In a Pit...

In a Pit...

Devotional inspired by the book In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson and written for staff devotions at PCGS on 1/18/17.

“There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two of Moab’s mightiest warriors. Another time he chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground he caught the lion and killed it. Another time, armed only with a club, he willed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.“ (2 Samuel 23:20-21

Chasing down a lion into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, catching the lion and killing it.  Not a scene you see every day, but for Benaiah, a scene that eventually helped vault him into becoming in charge of King David’s body guard and be considered one of David’s mighty men. Benaiah was very likely quite scared of this lion, as he should be, but despite the uncertainty, he still chased after his fear and knew what had to be done with the opportunity that was facing him.

There are going to be figurative “lions” in everyone’s lives; tough situations that we face or go through. They might be situations at school, home, or within the community; tough interactions with a friend, family member, or co-worker; or maybe a nudging to do something drastically different than the current setting you are serving in. Maybe you have faced some big lions in your life already and are wondering when the next one will be coming around the corner. Whatever your life story, realize that these lions are opportunities where God can use you in ways that he has already been preparing you for. He is always using our past experiences to prepare us for the future work he has in store for us. Don’t be discouraged by these opportunities, but instead seek to find what God is teaching you through them.

Prayer:

Lord, we do not always understand the purpose of a certain situation. Forgive us when we think only of ourselves and not what you may be teaching us through the opportunity. Give us clear eyes to see the work you are calling us to do each day and the courage to take the step when we feel uncertain.

I Used to Think...

This post stems from a reflective writing assignment in my current graduate course, EDUC 564: Management and School Improvement. These are 3 "I used to think...but now..." statements related to education based on my observations over time.

I Used to Think…

1. I used to think having a staff of like-minded individuals would be the best culture for a school, but now I see the value in having a staff of differing backgrounds, personalities, and viewpoints. All the staff members should be in agreement with the mission of the school, but beyond that, there is high value in having a diverse group of teachers within a building. Before, I thought conflict should be avoided, as it can cause divisions and damage relationships. However, by having a staff that embraces that tension through their different views and perspectives will also allow for conversations that deepen the school and provide for growth. A well balanced staff lends itself to using the gifts of the staff members to further its mission. By having a well rounded skill set, a school can continue to move forward instead of lacking in one area or needed to look outside for help.

2. I used to think giving a letter grade was an accurate report of a student’s learning, but now I see the value in crafting proper feedback for students and parents and measuring learning against specific standards and learning targets. Giving an A, B, C etc... has long been the standard of reporting student learning within school systems. It is a comfortable way to report grades as it gives parents, who had the same grading system, a standard to measure by from when they were in school. I now see that these letter grades often do not have much meaning to them and are too rigid. Learning is a process and involves many different topics within a particular subject area. Receiving a B+ in Math on a report card says nothing about a student’s understanding of fractions, ratios, or algebraic expressions.

3. I used to think the staff members within the school were the primary skilled knowledge kits, musicians, performers, creators, and leaders for the students, but now I see how gifted students are in many areas, starting at a very young age. With the technology and opportunities available for students to have their hands on, students have become increasingly skilled and at times far surpass the abilities of their teachers. Whether it is a middle school praise band leading chapel, a 3rd grade student showing off his 3-D printed object, or a 7th grader showing a teacher how to program a robot, students have become more and more knowledgeable about an array of topics. It creates a shift that teachers need to have in their minds, with an increased focus on guiding students in their knowledge to help them process and prioritize the information available to them. Instead of taking just the role of presenter of knowledge, a teacher and school also increasingly becomes a facilitator of knowledge, recognizing the importance of providing different learning experiences for students to be involved with.