Hey, guys! I have a cool story to share that testifies to the Lord's favor on our lives.
One week ago, Wednesday morning, I woke up and read the entry in Vertical Reality for the day. (November 10th). It's entitled "Spirit of Adventure" and talks about how we've got to, like Peter, be willing to get out of the boat of our comfort zone to walk on the water toward Jesus. The entry ends with a challenge: "Speak out the next time you find yourself in a conversation contrary to the Kingdom way." I knew God was highlighting this sentence for me, so I underlined it.
In my Foundations of Teaching class later that morning, our professor brought up the topic of religion in the classroom, something we had briefly discussed the week before. He posed the question: "If one of your students brings up the topic of Wicca and wants to talk about it in class, would you be comfortable with that? Be honest!" Several of my classmates raised their hands, and soon someone was suggesting that, not only would they be comfortable with it, but they would be up for a whole unit on Wicca -- research papers, songs, skits, math lessons all related to Wicca, all for the sake of promoting diversity in the public classroom!
I was inclined to not say anything. I didn't want to start a debate. But I kept thinking about what I had read in Vertical Reality that morning. "Speak out the next time you find yourself in a conversation contrary to the Kingdom way." This was a conversation contrary to the Kingdom way. I had to speak out. So I raised my hand. "I would NOT be okay with this." I went on to briefly explain myself, after which my professor posed the question: "Okay, but what if one of your students brought in a book about Jesus for Christmas and wanted to read it to the class? Would you be okay with that?"
Hands rose, voices rose, and I said nothing. No one voiced agreement with me. I didn't expect them to. The conversation went deeper into the need to be all-inclusive or all-exclusive. "If this was a private school we were talking about," my professor said, "it would be different! But we're talking about public schools!" I guess at this point my face gave away my thoughts, because soon my professor called on me again. "Dahlia, you look confused. What are you thinking?"
"I'm just totally against it," was the first thing I thought to say. "But nothing I say will sound right." How could Kingdom logic sound right when weighed on the scale of worldly logic? "I guess I'm just still up in the air about whether I want to teach public or private school, because there are so many issues I have with the public school system."
At this point, I was all shaken up. I don't know if it was noticeable, but my composure was about to give way at any moment to tears. So when, a little later, my professor asked me again if I had anything else to add to the discussion, I just shook my head no.
I was grateful for the 10-minute break he gave us soon after. I couldn't hold back the tears much longer, and I needed to talk to God. I went outside to take a walk around campus. I prayed, "God, this is so hard! How long will it be before my convictions turn to wishy washy beliefs like my classmates? Have You prepared me for this?"
"Yes, Dahlia" I heard Him say. "You don't need to have all the answers. You know My heart. THAT's what I want you to share."
Later that day, one of my classmates asked me, "So you're not sure if you want to do public or private?" "No," I said. "Me neither," he said.
What?! Turns out, he was raised in a private Christian school in Georgia. He's a pastor's kid. I'm not as alone in this class as I thought.
Now, here's the good part:
The next day, Veteran's Day, I had an email in my inbox from my professor. It was titled "Future Teachers for Christ." Here's what he wrote:
One week ago, Wednesday morning, I woke up and read the entry in Vertical Reality for the day. (November 10th). It's entitled "Spirit of Adventure" and talks about how we've got to, like Peter, be willing to get out of the boat of our comfort zone to walk on the water toward Jesus. The entry ends with a challenge: "Speak out the next time you find yourself in a conversation contrary to the Kingdom way." I knew God was highlighting this sentence for me, so I underlined it.
In my Foundations of Teaching class later that morning, our professor brought up the topic of religion in the classroom, something we had briefly discussed the week before. He posed the question: "If one of your students brings up the topic of Wicca and wants to talk about it in class, would you be comfortable with that? Be honest!" Several of my classmates raised their hands, and soon someone was suggesting that, not only would they be comfortable with it, but they would be up for a whole unit on Wicca -- research papers, songs, skits, math lessons all related to Wicca, all for the sake of promoting diversity in the public classroom!
I was inclined to not say anything. I didn't want to start a debate. But I kept thinking about what I had read in Vertical Reality that morning. "Speak out the next time you find yourself in a conversation contrary to the Kingdom way." This was a conversation contrary to the Kingdom way. I had to speak out. So I raised my hand. "I would NOT be okay with this." I went on to briefly explain myself, after which my professor posed the question: "Okay, but what if one of your students brought in a book about Jesus for Christmas and wanted to read it to the class? Would you be okay with that?"
Hands rose, voices rose, and I said nothing. No one voiced agreement with me. I didn't expect them to. The conversation went deeper into the need to be all-inclusive or all-exclusive. "If this was a private school we were talking about," my professor said, "it would be different! But we're talking about public schools!" I guess at this point my face gave away my thoughts, because soon my professor called on me again. "Dahlia, you look confused. What are you thinking?"
"I'm just totally against it," was the first thing I thought to say. "But nothing I say will sound right." How could Kingdom logic sound right when weighed on the scale of worldly logic? "I guess I'm just still up in the air about whether I want to teach public or private school, because there are so many issues I have with the public school system."
At this point, I was all shaken up. I don't know if it was noticeable, but my composure was about to give way at any moment to tears. So when, a little later, my professor asked me again if I had anything else to add to the discussion, I just shook my head no.
I was grateful for the 10-minute break he gave us soon after. I couldn't hold back the tears much longer, and I needed to talk to God. I went outside to take a walk around campus. I prayed, "God, this is so hard! How long will it be before my convictions turn to wishy washy beliefs like my classmates? Have You prepared me for this?"
"Yes, Dahlia" I heard Him say. "You don't need to have all the answers. You know My heart. THAT's what I want you to share."
Later that day, one of my classmates asked me, "So you're not sure if you want to do public or private?" "No," I said. "Me neither," he said.
What?! Turns out, he was raised in a private Christian school in Georgia. He's a pastor's kid. I'm not as alone in this class as I thought.
Now, here's the good part:
The next day, Veteran's Day, I had an email in my inbox from my professor. It was titled "Future Teachers for Christ." Here's what he wrote:
Dahlia
You have been on my heart since our class yesterday. I've prayed for wisdom to
share with you by the Holy Spirit's guidance.
I sincerely appreciate your conviction and passion for Jesus and the way you
seem to be uncompromising in your Faith. I, also, am led by Him and have had a
personal relationship with Jesus for many years. In fact, I am in my current
position specifically due to His leading and my submission to His voice to earn my
doctoral degree (PhD) and be a light for Him at a public university.
I have waited for a Christian student to come forward, as you have, for the last 16
years of my university career. Each year I challenge all students, especially the
Christian students, to confirm their beliefs within a group setting. You are the first
to stand firm for Jesus.
Within each elementary Cohort, year after year, their have been many students
claiming to be Christian. I have always wanted to form a group of Christians in the
field of teacher education , who would like to meet, pray, share their Faith, and
learn ways that they can be disciples for Christ in the area of teaching. This
mission field is where many of us belong, and I believe you are one.
So, let me know what you think. If you would like to form a group of like minded
Christians who are moving forward in their pursuit of teaching as a career, from our
Cohort and others as well, I would be thrilled to find a church for us to meet in.
This, of course, would be a "non-denominational" Christian group so as not to get
You have been on my heart since our class yesterday. I've prayed for wisdom to
share with you by the Holy Spirit's guidance.
I sincerely appreciate your conviction and passion for Jesus and the way you
seem to be uncompromising in your Faith. I, also, am led by Him and have had a
personal relationship with Jesus for many years. In fact, I am in my current
position specifically due to His leading and my submission to His voice to earn my
doctoral degree (PhD) and be a light for Him at a public university.
I have waited for a Christian student to come forward, as you have, for the last 16
years of my university career. Each year I challenge all students, especially the
Christian students, to confirm their beliefs within a group setting. You are the first
to stand firm for Jesus.
Within each elementary Cohort, year after year, their have been many students
claiming to be Christian. I have always wanted to form a group of Christians in the
field of teacher education , who would like to meet, pray, share their Faith, and
learn ways that they can be disciples for Christ in the area of teaching. This
mission field is where many of us belong, and I believe you are one.
So, let me know what you think. If you would like to form a group of like minded
Christians who are moving forward in their pursuit of teaching as a career, from our
Cohort and others as well, I would be thrilled to find a church for us to meet in.
This, of course, would be a "non-denominational" Christian group so as not to get
"bogged down" with MINOR differences in doctrine.
Once I hear from you that you would like to move forward, I will secure a room
across the street at the Free Methodist Church since it is close to campus. I can
envision many areas that we could explore and have veteran Christian educators
(teachers, principals, superintendents, etc.) share their perspectives and how we,
as Christians, can make a difference in the field of education.
Of course, I would simply be a facilitator. I would like this to be a group that is
directed by the group and to focus on topics of your choosing, including a group
name. "Future Teachers for Christ" is a group name that is a seed to begin brainstorming.
I was totally in shock! I shared the story and the email with Ivory and my parents, prayed, then wrote him back saying YES! :D He wants me to talk to some of my classmates to see if any of them are interested.
If you think of it, please pray for me, that I could live in surrender to God's will daily, always exchanging my weakness for His strength. I want to love my classmates and professors and not be satisfied with shallow interactions.
This is another reminder of God's sovereignty in my life. I don't know what to expect at all, but if He can turn an emotionally difficult day into a gateway of life, what else might He do?
Once I hear from you that you would like to move forward, I will secure a room
across the street at the Free Methodist Church since it is close to campus. I can
envision many areas that we could explore and have veteran Christian educators
(teachers, principals, superintendents, etc.) share their perspectives and how we,
as Christians, can make a difference in the field of education.
Of course, I would simply be a facilitator. I would like this to be a group that is
directed by the group and to focus on topics of your choosing, including a group
name. "Future Teachers for Christ" is a group name that is a seed to begin brainstorming.
I was totally in shock! I shared the story and the email with Ivory and my parents, prayed, then wrote him back saying YES! :D He wants me to talk to some of my classmates to see if any of them are interested.
If you think of it, please pray for me, that I could live in surrender to God's will daily, always exchanging my weakness for His strength. I want to love my classmates and professors and not be satisfied with shallow interactions.
This is another reminder of God's sovereignty in my life. I don't know what to expect at all, but if He can turn an emotionally difficult day into a gateway of life, what else might He do?
2 comments:
Hey Dahlia!
What an awesome story!
Hey Ryan!
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