Dr. Wayne Schmidt spoke about the prophet Nathan...my first response was "WHO?" (I turned to my husband and said "Is it bad that I didn't even know there was someone in the Bible NAMED Nathan?") As the sermon went on, I couldn't help do what any good student would do...learn what I didn't know, take some notes, and of course, make connections to what I was reading. :)
Nathan was not only a prophet and adviser to King David, but he was also his friend in the best and worst of times. He was able to affirm David at the high points (Keep building! Keep defeating your enemies!) and had to confront David at the low points (Adultery and murder have been frowned upon since ALWAYS). We started out the message with an example of statements that should be in our thought process, when looking at our Spiritual Friendships. Friendship Survey as follows (check all that apply)
* "I have close relationships with other Christians who influence my life."
* "I want other Christians to hold me accountable for my actions."
* "I have spiritual friends who speak truth to me and don't hold back."
* "I am committed to mentoring or helping others grow spiritually.
I thought to myself, "Does this only apply to my spiritual life?" In all honesty, it's probably EASIER to find these people in other areas of my life - most certainly my professional one! As a teacher, I look for influences, accountability partners, teammates who will hold me accountable for what I am doing in my classroom and in my students' lives, and hopefully, I can do the same for others in their classroom, if possible. I'm online learning from hundreds of YOU across the globe and seeing what you are doing in your classrooms and in your students' lives. I question what works and what doesn't. I evaluate if it applies to what is expected of me in state and district standards and guidelines. Simple...right? (Professionally, it's pretty black and white, in my opinion.)
As luck would have it, my original assigned mentor teacher at Geist Elem, was both a Spiritual and Professional relationship. D.C., you are truly an inspiration to me (even if you did go off and become administration at another school :)). As a newbie, I was (and in some ways, still am!) very rough around the edges...D taught me that our "business" is about people; not procedures or grade books or cute projects and beautiful bulletin boards. It is about the students, the parents, the hugs and smiles we give or the new directions we have to guide them in. It is the WAY we talk to people and HOW we respond to their "stuff." I am black and white...D showed me there are shades of gray. She called me out when she needed to and helped guide and facilitate when she saw I was floundering a bit. D is a wonderful professional mentor in that aspect...but...
...this also applied in my spiritual journey. D cried with me over the loss of a personal friend. We have served dinner at the Ronald McDonald House together. She allowed me to hangout with her kids for a weekend and experience taking them to basketball practices and wrestling meets. D invited me to the Great Banquet and I experienced a weekend that brought me closer to God, deeper in faith, and made me look at all aspects of my life a little closer. She had fierce conversations with me and asked if what I was doing, was the direction I was supposed to be going. The impact she made in the first few years, have lasted way beyond what will occur in any classroom.
My challenge to all of you; find your Nathan. (Both professionally and spiritually!) Do you have someone who holds you accountable? Are you willing to take direction and constructive criticism from them and learn what changes need to be made? Do you have someone that affirms that you are on the right track - being the best you can be - encouraging you to continue to pursue your excellence?
And to my Nathan...I say thank you. With a new year of school just around the corner, I wish you a successful and productive one! Your role, no longer in one classroom, but in many, is invaluable. Your role, not in one life, but in many, is amazingly profound! I hope someone expresses that to you this year. I hope to aspire to be a Nathan to someone, as you have been to me!
Have a great week, Friends!
My challenge to all of you; find your Nathan. (Both professionally and spiritually!) Do you have someone who holds you accountable? Are you willing to take direction and constructive criticism from them and learn what changes need to be made? Do you have someone that affirms that you are on the right track - being the best you can be - encouraging you to continue to pursue your excellence?
And to my Nathan...I say thank you. With a new year of school just around the corner, I wish you a successful and productive one! Your role, no longer in one classroom, but in many, is invaluable. Your role, not in one life, but in many, is amazingly profound! I hope someone expresses that to you this year. I hope to aspire to be a Nathan to someone, as you have been to me!
Have a great week, Friends!