As I listen to Danny’s post of the sermon from Sunday, a lot of what I have been dealing with is really coming to the forefront. This has been a very hard year teaching school for me. First, racial tension is very strong, especially during this election year. I have been called racist, among other things, just because I’m a white guy teaching mostly minorities–many at risk, even though I really believe that Civil Rights are as imperative in God’s world view as every other issue that I hold dear. But my heart breaks for these students, and many of my days are as bad as any that you would learn about in an education class or a new story in fact.
I am writing simply to ask for your prayers. There are so many children in many towns that essentially are street children, and if it weren’t for our public schools, these kids truely wouldn’t have anything. The immensity of it is huge! And I really don’t know what to do with these students except try everyday to reason with them, teach them, pray for them, and ask for others to pray too.
But with all of this, I have to say, imagine my position, as hard as it is…I will be teaching about the Civil War, Slavery, and Civil Right as Obama is sworn in and begins his presidency! The kids are really ecstatic, and I am too, simply for them, but I really do need prayer, prayer to have wisdom to break cultural barriers and even language barriers (most of my students are hispanic and migrant at times).
Brandon,
I will pray for you!
As I finish reading your post, I see God’s providence at work. You are the right man for this job, hands down. If nothing else, I hope you can be encouraged by that.
You touched on something that is very key to this historical event. That is, rejoicing with our Christian brothers and sisters. As we see in Romans 12:15-16a, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another…”
I am white, so I can NEVER fully comprehend the world that a black American lives in. As my pastor said Sunday, “We’re on the same road, but we’re living in different worlds.” Despite Obama’s liberal social policies, we can, and indeed should, rejoice in the social victory that this represents and the liberation from opression in the hearts and minds of so many black Americans.
Your position is a unique one. I believe that you are especially equipped to capitalize on the opportunity before you. I am excited to hear about what happens and how God moves as you move forward with these lessons.
Brandon,
I too will be praying for you. I am blessed to attend church with the speakers that you heard. God has given you an awesome opportunity to bless these young men and women. He will give you all that you need to accomplish what He has for you.
Cindy