The Hard Things

Happy August!

Sort of...

August has always been the month to prepare for and anticipate the coming school year. In conversations with teacher friends of mine, I find myself saying things like "Well, that's the kind of teacher I strive to be," and "When I plan for my classes I..." It makes it so strange for this to be the first year in my entire recollection of being alive that I haven't had a school year to look forward to. And this makes me the slightest bit uncomfortable.

You see, I love school. I always have. That's a big part of why I became a teacher. I love school supplies and new beginnings and looking for deals on potential additions to my professional wardrobe. I love students and brick buildings with newly waxed floors and filling empty classrooms with posters of music propaganda. I love the camaraderie of staff and the great big meetings followed by professional development. I love the feeling that I am one year better than I used to be.

I left all of that. Willingly. Am I crazy? (don't forget benefits and "job security"...)

This blog is called "The Importance of Being Foolish." I do not intend to disappoint :)
Matthew 19:29 says this:
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

The context of this verse deals with Jesus telling his disciples how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God without God himself working in them. The disciples literally left everything- jobs, families, and the futures they had dreamed for themselves. In other words, they not only left their livelihoods, but also the potential to grow wealthy and comfortable and probably the opinions of community and family members. I'm sure a dental plan or two was sacrificed in the process. Simply put, they were called by Jesus and responded immediately.

Matthew 4:20 says At once they left their nets and followed him. That would be the equivalent of a teacher walking out of a school building during the first or second class of the morning with no explanation besides, "Jesus called me." Can you imagine the response? Especially to someone who claims to be a Christian? Christians are supposed to have things planned out, should always persevere in their field of work and should never leave anything undone, right? They certainly aren't supposed to make spur-of-the-moment life-altering decisions that impact family, friends and future? Or are they?

The way I see it is that Jesus' disciples had been doing exactly what they were called to do as career men and business apprentices. Until they were called to something else.

I believe I have been called to something else. God is not above speaking my language, and I cannot mistake the call to "Go." Whenever I lose focus, I begin to feel crazy, alone and worried that I was wrong. When my eyes are back on Him, I am so totally excited to give all I am to minister through my music and other gifts.

To those of you who teach or program or work in whatever field you work in, that is your ministry for now. Do it with everything you are, but, as one brother in Christ advised me, if you have doubts about where you are and what you are doing (not anxious/worried doubts, but doubts placed in your heart that tell you there is something else you should be doing), listen. You will never be sorry you responded to the calling of the Holy Spirit. This is my reality, and God is my treasure. May He be yours as well.

Peace.