Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Ending Well?

Originally posted on Nurturing Faith (Christian Schools International)



It’s nearing the end of the school year and time for the annual award distributions. We hand out certificates, trophies, and compile lists of achievements in almost any and every category. Whether in the early grades or at graduation, we seek to point out accomplishments of students. I am guessing that if we could sit down and talk for a few minutes, dear reader, that we would share some mixed feelings about this end of year ritual.
This is an area of our school life that poses potentially large risks to our mission. It is an area that goes largely unexamined and one where we quickly adopt the practices of other schools. It is what we get excited about that speaks the loudest message to our students. I am concerned that sometimes what we do in awards assemblies may actually contradict the kinds of thoughtful work that we have done throughout many previous months and years.
I don’t have the answer to this, but am providing some questions below that might be useful in generating conversations within faculties.
Click here to read the list of questions and to leave a comment.  Please feel free to leave a comment on this blog, too.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Listen Slowly

Chuck Swindoll, chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary, tells of a time when he had allowed the ‘busyness’ and demands of his life to interfere with his relationships with his wife and children.  All of their interaction was rushed, to the point where he was treating them rudely.  After yet another rushed meal one night, his young daughter blurted out that she had something important to tell him and she’d do it really fast.   Ashamed at her unintentional rebuke, Swindoll assured her that she didn’t have to rush - she could talk to him slowly.  ‘Then listen slowly,’ she replied.

As you approach the ‘busyness’ of the end of the year . . .
  • Administrators . . . are you listening slowly to your teachers?
  • Teachers . . . are you listening slowly to your students and parents? 
  • All of us . . . are we listening slowly to God?

If not, try the following:
  • practice being a good listener
  • learn to hear the voice of God
  • listen with your heart as well as your ears
  • give God your full attention when you pray
  • realize that your students feel valued when you  listen to them
  • recognize the way God listens to you
  • understand that hearing God requires obeying him as well