay in antagonistic ways? Nope.
We love. We love one another and hold one another accountable as Christians. We love the lost and give them a picture of Jesus in us - meek, kind, humble, compassionate, but strong in what we believe. We love them because He loved us when we were broken cookies, every one of us.
School will start again in six weeks or so and by that time, the court's decision will probably receive little more attention that any of the others on the books and profile pictures will have returned to normal. Society's attention span is pretty short after all. But me, I may be standing apart from time to time because I'm a believer in Jesus Christ, but I'll never be standing alone because the God of angel armies is by my side. I pray that He'll open my eyes to see them there, surrounding me like they did Elijah, and infuse me with His love. I pray that even when persecution comes my way, and it will, I can meet it like He did and bring Him the glory He is due.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Friday, June 19, 2015
Weeding
Donnie and I went on vacation last week and growing beside our patio was a "milkweed." It was about three feet tall. We laughed and fussed about the lack of grooming that was being invested in the landscape on the property. It was all I could do not to sneak out in the dead of night and pull that sucker.
When we got home, I noticed that my landscaping was looking a little less than groomed as well, so I spent most of the morning in the yard deadheading the rosebushes and pulling weeds. My last plot was the one by the back door. It's my favorite of all the flowerbeds, probably because it was the first one I planted when I became Donnie's wife and moved into his house. It's a small scale version of my mom's giant garden with no real rhyme nor reason – just a riot of color and scent that makes me smile every time I walk outside.
I don't really mind weeding. When I'm on the ground, I can smell the earth and the scents of the flowers so much better than any other time. But today, the crab grass was thick and wrapped around some of the newer plants that came up from seed. It was hard work! As I pawed through the wet grass looking for the base of the plant so I could eliminate it from the roots, I tried hard not to dislodge the tender new plants that had sprung up while we were gone. Try as I might, every once in a while a baby Cosmo came out with the weeds as I gasped in dismay.
It made me think of the story Jesus told about the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13). In his parable, Jesus tells about a farmer whose enemy sneaks into the field and sows weeds that resemble wheat in the field. His servants ask if he wants them to yank them up, but the farmer tells them to leave them be so they don't harm the young wheat in the process. The farmer then says they'll separate them at the harvest. Smart farmer.
As Christians, I think we spend a little too much time worrying about the weeds in everybody else's gardens. I know that we are instructed to correct and teach, but just like weeding my flower beds, it's supposed to be a gentle enterprise that doesn't destroy the young (in age or faith) in the process and should in no way take precedence over tending to our own sins.
Sometimes we can get so caught up in agonizing over and protesting the "big" sins that we see in the world around us that we ignore the "little" sins that are taking root in our own lives. When I rebel against God's instruction by neglecting to read my Bible or by criticizing someone else, I am just as guilty as the person who ignores God's instruction by murdering or stealing or any other sin that man deems "big."
That milkweed was never really my problem. It was the responsibility of the gardeners employed by the resort where we stayed. My problem was the crabgrass in my own flower bed and with a little time and sweat, it's looking better. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination as I will never be perfect in this life, but I'm looking forward to a home where the flowerbeds and I will both be weed-free.
When we got home, I noticed that my landscaping was looking a little less than groomed as well, so I spent most of the morning in the yard deadheading the rosebushes and pulling weeds. My last plot was the one by the back door. It's my favorite of all the flowerbeds, probably because it was the first one I planted when I became Donnie's wife and moved into his house. It's a small scale version of my mom's giant garden with no real rhyme nor reason – just a riot of color and scent that makes me smile every time I walk outside.
I don't really mind weeding. When I'm on the ground, I can smell the earth and the scents of the flowers so much better than any other time. But today, the crab grass was thick and wrapped around some of the newer plants that came up from seed. It was hard work! As I pawed through the wet grass looking for the base of the plant so I could eliminate it from the roots, I tried hard not to dislodge the tender new plants that had sprung up while we were gone. Try as I might, every once in a while a baby Cosmo came out with the weeds as I gasped in dismay.
It made me think of the story Jesus told about the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13). In his parable, Jesus tells about a farmer whose enemy sneaks into the field and sows weeds that resemble wheat in the field. His servants ask if he wants them to yank them up, but the farmer tells them to leave them be so they don't harm the young wheat in the process. The farmer then says they'll separate them at the harvest. Smart farmer.
As Christians, I think we spend a little too much time worrying about the weeds in everybody else's gardens. I know that we are instructed to correct and teach, but just like weeding my flower beds, it's supposed to be a gentle enterprise that doesn't destroy the young (in age or faith) in the process and should in no way take precedence over tending to our own sins.
Sometimes we can get so caught up in agonizing over and protesting the "big" sins that we see in the world around us that we ignore the "little" sins that are taking root in our own lives. When I rebel against God's instruction by neglecting to read my Bible or by criticizing someone else, I am just as guilty as the person who ignores God's instruction by murdering or stealing or any other sin that man deems "big."
That milkweed was never really my problem. It was the responsibility of the gardeners employed by the resort where we stayed. My problem was the crabgrass in my own flower bed and with a little time and sweat, it's looking better. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination as I will never be perfect in this life, but I'm looking forward to a home where the flowerbeds and I will both be weed-free.
Monday, June 8, 2015
Diggin' the Dirt
I read an article in the Washington Post this morning about prison gardens. Smart administrators have recognized the intrinsic value of teaching their inmates to grow their own food. (And can I say props to our own Jeff Dennison who is doing some amazing things in his position teaching his charges about recycling and other life skills?!)
As I was reading the article, my recurrent thought was "What a shame."
Don't get me wrong. I think programs like this one are amazing. They teach life skills, show the joy of making versus the inner turmoil caused by destroying. They are fiscally responsible. The list goes on and on.
The shame is that we don't do more of this in SCHOOLS. Maybe then, we would have fewer people in prison.
Once upon a time, Harrisburg High School had a thriving vocational program. Our students could learn important life skills right inside our own building. Now, we outsource most of that training. (Thank heavens for the few classes we have managed to keep and kudos for the amazing work being completed by Janet Hart, Beth Lane, Cacy Ellis and Nick James at HHS). Vocational education doesn't get the attention and resources it needs to thrive. It's considered what non-college bound kids take, and to my way of thinking that's just dumb.
There is merit to knowing how to fix things in this throw away world. There is value in knowing how to grow and prepare your own food so that you don't become another obesity statistic. There are thousands of skills that young people need to combat the sad trends that dominate the headlines in modern society, and they probably aren't going to learn them in my English class. Some will learn them from parents and grandparents, especially here in rural America, but shouldn't educators be doing more?
Beyond the valuable skills that can be learned, there is value in hard work. Too often our students equate physical effort only with sports, and while sports have their place, there is such worth in sweat equity. It's good. You invest your labor and see transformation - an engine that runs right, a shed that's well built, a menu plan that is affordable and nutritious...where do I stop?
It's not that there isn't value in learning about chemistry and calculus, it's just that I see articles like the one I read this morning and think about my upbringing and my education and wonder if there isn't more that we could be doing to grow our children into well-rounded and productive adults. Do we focus so much on one area of their brain that we exclude the development of others? Are we so "smart" that we have lost all our common sense? Will our students pay the price for our hubris?
As I was reading the article, my recurrent thought was "What a shame."
Don't get me wrong. I think programs like this one are amazing. They teach life skills, show the joy of making versus the inner turmoil caused by destroying. They are fiscally responsible. The list goes on and on.
The shame is that we don't do more of this in SCHOOLS. Maybe then, we would have fewer people in prison.
Once upon a time, Harrisburg High School had a thriving vocational program. Our students could learn important life skills right inside our own building. Now, we outsource most of that training. (Thank heavens for the few classes we have managed to keep and kudos for the amazing work being completed by Janet Hart, Beth Lane, Cacy Ellis and Nick James at HHS). Vocational education doesn't get the attention and resources it needs to thrive. It's considered what non-college bound kids take, and to my way of thinking that's just dumb.
There is merit to knowing how to fix things in this throw away world. There is value in knowing how to grow and prepare your own food so that you don't become another obesity statistic. There are thousands of skills that young people need to combat the sad trends that dominate the headlines in modern society, and they probably aren't going to learn them in my English class. Some will learn them from parents and grandparents, especially here in rural America, but shouldn't educators be doing more?
Beyond the valuable skills that can be learned, there is value in hard work. Too often our students equate physical effort only with sports, and while sports have their place, there is such worth in sweat equity. It's good. You invest your labor and see transformation - an engine that runs right, a shed that's well built, a menu plan that is affordable and nutritious...where do I stop?
It's not that there isn't value in learning about chemistry and calculus, it's just that I see articles like the one I read this morning and think about my upbringing and my education and wonder if there isn't more that we could be doing to grow our children into well-rounded and productive adults. Do we focus so much on one area of their brain that we exclude the development of others? Are we so "smart" that we have lost all our common sense? Will our students pay the price for our hubris?
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
I Need a Hero
There's 104 days of summer vacation...
The first day of break always makes me hum the Phineas and Ferb theme song. The summer stretches out in front of me like a cat waking up from its nap, rested and full of possibilities.
I always vow to write more. I will blog. I will work on the book. And then a craft project crops up. Or a remodel. Or a trip, and I end up with one or two sad little blogs and a page or two added to the book. I am so sadly lacking in the self-discipline I preach to my students.
But as I was drinking my coffee and scrolling through my news feed, I couldn't help but be struck by the uproar Bruce (aka Caitlyn) Jenner is making and how it has prompted an entire discussion about what it means to be a hero, what it means to be courageous.
Jenner was evidently given an award for heroism and courage in the sports world that has a good chunk of the nation's panties in a twist. (My first thought of course is why do we care?! Is that the best topic over which we can feel righteous indignation? But, I digress...)
I preface what I am about to say with this: I have no hate for Jenner, no hate for anyone. Hate is at odds with the person I want to be. If I met Jenner, I would attempt to have a conversation not unlike the one I have with the check-out lady at the grocery store or the guy sitting next to me at a conference. Jesus tells me to love others and the last time I checked, there were no qualifiers on that command.
But the brouhaha (that's for you if you are reading this Riv) that's taking up space in my newsfeed has made me think about the notions of heroism and courage, so much so that I looked up the definitions. Merriam-Webster said that an heroic act is "conduct especially as exhibited in fulfilling a high purpose or attaining a noble end." Courage is defined as "mental or moral strength to persevere and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty."
It takes courage to be a hero, but I'm not sure that all courageous people are heroes. It's the "high purpose" and "noble end" part of the definition that are the clinchers.
People can be courageous for entirely selfish reasons – to make money, or to gain public attention. But to be heroic implies a quality of self-sacrifice, laying aside one's own needs and serving for the good of others. That's a pretty tall order.
Can a person, like my husband, be considered heroic when he goes into a burning building? Or is he courageous because he is simply doing his job? What about those serving in the military? Is being a soldier an automatic bid for heroism? Or does it take something that goes beyond what's required of everyone serving in that position? It's not an easy distinction is it?
In order to answer my own question, I go back to the definition again, and it seems to me that it is a question of motivation. Why does a person do what they do?
When a nurse works past the end of the shift without pay because he or she wants to make sure that your elderly mother feels safe before she falls asleep, I see a hero, but not necessarily courage. I read about missionaries, tortured or jailed because they were committed to sharing the Gospel, and I see both courage and heroism.
I look at Jenner and see courage, but not a trace of heroism, and it makes me a little sad that we have cheapened the word by overusing it.
The world needs more heroes, those who give of their time and effort with a "higher purpose" looking toward a "noble end," but I think we may have to redefine our national consciousness for that kind of person to flood my news feed. Maybe that's were I (and myriads of other educators) come into the picture. By teaching my students the real meaning of the word and encouraging heroic behavior, maybe I can make a first step.
The first day of break always makes me hum the Phineas and Ferb theme song. The summer stretches out in front of me like a cat waking up from its nap, rested and full of possibilities.
I always vow to write more. I will blog. I will work on the book. And then a craft project crops up. Or a remodel. Or a trip, and I end up with one or two sad little blogs and a page or two added to the book. I am so sadly lacking in the self-discipline I preach to my students.
But as I was drinking my coffee and scrolling through my news feed, I couldn't help but be struck by the uproar Bruce (aka Caitlyn) Jenner is making and how it has prompted an entire discussion about what it means to be a hero, what it means to be courageous.
Jenner was evidently given an award for heroism and courage in the sports world that has a good chunk of the nation's panties in a twist. (My first thought of course is why do we care?! Is that the best topic over which we can feel righteous indignation? But, I digress...)
I preface what I am about to say with this: I have no hate for Jenner, no hate for anyone. Hate is at odds with the person I want to be. If I met Jenner, I would attempt to have a conversation not unlike the one I have with the check-out lady at the grocery store or the guy sitting next to me at a conference. Jesus tells me to love others and the last time I checked, there were no qualifiers on that command.
But the brouhaha (that's for you if you are reading this Riv) that's taking up space in my newsfeed has made me think about the notions of heroism and courage, so much so that I looked up the definitions. Merriam-Webster said that an heroic act is "conduct especially as exhibited in fulfilling a high purpose or attaining a noble end." Courage is defined as "mental or moral strength to persevere and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty."
It takes courage to be a hero, but I'm not sure that all courageous people are heroes. It's the "high purpose" and "noble end" part of the definition that are the clinchers.
People can be courageous for entirely selfish reasons – to make money, or to gain public attention. But to be heroic implies a quality of self-sacrifice, laying aside one's own needs and serving for the good of others. That's a pretty tall order.
Can a person, like my husband, be considered heroic when he goes into a burning building? Or is he courageous because he is simply doing his job? What about those serving in the military? Is being a soldier an automatic bid for heroism? Or does it take something that goes beyond what's required of everyone serving in that position? It's not an easy distinction is it?
In order to answer my own question, I go back to the definition again, and it seems to me that it is a question of motivation. Why does a person do what they do?
When a nurse works past the end of the shift without pay because he or she wants to make sure that your elderly mother feels safe before she falls asleep, I see a hero, but not necessarily courage. I read about missionaries, tortured or jailed because they were committed to sharing the Gospel, and I see both courage and heroism.
I look at Jenner and see courage, but not a trace of heroism, and it makes me a little sad that we have cheapened the word by overusing it.
The world needs more heroes, those who give of their time and effort with a "higher purpose" looking toward a "noble end," but I think we may have to redefine our national consciousness for that kind of person to flood my news feed. Maybe that's were I (and myriads of other educators) come into the picture. By teaching my students the real meaning of the word and encouraging heroic behavior, maybe I can make a first step.
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