May will mark the end of my career in public education. Over these past 33 years, I have had the privilege of serving the Lord in various capacities. I have taught many different subjects in grades 5-12 along with a time as a special education teacher. Additionally, I was blessed to serve 18 years as an elementary administrator in two different buildings. As I transition to a new chapter in my life, I look back to how the Lord has shaped me along the way.
About 33 years ago my life took on a whirlwind of changes. I was a brash college student rushing through life with no clear direction. I was about to graduate with a teaching degree and step into adulthood without anything planned out. What I did not realize at the time was that my Lord had a specific plan for me. He would go on to shake my very foundation and transform my entire life.
I first had to surrender my entire heart and life to Him, something He had been convicting me about for several months. Finally, in November of my senior year in college, I accepted Jesus as my Savior. Little did I know that His plan was far different from my own. As a young Christian, I assumed I would simply dabble in my faith, giving the time I chose and serving where it was convenient. Maybe He would get a few Sundays a month or an hour or two of Bible reading, but I expected my life to continue as usual.
What I did not realize at the time was that He wanted all of me. It would not take long for Him to transform me into the Christian He needed and expected. When He called me for a specific task, I was shaped and molded to fit His purpose, often feeling His gentle redirection whenever I strayed from His plan.
Lucky for me, He knew I needed a partner to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me on this journey, someone who would complete me in ways only He could design. So, in July, 8 months after accepting Christ, I was married. Like me, she had spent her entire life preparing to be a teacher. Never did I realize how someone could complete me, but I was blessed beyond measure.
As if graduating college, becoming a Christian, and getting married were not enough, I started my first teaching job that August. At 23 years of age, I thought I was prepared to face it all, entering this chapter of my life bright-eyed and ready to conquer the world. Little did I know how all of this would intertwine to drive my life in education to new heights.
I would love to say I quickly developed into the best Christian, the strongest teacher, and the most devoted husband, but I had yet to understand that one of these life-changing events had to take the lead over all of the others. I tried to be a secular teacher with a Christian heart, a husband who lived by worldly standards, and a Christian when it was convenient. To truly be successful in any of these areas, I had to come to the realization that I needed to allow Christ to be the leader in my life. I struggled to let go of the past, keeping one foot in my old life while at the same time trying to move forward in my Christian walk. As with any of us trying to hold on to our life in the past, I failed miserably.
The Lord knew that He alone needed to be the One directing my entire life. I could only succeed if He were the center. To thrive, He needed to guide me away from my self-centered attitude and help me realize He had a much better vision for my future than I could ever imagine. Only by placing Him first would we be able to face all the world threw at us. Unfortunately, this was not something I could comprehend.
As I gradually surrendered control, I learned to allow the Lord to lead my marriage, but I still desperately tried to control what I did as an educator. Yes, Lord, You can have my marriage and my heart, but remember, school must remain secular. I believed prayer was something to turn to only in times of need. When I was sick, I prayed. After receiving bad news, I prayed. Worst of all, I believed the narrative that school was off-limits to my prayers. Looking back at the early years of my career, I hate to say I seldom, if ever, prayed for my students and coworkers. It would even go as far as my feeling uncomfortable when others asked me to pray.
When I became an administrator, I quickly realized I was in no way prepared to handle everything on my own. I needed Him. If you were one of my teachers or students during that time, know that I prayed for you constantly. I remember watching a movie where a character walked the hallway, touched every door, and prayed. I began to do the same. Whenever I knew of specifics, I asked the Lord to intervene. When I was not led to something, I prayed for that person to receive guidance and protection. There were times I would wake up in the middle of the night, go to school, and walk the hallway to pray. I still do this today.
Looking back, I can see how important it was to invite the Lord into my work life at school as much as at home. He needed to be the One to guide me through all the potential traps the enemy had planned for me. It became clear that I needed to continuously surrender all aspects of my life to Him. Remember, prayer is a direct connection we have with our Creator. He wants to be there for us and to listen whenever we speak to Him.
Now, I try to speak to the Lord as I would my closest friend. I continually ask Him for guidance, strength, wisdom, and whatever I need to make it through the day. I pray earnestly for my students and staff. Most importantly, regardless of what the world would like you to believe, seeking His direction in your role as an educator is as essential as breathing. He will direct your path and guide you along the way.
I am facing the end of my career in education with my retirement scheduled this spring. Unfortunately, I have seen what happens when prayer is not the focus, so I have started to pray for the leader who will take my place. Lord, bring someone who knows You, will love the kids, and be willing to sacrifice to see the students find success. Direct his or her decisions so that You are glorified. Put a hedge of protection around the school and fill it with your Spirit. May you be glorified in everything.
My message to the next person (and anyone reading this blog) is simple: you will only be successful if you make connections with everyone, love the students and staff, and pray for guidance. Most important, put the Lord first in every decision you make. He will not let you down.
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