weeklythoughtexchange

In the past few weeks I lost two significant things that I had previously thought were impossible to live without: my voice and the contacts on my phone. Instead, they proved more valuable in their absence than in their presence.

The first to go was my voice. It happened with little warning, and little time to prepare. I woke up one morning and realized I couldn’t talk, or even whisper. I am a teacher. This makes things complicated. Fortunately, my students can be relatively helpful and independent, so, with the help of a portable dry-erase board and improvised sign language, I showed a few kids the lesson and had them teach. They were delighted! In fact, they were more attentive than ever before because they actually wanted to know what I was trying to say and worked together to understand my coded communication.  I felt like I had the rare opportunity to step outside of myself and see the influence my presence has had on people. How would they respond to me when I could give little feedback to their words and actions?

I was blessed that it was a rewarding discovery. I heard my students using the quips and phrases I always say, and saw them using my methods and mannerisms when teaching. I frequently caught conversations beginning with, “Miss T said…”  They know my routine and tried to follow it as closely as possible. I also discovered how much pressure there is to respond in verbal form to questions and situations, and what a relief it is to not actually have to say anything! As useful as words are, they can really get in the way of life sometimes.

In just a short time after the retrieval of my voice, my phone went on the blink and crashed before I could have my contacts transferred to the new phone.  Initially I was devastated! I did not know how many contacts I actually had, nor who all of them were.  My mind raced with all the people I would lose touch with if I didn’t have their numbers.  But since there was no getting around the situation, I simply had to deal with it. I used e-mail and Facebook to spread the word and then decided to sit back, relax, and see who sincerely wanted to stay in touch with me. And then, believe it or not, the fun began! My phone lit up with texts and voicemail, as people made sure that I would not lose touch. I deliberately took new pictures and filmed updated videos and realized that a fresh start is not a bad thing.

It’s not uncommon for humans to get stuck in ruts. We eat  pre-cooked frozen meals,  buy pre-paid phone cards, teach pre-made lessons, follow set routines, pray rote prayers and review yesterday’s thoughts and plans.  Before too long our lives grow stagnant, our relationships grow stale, and enthusiasm for life fades. How do we expect to impact the world if the vision we had for our own life has atrophied?  What does this have to do with a voice and contacts, you ask?  The brief leave my voice took showed me that it’s good to shake things up a bit and find new ways to teach people. Find the angle from which life has never been previously viewed.  The cell phone crash taught me the importance of taking stock of my priorities and to not let dust settle on the relationships in my life. Keep track of the ones that matter and be willing to let go of the ones that only serve to drain my energy.

Seize the unexpected moments and learn from them.

Every now and then I have to share with you the happenings in the life and mind of a certain dear friend of mine. Sometimes her experiences and comments on said experiences are so profound I know they are blog material; unfortunately, I can’t take credit for them myself. Anyway, the new event in her life is Match.com and on this event I have to give my two cents.

My initial reaction to her announcement of joining this site was, “Meat market!”  To me, that’s all I could think of – a parade of people showing themselves off and promoting their own quality. I know I wouldn’t want millions of people looking at me and assessing whether or not I am good enough to give another thought. I still shudder at the thought. Besides, she might be being viewed by rapists, serial killers, and identity thieves!!  Who could be that desperate for a relationship, I ask?

However, my dear friend insisted that my perception of this site and process was greatly inaccurate. She informed me that it is reputable and safeguards are put in place to ensure the security of all who join.  Instead of being a “meat market,” it is a way for those who are serious about pursuing a relationship to find others who are equally serious, and who may possibly be compatible. Plus, it gives her more control over the situation, since she can select or ignore whomever she chooses. It might possibly be even safer than meeting and attempting to get acquainted with random strangers in person.

While I still hesitate at the thought of checking the site out myself, though she is encouraging me to do so, I am a little more open to the idea. Perhaps it’s a safe, inexpensive way to expand my social world, without having to actually drive to social gatherings and deal with all those dining out bills. Besides, it might be comforting to see how many eligible people are learning to live well…alone.

This is an opinion paper about drugs that was recently submitted by one of my 7th grade boys:

Hello everyone. In this article I would like to raise awareness on drugs – what they are and what they can do to you. I am going to cover some of the main drugs like marjuana and methamphetamine. These drugs are the root cause of the many crimes committed in these times. They can also be the root of suicide, murder, and eath. A lot of people just think it’s a drug and you shouldn’t do it, but it’s more than that. It’s the next suicidal teenager, it’s the next shooting, and it could be the next death. People just don’t think about it like that. So now I’m going to describe some of the drugs and the effects they have on your body.

First, the most commonly abused drug in North America, marijuana. This drug comes from a plant called, Cannabis. This drug moves quickly through the bloodstream, affecting yoru brain and other organs. If you take marijuana at a young age, it can resutl in structural defects in the brain. This can cause weakened verbal and communication skills, lower learning capabilities, and a shortened attention span. This drug not only affects your brain, it all also affects your still developing lungs.  When you smoke marijuana it produces 50-70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke.

The next drug iso one of the most highly addictive drugs, heroin. Heroin is produced from morphine produced from the Asian poppy plant, so this is a naturally occurring substance people have learned to abuse. People can abuse heroin by injection, snorting, or smoking it. This drug enters the brain very quickly so it becomes easy to be dependent. It is very hard to know the actual purity of heroin because they mix it with other substances. This technique is also used in cocain or crack. This is called “cutting.” A risk you take while on heroin is that it does not easily dissolve. This means it can cause a blood clot in the heart, lungs, or liver which is instantly fatal.

Finally, meth, I call it the drug that messes with your heart. Almost all its side effects are linked to the heart: rapid heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, and elevated blood pressure. This drug also affects the central nervous system which includes the brain and brain stem. This drug also causes you to become anxious and violent. It can cause you to hallucinate; the most common hallucination is that bugs are crawling under your skin. Meth users pick at the “bugs” which causes scabs to appear all over their body.

Okay, I am done describing these drugs and the effects they have on your body. If you did not notice, most of these drugs are naturally occurring. That just shows you that man is always looking for a way to destroy himself with that is around him. It also shows that these drugs cause death, maybe not always the users, but sometimes to the people around them. Well, thanks for reading.”

What more is left to be said?

We’re all aware of time. We comment on how swiftly it passes or how monotonous it can be. We bemoan the fact that we’re aging, yet we can hardly wait for the new and improved IPad to be “in stores now!” or that new movie to be “in theatres everywhere!” The ironic thing is that the pace of time does not change; it is simply our perspective that alters.

This weekend I participated in my fifth 30 Hour Famine. This year we had roughly 70 students in attendance and most of them were the students I teach every day. Despite the hunger pains in my stomach, the cardboard taste in my mouth, the sweaty residue on my skin, and the concrete floor I had to sleep on, it was an amazing way to spend my time.  Time seemed to slow down as I played games with my kids or let my shoulder be used as a pillow for a weary head. Time seemed to magnify the little things – the eyes reflecting hunger and determination, the jokes that can only come from shared suffering, the ready embraces that reveal gratitude for caring.

Most of all, time allowed me to hear that still, small voice of the Shepherd whispering, “Feed my sheep. Tend my lambs.” I knew what He meant.  The students that have crossed my path at this moment are so used to being set aside for the more pressing demands of life – job, money, friends, whatever. They’re used to being told to, “Hurry up!” “Get to the point!” “Can’t it wait?” “Hold on! I’m busy.” “I’ll get to you in a moment.” “I have a few minutes to spare, so keep it brief.”  They are seeking someone who will simply be available, who is willing to just be there, who cares about the little things (like his jumping over 2 desks at a time, or reading the first 12 chapters of her book, or scary dreams they had last night) as much as the big things (good grades, sports’ championships, plans for the future).

I may not have all the time in the world, since I only have one life to live; but I’m alive for this moment and that’s what I can give them.

You recently wrote me a very thought-provoking letter that every teacher should feel honored to receive, yet hesitate to respond to because of the wisdom needed to pen the truth.  I have delayed answering for that very reason. I pray that my response comes not from my heart, but from God’s.

You asked: “What are the right choices? Obviously, the first would be to remember God, but I am requesting the little things. If you can’t do the little, how do you do the big? So I ask, what are the right steps? What would be good to know? What makes a responsible adult?”

The right choices are those that honor God, for you were created for that purpose. The only way to know what He would have you do, is by building your relationship with Him. You do this by spending time with Him in a sincere state of mind. Make reading your Bible, praying, and listening the hightest priority of your day, and then look for opportunities to do the right thing. Sometimes the right things are little things, like you mentioned, but in the end they turn out to be the most significant because they are preparing you for the bigger challenges ahead. If you can’t be respectful to your mom, how will you be respectful to your wife? If you can’t be patient with your younger siblings, how will you be patient with your own children? If you can’t be honest on a test, how will you be trusted in a business? If you don’t follow through on your homework, how will you follow through on paying your bills? Etc.  Jesus said that to whom much is given, much is required, and to those who can be trusted with small responsibilities, more responsibility will be entrusted to them.

You also inquired: “How do I know what God tells me?” I know you read the Bible and you struggle with thinking of it as God’s direct word to you, but it is. When you feel distant from God, the best thing is to continue doing what you know is right and take some extra time out to be still and listen. Get up early in the morning if you have to, tell God what is on your heart, and then begin  reading the Bible. Write down everything that speaks to your heart and also write down how you can it apply it to your life that day. Perhaps right now God is teaching you self-discipline or patience. We can’t demand an answer from Him; He will reply in His time.

Your third round of questions: “How am I to be a gentleman and what do girls consider quality in a guy? I take notes one day and then they’re useless the next. How do I know the right girl?” 

A gentleman makes a practice of respect. I know that it is a challenge for young men these days, to practice the art of gentlemanly behavior. Women say they want it, but they often mock it when they see it. Stand firm and don’t revert to their level. Be a gentleman no matter how hard it is. Never give a girl a hard time or roughhouse with her. Keep your word. Maintain your honor. Treat women as the ladies they should be; this could mean you will have to speak the truth if they are behaving inappropriately towards you. Limit physical contact with the opposite sex.  Your conduct will attract the type of girl you are looking for. A lady will recognize a gentleman and respect him for it. That is the kind of girl you want, when the time is right.

And lastly, the most challenging question of all: “What makes a man a Man?” A man doesn’t let other people decide who he is, he decides for himself. That was Jesus. People wanted to make Him king of an earthly realm, or a zealot for their cause, or a miracle worker for their every whim and fancy. He knew that He came to fulfill His Father’s will of redeeming us to Himself, and he followed through, no matter what the cost. At times His calling required extreme compassion and patience; other times, it demanded rebuking evildoers. It always involved consistent time spent alone with God so that He could know and obey His Father’s will. Jesus is your example of a true Man – strong and kind, focused and patient, warrior and shepherd, passionate and disciplined, humble and dignified, honorable and willing to stand alone, honest and sacrificial, provider, protector, and leader.

I hope, dear Student, that these answers give you a little more guidance in the direction you are desiring to walk. I am confident in your noble heart and I will always be proud of the man that Jesus designed you to be. I remain ever privileged to be,

Your Teacher