Blooming Where I have been Planted

Well, I found out yesterday that my job search was once again to no avail. That seems to send a strong message to me that I am where I am supposed to be - for the moment anyway. All throughout the leadership seminar, I was applying the principles I learned to what I do in the classroom everyday. Funny how even though I never want to darken that doorway again, it is ingrained in my very being. I actually love the teaching part, and for the majority of the part, the kids. I know I make an impact, and a good impact at that. It is just the extraneous stuff that is hard. So my lesson now is to keep my head up and know that I am working for God. If I can be a light to even one of my students, isn't that what it is all about anyway?

So what did I learn from the leadership summit that I can apply to work? I have been thinking a lot about blooming where I have been planted. It was strongly reinforced for me at the summit. For one, I need to share the vision with my yearbook kids. They need to own it. I think that Bill Hybel's question, "What does God want the church to look like in 5 years?" can apply to my job as well. What does God want the yearbook to look like in 5 years. What does God want my teaching to look like in 5 years? You see, it doesn't matter where you are, as long as you are doing your all for the Lord. Another thing I learned is to celebrate success along the way. Last year, I was so burned out that it was all I could do to get through a day. I know that is not what God wants for me or my students. Marcus Buckingham gave a quote from Anias Nin that I will put up in my classroom "And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud became greater than the risk it took to blossom." If that is not related to blooming where I am planted, I don't know what is. Colin Powell talked about a clash of ideas, allowing lots of different flowers to bloom. John Ortberg reminded me that perhaps I have come to my position for such a time as this - read Esther, it is all about blooming. I need to leverage my gifts. God has gifted me with teaching. I need to remember that is my call and my service to Him.

So, what will I do to keep myself motivated? Because I have been unhappy with my position, I have not made my classroom mine. It is like someone else's room. I can't paint it, but I can put paper up all over the wall and decorate. I will put inspirational/motivational sayings up. I will keep books on my shelf that are motivational, that I can read during lunch. I will post some key quotes for myself where I will see them everyday. I will ask key people to keep me accountable for my motivation.

Now all that remains is to see where God will take me this year.