When Teachers Question God: Wilderness Times in the Believing Teacher's Life

"Moses and the Burning Bush" by James J. Tissot

We question God. It's natural. Men and women of faith have been questioning God since the beginning of time. Rather than discouraging questions, God welcomes them. He even responds.

From Moses's time in the wilderness (Exodus 3) comes a discussion with the Lord about needs and fears that are close to every believer's heart. During times of wandering, these needs and fears come to the forefront.

The Christian teacher may ask some of the same big questions that Moses wrestled with when he met with God at Horeb, the Mountain of God:

"Who am I?"

• Am I called to be a teacher?
• How can I juggle my career and all my other roles?
• Which role is most important?
• What do you want me to be when I grow up?

"Why are the people I care for being treated unjustly?"

• How can I stand up to bullying in my school--from students and adults?
• How can I show compassion to the downtrodden?
• How can I exercise my First Amendment rights and inspire others to do the same?

"Do you see me, Lord? Do you hear?"

• What do you see when you look at me, Lord?
• Do you remember my frailty?
• Why is it so hard to carve out devotional time in my day?
• Are you hearing my prayers? Nothing seems to change.
• I feel like no one listens to me. Are you listening?
• The world is darkening. How can I maintain hope?
• I'm hurting. How can I find your comfort?
• I'm burnt out. Where can I find rest?

"Why am I in this wilderness?"

• Is this the place you want me to be?
• My desires are not being satisfied. Why?
• What are you trying to teach me, Lord?
• Am I willing to listen?
• Am I willing to change?

"How long will this season last?"

• I get impatient. Will you give me a glimmer of hope to keep me going?
• Am I learning patience? Am I learning the other lessons I need to learn?
• Am I drawing close to you?
• Do I believe that you have something good in mind? Do I trust you?

"Where are you leading me?"

• Am I teaching at the right district? In the right grade level or subject area?
• Is it time to look for something different? Or to rest in you right here, right now?
• Is there an area of passion that you are calling me to explore?
• Do I trust you to lead me when I don't know the destination?
• Can I remember that your timing and your purpose may look different from my expectation?
• Do I trust that you are all-wise, all-powerful, and good?

Deserts of the Heart

Right now, many of these questions are settled in my mind, but I can vividly remember times when some of them blazed in front of my eyes every day, keeping me from being effective as a teacher, wife, and mother. Having wrestled with these questions, posed them to God, and learned His will for me, I am a happier, more blessed person for having been led through the wilderness. Yes, I still struggle in my calling at times. Yes, I still have days of confusion and questioning. But I remember the lessons from the desert, and they bring me peace.

Facing the wilderness?

Sometimes we need to ask the help of another Christian friend or two or three to steer us to a place where we can ask these questions. Sometimes God will steer us there directly, by removing responsibilities, by sending obstacles, by bringing us to a desperate place so we have to look to Him.

If you're there now in that desperate place, I hope you will run to the wilderness as Moses did. Allow yourself to thirst and hunger. Wait for God to meet you. Treasure His word. Ask your questions. Believe that it has a purpose.

For further reading:
Devotional Aids for Every Christian Teacher
Teaching As Calling
Exodus Chapter 3 (Bible Gateway)
Deserts of the Heart: Finding God During the Dry Times by Pamela Reeve

Avoid Burnout and Get the Most Out of an Education Conference

Tomorrow is conference day for me, so I'm linking back to a post I wrote on 6 Strategies to Avoid Conference Fatigue at Education Conferences. The P20 Educator Conference I'm presenting at is only a two-day event, so I'm sure burnout won't be a factor, but for those of you heading into week-long conferences, these tips will help you pace yourself and get the most out of your experience. Enjoy!

Conference Fatigue? 6 Strategies To Avoid Burnout At Education Conferences

I once ditched part of an afternoon's worth of conference sessions I was supposed to attend. The culprit? I could blame a friend and coworker who agreed to ditch with me (was it my idea or hers?). I could blame my undiagnosed adult ADD. The real culprit, though, was conference fatigue. Fortunately, my friend and I had a cover. We were skipping conference sessions to visit the book store. Which translated into a fictitious conference session, "Breaking Down Borders and Building Literacy." Get it? Borders? Actually, that would make a good conference presentation. (Squirrel!) Okay, if you're worried that I lied to my boss, I am pretty sure I 'fessed up later.

But conference fatigue is a real thing. Sometimes you need to pack up your tote bag and head to a quiet place to digest what you've learned, not keep cramming in new information on dozens of topics over a three-day period. We're like cows. We have to ruminate.

How can we optimize our precious time at education conferences so that we glean the most valuable new learning, yet keep sane and engaged enough to retain it? Here are my six best tips:

1. Go with a friend, or better yet, a group of friends. You'll bounce ideas off each other on the car ride there or in the hotel room. You'll swap notes, handouts, and links to double or triple your take-home stash. You'll still network with strangers, but you'll have a safety net of friendly faces if social anxiety kicks in. And when you return to work, you'll have backup when it's time to present to your school staff.

2. Take few notes. It sounds counter-intuitive, but you'll actually take away more of value the fewer notes you take. If, that is, you listen attentively and jot down Web site addresses, key words, and other links to allow you to access the information later. Don't skip note-taking altogether. Just don't worry about encapsulating the whole presentation every hour. Chances are, you'll receive an email with a link to a Dropbox folder containing all the conference sessions. If not, you can often purchase CDs or audio files for a minimal fee. If you'll listen to it later, it's worth it. If not, skip that, too.

3. Interview people. In other words, network. When I go to conferences, I like to visit with other attendees between sessions. I'll ask, "What's your favorite education book?" or "What Web sites do you use every day?" or "What's your favorite science unit that you teach?" It's a great way to get right to the heart of what other teachers are doing well. They'll be thrilled to be the expert for five minutes!

4. Attend for the job you want, not the job you have. Okay, it's supposed to be "Dress for the job you want," but this applies, too. When choosing which sessions to attend, pick one or two that are intended for school administrators, technology leaders, or reading specialists. Branch out. Aim high.

5. Eat out. Don't go back to the hotel room with a doggy bag from the conference. Either eat in the conference dining room with other attendees or go out to a nice restaurant with a few old or new friends. You'll all be ready to talk after taking in lectures (or if you're lucky, interactive sessions) all morning. Share!

6. And yes, do carve out some time to ruminate when the need arises. Maybe you attended a STEM session that has you frantically texting ideas to your teaching partner back home. Or maybe it's day three and you have a migraine starting. Take a break. Put your head down on a table somewhere, sip a latte, or check out your favorite Bible verse app on your phone. Thank God for the growth you're experiencing as a teacher-leader. Breathe.

I hope you attend some fantastic ed conferences this year! I'm looking forward to the P20 Educator Conference in Twin Falls, Idaho in July (I'm presenting on Faith and the Classroom Teacher) and the Idaho Super Conference in Boise in October. What conferences are you looking forward to? What are your best tips for avoiding conference fatigue?

Book-at-a-Time Bible Reading Plan

NavPress has made available Discipleship Journal's Book-at-a-Time Bible reading plan online, here. This is a user-friendly plan that I've used over the years in its print form. I love it because it is flexible. Read books of the Bible in the order of your choice. If you take the time to read every passage for each day, you'll read the whole Bible in a year. I am a little slower than that, let's just say. Want to get the app on your phone? Look for DJ Bible Reading Plan.

Research-Based Gems

Here are some of the nuggets of evidence-based thinking I've salted away from various teacher trainings recently. Each one can be linked to a Scriptural principle. Each one could be its own blog post, and maybe someday it will be.

*Cultivate a growth mindset, not a fixed mindset
*Cultivate perseverance (or, to use a buzzword, grit)
*Listen to understand
*Foster connections--to the text, to self, to prior knowledge, to the world
*Take time for scaffolding
*View failure as a stepping stone
*Teach precision, especially of terminology and academic vocabulary
*Embrace productive struggle

This list is saved on my phone, so when a PD trainer shares a new gem based on brain research, I can instantly update my toolbox. Hope there's something here for you!