You Best Believe!

So there's this episode of Mike and Molly where Molly, who's a school teacher on the show, is talking to her students about going after their dreams. In the middle of her speech, as she comically tells them their futures hinge on the state standardized test they're about to take, her mind begins spiraling, and she realizes the feeling of suffocation caused by her daily grind as she quickly processes that she's not doing what she dreamed of doing. She then tells the kids that she's going to pursue her dreams as she casually meanders to the classroom window and jumps right out of it. She's later found (by her police officer husband Mike who happens to be cruising in his squad car) walking down the street in the pouring rain! I died laughing inside thinking, "This is exactly what I feel to do most days from room 213 in my school building."

An Urban Cry

I was even telling my students today about my frequent desire to escape the things I encounter daily as an educator in an urban high school. I was telling them this from the standpoint of the critical nature of their choices within the school day. However, the conversation quickly transcended what they do in the school building to what goes on in their lives outside of school.

For example, they know I'm allergic to profanity. When they let er rip, I tell them to stop cursing because I break out in hives at the profane things that leave their mouths. They get a chuckle out of it, especially because of my delivery, but it really rings true in my heart that there's another way of expression besides the one that comes so naturally to them.

So, today several shouting matches ensued between students during my plea of exasperation, which was brought on by the fact that 85% of my 4th period casually entered the classroom LATE, postponing the lesson I'd prepared by 10-15 minutes. Why so long a postponement? Because of the way that many of them enter a room ... loudly and insensitive to the environment that's already been set.

This is How We Do It, Mrs. Payne!

So, during one of the shouting matches between two students -- one who was in support of my stance and the other who had some opposing views -- profanity went flying between them. When I addressed the profanity and encouraged them to hash things out void of using this type of language, one of them said, "My bad, Mrs. Payne. But you ain't gonna get nuthin' across by speakin' nice to people. You gotta cuss at 'em." My reply to that was, "That's really unfortunate that things are like that for you guys."

When I asked another student why this is "the way" to communicate, she said because she was brought up like this. To second this, I've seen text messages -- from several different parents to their children -- with profanity in them (probably not a shocker to you). And the focus of this piece is not profanity but the belief by my students that there's no other way to live. This is it for them ... the cussing, the sexual perversion, the grade levels behind in their skill sets, the paycheck to paycheck and government assistance style of living.

What Can I Pray For?

When I offered for any and every one of them to let me know what I can pray for (considering that they know I'm a Christian, having me last year as 9th graders), two of them said they would give me an answer later. So, I'll keep praying for them ALL but will use my cheat sheet for the two who give me specifics of what to pray about (when they get back to me).

These students are products of environments where talk about prayer or God or hope or faith is nonexistent. These staples of the Christian faith are not normal to them because they're of the world, which is why they look at me like I've just told them the strangest thing ever when I continually challenge them on their choices and tell them there's a better, life-giving way. Seemingly everything dirty and sinful and dark and lustful is their norm. And this ... just ... CAN'T ... go on. This isn't only from a teacher's standpoint for the sake of relief in the classroom, but it's from a believer's perspective, knowing the reality of their present and future condition/destination if they and their families don't hear and receive the TRUTH.

The Bible says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:13-14

PRAYER Is the Rule of the Day!

I can tell you this ... prayer and intercession are the appetizer, the main course, and the dessert in this here time of my life, and they forever shall be. For my students, for their families, and in all things, I've committed to pray because I don't have a definite understanding of how long I'll be a school teacher, but I guarantee I'm pulling some souls up with me. Somebody's gonna be changed because they know me, and -- be it while I'm still in the school or after I'm gone -- will want to know my GOD. If I'm going through the anguish, the tears, the feeling of suffocation, and the fight ... oh, you BEST believe there are spoils of war that'll come from this.

You BEST believe it ...

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