(Not sure who to give photo rights to, love this shot).
Recently, the frequency that Yeshua says: "Truly, truly, truly in the New Testament..." has really resonated in my soul. Unfortunately, I don't see or hear much truth in our leadership on many different facets in our American Government, business practices & educational policy.
As an elementary teacher, for close to 15 years, it has always been tragically ironic that many of leaders writing educational goals or governing major decisions for our country have no classroom experience.
NADA. ZILCH. ZERO. NONE.
Additional many of us "front line teachers" think that our leaders in curriculum policy or administration in our districts should have to cycle back in to the classroom on any grade level for a quarter up to a semester every 5 years. I am unaware of 1 administrator in my particular Texas school district who has been in the classroom in the last 5 years. I have concluded that being out of the classroom creates an unforeseen disconnect and complacency to the real demands of the evolving classroom.
Back to truth.
I have recently become aghast at our higher level administration quoting that we, as teachers, are doing our jobs with "INCREASING EASE." There is nothing in our global pandemic society that is producing "INCREASING EASE." Many of us, veteran and new teachers alike feel as if we are drowning. We have BEGGED for time to plan & adjust to our ever growing & changing demands. Instead of being listened to, validated and accommodated in some reasonable relationship we are told that we can "resign if it is that bad." And we have been. There is a national teacher shortage and teachers are having to resign due to unfair, unreasonable or perhaps unsafe demands. When will it stop?
When will we as Americans be able to re-prioritize truth, wisdom, balance... LIFE?
The last 8 months I have been stewing on: What is best practice? I don't think we know. Or perhaps we do, and we just continue to succumb to being overworked and manipulated into doing more. At what cost? More isolation, higher depression rates, higher debt rate, more meetings, more lies, more restrictions for minority voters, more tax evasion and finally more assessments when the assessments are not standard, recommended or valid by the companies that produced them to be given in an in person classroom environment.
We are currently in a revolving door of 2 dimensional ZOOMLAND.
Instead, let us fix our eyes on the Good Shepard:
John 10: 1-18
10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
In conclusion:
I can barely catch my breath. I am so grateful that I am only able to be sustained by my truly, good Shepard. Who HEARS my cries, calls me by name, listens, comforts and sustains me all the days of my life.
