- Jul 10, 2007
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So, my question to you all is how do we do that living in the world?
put ourselves below everyone else, and always repent.
In addition...
By actually making time for prayer and Scripture reading, and by working on crushing the passions (when we realize what ours actually are).
Gurney, I can imagine the challenges you face on a daily basis. I'm sure there are days where you feel that at least something good came out of whatever situation and/or one of your students did something gracious. Your job is a tough one but such an important one, and I admire you for it. It takes special people to be teachers and for that matter, nurses, so both you and your wife's vocations are such honorable callings, if you will.
I struggle with much of the same things you do and just keep plugging forward because I've found I cannot go back to the way I was. It's not who I am anymore, and for the most part, that's a good thing. I've got to work on my pride, self-love, judging others, etc. make sure I'm not making something an idol, trying to remember to have Him in my thoughts and heart each part of the day, and yes, increasing my prayer time and having a good routine.
It is always helpful to me to keep in mind that while knowledge adds, wisdom subtracts. In our world of great knowledge what is most lacking is that greatest of Aristotelean virtues, practical wisdom. May we each become a little less of ourselves each day, and a little more of Christ.
You're too kind, Dot. It is a weird job. I live in the trenches. The parents largely could care less. The system is broken and refuses to ever call a spade a spade to these parents. The lack of morality in their homes is a direct cause of the sins in these kids I see and their lack of drive, ambition, love of learning, or hope for the future. And honestly, everyone each year tells me I have the best kids at the school!
I preach a lot of Christ to my kids and risk my neck so much, you'd be blown away. And it's an Orthodox vision.
I definitely put my neck out there.
The infrastructure, the administrators, they're just worthless.
And after almost 15 years of this job, giving 110% each day, when I hear Republicans blast teachers and want to take away our pensions, union, and collective bargaining, my hatred for them is intense! They don't see what I see or how hard I work. And my loathing for them has become an idol.
My loathing for Obama and his culture of death and guy agenda is equally powerful.
I'm trying to keep THOSE both in check!
The Lord says, don't worry! The lillys of the field and such....but what do we do? We worry. And I commit the sin of despair some days looking around at all the icky tattooed weirdos, the piercings, the irreverent bumper stickers, the vulgarity in not only men but women, the sloth, the sin, the apathy, and I, just like you say, get judgmental.
Life gets old. My home is my little castle. When I'm in my back yard trimming my grape vines and turn and see Luke, Veronica, and Caleb playing on top of the clubhouse I built them, and Kate standing not far away, I feel so blessed. it's my bunker and fortress away from the society that drives me NUTTTTS!
May God bless us all this Great Lent and give us a new heart like His---pure!
It is always helpful to me to keep in mind that while knowledge adds, wisdom subtracts. In our world of great knowledge what is most lacking is that greatest of Aristotelean virtues, practical wisdom. May we each become a little less of ourselves each day, and a little more of Christ.
Reading the Word and praying the Jesus Prayer/asking for God's Mercy daily. Fasting helps also - but I'm having to learn how to disconnect a lot from the world via actually studying more so the lives of other saints in Church history/how they handled the world in their times....as opposed to trying to drive without realizing I could be helped by others who went through it.So, my question to you all is how do we do that living in the world?
So, my question to you all is how do we do that living in the world?