It Happens in a Blink...

"Teach me to number my days and count every moment before it slips away, take in all the colors before they fade to gray..."  -- Revive

Just like that, another year is over.  Will 2010 be just another year in my memory?  Will the struggles and triumphs of this year be quickly forgotten?  Will I race through 2011 without purpose?  No, I reflect on all that I have learned, experienced, and celebrated this year... and I look forward with great anticipation to another year of pursuing Christ.

"I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time.  What is it I've done with my life?  It happens in a blink."  

Highlights from 2010:
-- Rang in the New Year at Urbana Missions Conference in St. Louis, MO

-- Student taught in London, England, for two weeks

-- Traveled to New York City for a Senior Trip with GCC friends

-- Accepted the position at BFA and attended the ACSI conference in Germany

-- Graduated from Grove City College!

-- Beheld God's majesty on a family vacation to Washington and Alaska

-- Attended TeachBeyond training week in Minneapolis, MN

-- Began teaching fourth grade at Black Forest Academy!

-- Established a new "life" in my new "home" in Germany

 -- Celebrated God's faithfulness with friends at Crista and Jon's wedding

Lord, Reign in Me

This morning I had the opportunity to share with my home church family as a part of their Christmas sermon series on making Jesus our highest priority.  I shared my story of taking small steps of obedience in pursuing the position at BFA, not fully knowing whether it was what God wanted me to do after graduation.  Putting Jesus first isn't about taking giant steps -- it's about faithfully obeying in the "small moments."  God's calling us to listen for His leading, step into the unknown, and believe that He will work through us.

I also shared the story of my classroom tree (see the previous blog entry), which is a necessary reminder of the importance of spending time with God every day.  Author CJ Mahaney writes, "A cross-centered life is made up cross-centered days."  We must remind ourselves of Jesus' sacrifice and live in light of this truth.  And even when we mess up, God takes our dead branches and makes green leaves grown on them again.

We ended the service today by singing "Lord, Reign in Me," a familiar song with words that struck me anew:  "May my life reflect the beauty of You, Lord / You mean more to me than earthly thing / So won't You reign in me again // Lord, reign in me, reign in Your power / Over all my dreams, in my darkest hour / You are the Lord of all I am."  Amen.

The Classroom Tree (Not the Christmas Tree)

There's a potted tree in my classroom.  Back in September, I told my students that I would bring a tree from home for our classroom library, but the small size of my car and my forgetfulness delayed its arrival at BFAS for over a month.  Sometime in late October, I managed to wrestle the tree into my car and over to the elementary school.

The students were overjoyed at this addition to our classroom, and our classroom "landscaper" asked me, "Miss Brown, how often do we water this tree?  How much water does it need?  What should I use to water it?"  In the busy classroom schedule, I put off his questioning, stating that we would take care of it soon.

But "soon" turned into over a month.  At first the tree looked full and healthy -- it added a lot to the atmosphere of our classroom.  However, brown leaves began to appear on our tree, and it was embarrassing to have other teachers try to help me pluck them from the branches.

Finally, there was nothing but brown leaves left on this once thriving tree.  I couldn’t help but realize that I had been the cause of this tree’s death!  I had neglected my responsibility to care for it diligently.  Without telling the students, I began to water the tree every night, hoping that it would somehow magically come to life again.  I admitted to my students that this tree was beyond hope, and I would have to chop it into firewood.

But the next day I was surprised to find bright green leaves on the tips of each of the dead branches!  Was it really possible?  Our tree was coming back to life!  A student and I shook the branches to remove all of the dead leaves.  Although the tree looked bare, it was most definitely alive.

God has taught me a lot from this potted classroom tree.  Things may look great from the outside for awhile, but without spiritual nourishment, it is only a matter of time before there will be outward manifestations of inward dryness.  But even then, hope is not lost!  God can take the “dead leaves” of our lives and transform our hearts: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: The old has gone, the new has come!”  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

In her book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Johanna Weaver writes, “The longer I go without being filled with God’s presence, the drier and emptier and more frustrated I’m going to become.”  Jesus, may I live every day fully focused on You!

Caution: Changes Ahead!

Over the past few weeks, the other teachers and I have prayerfully considered the needs of the third and fourth graders and have come to the conclusion that, beginning in January, the classes should be separate for the whole school day.  The current third grade morning teacher will keep the third graders for the whole day, and I will teach just fourth grade.  Splitting the classes will allow us to individualize instruction, tailor the material toward one specific grade level, and challenge the students in new ways.  The split is bittersweet -- I will really miss teaching the third graders, but I am looking forward to having a more flexible schedule, integrating subjects more, and implementing new ideas for reading and writing development.

Another big change... the third and fourth grades will be switching classrooms!  Because I teach a combined class of 17 in the afternoons, I have the larger classroom.  However, it makes a lot more sense to have the larger third grade class in the bigger classroom after break.  I am thankful for my Bible study girls who have offered to help move furniture, supplies, and decorations in early January.  This will be a big change for the teachers and students!

This change will not be simple, but I am convinced that God is at work.  I would appreciate your prayers that the students would adjust well, parents and co-workers would extend grace, and I would be patient and determined.  Thank you, and to God be the glory!