Twenty-two years ago I began my teaching career. Naive and enthusiastic, I entered the classroom every day, ready to “change the world”. I tutored students needing to retake the graduation exam, mentored in my church youth group, coached cheer leading; you name it, I did it. That Spring, my first Spring as a official teacher, something tragic happened. It was April of 1999, and two students in Colorado carefully planned to murder their classmates. Thirteen people died in their attack, less than they had planned because their home made bombs didn’t detonate. We were in shock. Schools became vigilant, looking into anyone they felt might try to copy the actions…

It was 1996, and while the Olympic Games were being held in Atlanta, GA, I was teaching 40+ Chinese teenagers in a Soviet-style concrete building with live electric wires running down the halls. It was a hot, June day, and my eager students, usually so quiet I could hear a pin drop, did something that shocked me; they all burst out laughing, uncontrollably. They weren’t trying to be rude like American teens might, I have seen that in my years of teaching. They revered teachers, feared them, really. They were actually in a state of disbelief that caused them to disrupt, lose themselves. Why? What brought this about? That day…

I don’t have what people would call an “easy-going” personality. Terms like “easy-going”, “fun-loving”, and “mellow” have never applied to me. I feel deeply, mourn often and hate most forms of change. My senior year in high school was probably the most difficult time in my life. Not only was I about to leave home, change enough to throw the average-Joe for a loop, but there was upheaval in my personal life that I wasn’t sure I was going to survive. Amidst a bout with anorexia, in an effort to control what little of my life I felt I could, a friend challenged me to do something strange. He told…

When my son was in kindergarten, he lied, not just a few times, but frequently. At least once every few weeks, he would tell us a tall tale about what happened to his lost glove, lunch box, etc . . . He was 5-years-old, and he didn’t want us to be mad or disappointed, so he lied. A few times we figured it out, and a few times the teacher confirmed that what we were told was not true. I’ll admit, at the time it was bothersome. After all, who wants their child to be a liar? Lying is a sin. Thank God, that pattern didn’t last long, but it…

She isn’t famous, or even well-known. She never started a foundation or even had a career. Not only is she not a part of history in any way, but she dealt with almost crippling insecurity her entire life, even at the time of her death. But despite her seeming insignificance, she daily inspires my walk with God. To me, she is of utmost significance. Who is she? She is not only my grandmother but my muse. I’ve always loved Hebrews 11. What a beautiful reminder of the faithful waiting, and suffering, our fathers in the faith endured. From Abel to Samuel, these imperfect, yet faithful, followers of God ” .…

“I’m already done!” he said as he held up his paper to show me. I had just asked my class to stay on task and finish their work, pretty routine, but to this student, these chastisements are different, personal. You see, I am never talking to him. He has been in my class for three semesters, and I know he will be one of the first ones to finish, and whatever it is will be well-done. So, why does he feel the need to show me what I already know? The benefit of having him for so long, and having him for English, is that I know him a bit.…

Snobbery. We are surrounded by it. The forms of snobbery we admit to, and face it, are proud of, are countless: beer, coffee, food, shoes, clothes, nails, the list goes on and on. We are even education snobs. We tout our preferred method of schooling, and talk about whether upper education as a badge. And we are okay with it. We even brag about it. The questions is-is it okay? Are there any forms of snobbery that equate to sin? I know, I know. Most people who claim to be snobs are just kidding, sort of. Should we really read that much into it? The short answer is “yes”. As…

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Not only was I on foreign territory (The Bible Belt), but I had just returned from 6 weeks in a Muslim province in China. I was tired, my stomach was still a little off, and I was not used to life in America, especially church life in America. My memory of this day is fuzzy at best, but I remember sitting in my friend’s church listening to a discussion on new carpet. Maybe it was a discussion, maybe they were taking a vote on whether to buy new carpet, but all I remember is thinking, “Do they realize that a good portion of…

It was a brief encounter, 5 minutes, maybe 6? What was said, however, has been playing through my mind for weeks now.  I never expected something so significant to happen at a trampoline park of all places.  We had free passes we needed to use, so while my boys and their friends jumped, I reluctantly read the new book I am teaching next year.  Don’t get me wrong, I love teaching, but that end of summer feeling when I need to get ready, but I just don’t want to quite yet, was still with me.  All of a sudden, a young man in his early 20’s sat next to me…

Just a few days ago, I was discussing a certain movie with my son. At twelve, he is almost ready to see lots of movies he hasn’t watched before due to their content. As a mother, I am hesitant, however, to let him see some PG-13 movies due to content I feel like could harm him. In this conversation, he let me know that soon he could see one movie that is about a favorite band of his-he loves classic rock. I told him that , while I understood WHY he wants to see it, some of the content might be “disturbing” to him. His response? “Mom. Middle school is…