Last time I wrote about how the principles of Sacred and Fit have
transformed my life, starting with my health and fitness. I don't think
I've every actually written about those principles on the blog but they
are available at the Sacred and Fit website. Losing weight and
keeping it off has been just one benefit of this lifestyle change. More
than that, living these principles was a way for me to begin to infuse
my relationship with God into every area of my life. During the fast, I
prayed specifically for my relationship with William, being disciplined
with my finances and to be a more effective teacher at my job. Due to
some things going on at work, I spent a lot of time praying for my job.
I believe that in order to cause a radical shift in
behavior, radical change is required on all three levels, spiritual,
emotional/mental and physical. For me, seeing my body as a temple, a
dwelling place for God- raised caring for my health to a spiritual act.
Using fasting, prayer, meditation and introspection- caused a change to
occur in my thoughts and feelings about my body. Finally, in order to
adopt new healthy habits and maintain the motivation for spiritual
discipline, I made physical changes in my environment and created ways
to support a new way of being.
During the fast, I came
to understand that if I could raise eating and exercise to a spiritual
act then I could also make my job my ministry. I'm not talking about
proselytizing. I'm talking about seeing my students as God's beloved.
Using fasting, prayer, meditation and introspection to create a change
in how I relate to them and how I teach them. Adopting a way of being in
the classroom, that creates an environment for excellence for me and
for them.
In January I was inspired to chart this course
after receiving two words "Teach What?" Those words caused me to use
the month of February waiting and listening for the rest of the message.
So, before my morning meditation, I started to spend a few minutes,
right after waking, to listen for the complete answer. As I went to
sleep, I pondered the question and waited for the answer. During the
day, I would quiet myself and create a space for the answer to come. It
finally did, last Sunday at church. In the midst of a sermon where the
Pastor was not preaching about teaching, suddenly he made a statement
about teachers and at that very moment, a revelation erupted in my
head.
"Teach What, Teach Who and Teach How."
And this time, I got the entire message- So, here it is.
I am to teach WHAT I've been hired to teach but I must realize that at every moment,
I am also teaching much more than the content area or book knowledge. I
am always teaching something about my values, which will ultimately be
of the most use to my students.
IF I
believe my students to be "underprivileged" or "low performing" I will
teach to that belief. When actually, WHO my students are is a matter of my own faith and not anything else.
HOW
I teach them is directly related to my capacity to love, as faith and
love work together. There is no fear in Love and therefore, no need to
worry about resources. I will have all that I need.
My capacity to love is directly related to the
love of God flowing in and as me, the evidence of which is peace. The
peace of God is directly related to the continued spiritual disciplining
of my mind, will and emotions. From peace will spring joy.
Sacred and Fit started out for me to be about health
and wellness. However, at the end of the day the Body/Temple is put on
earth for a reason, a purpose, a mission- a calling. Not all ministries
happen in churches. Not everyone's calling will be big and flashy.
Mine isn't. But the need for ministry; the need for the expressed love
of God exists all around us, including here at Virginia State.
I am called to be a teacher. I have received my charge and I am now a Revolutionary Teacher.
What is your Revolution?
No comments:
Post a Comment