We started school recently and on the first day I met one of our new 7th graders. When I say "new" it is kind of misleading because this is his third time in the 7th grade. I asked him what he thought about school and he just shrugged his shoulders. Then, I asked him what he didn't like about school and his expression changed from apathy to daring.
He looked me right in my eyes and said, "I'll be sitting in class trying to figure out something and I will raise my hand. I'll keep my hand raised as long as I can and when the teachers come by they don't tell me s**t."
I kept a straight face and said, "Well, I guess that is a good reason." To myself I was thinking that I will have to keep an eye on this one.
So, Whenever he raised his hand in my class I made an extra effort to see what he needed. Yesterday I noticed a change. I noticed that this guy was really making an effort in my class. He responded, he really did. In fact, I have absolutely no trouble from this young man, and although he is behind, I think he will make it. I wonder what would have happened if I would have hammered him on that first day like he wanted me to? I was tempted, to be sure, but I didn't. I do wonder.
I also wonder about the people in the world around me. If I asked them what they don't like about church I wonder if they would say, "I'll be sitting in church trying to figure out something and I will raise my hand. I'll keep my hand raised as long as I can and when the christians come by they don't tell me s**t." I wonder what would happen if we actually tried to notice and answer the next time they raised their hand?
He looked me right in my eyes and said, "I'll be sitting in class trying to figure out something and I will raise my hand. I'll keep my hand raised as long as I can and when the teachers come by they don't tell me s**t."
I kept a straight face and said, "Well, I guess that is a good reason." To myself I was thinking that I will have to keep an eye on this one.
So, Whenever he raised his hand in my class I made an extra effort to see what he needed. Yesterday I noticed a change. I noticed that this guy was really making an effort in my class. He responded, he really did. In fact, I have absolutely no trouble from this young man, and although he is behind, I think he will make it. I wonder what would have happened if I would have hammered him on that first day like he wanted me to? I was tempted, to be sure, but I didn't. I do wonder.
I also wonder about the people in the world around me. If I asked them what they don't like about church I wonder if they would say, "I'll be sitting in church trying to figure out something and I will raise my hand. I'll keep my hand raised as long as I can and when the christians come by they don't tell me s**t." I wonder what would happen if we actually tried to notice and answer the next time they raised their hand?
3 comments:
Don’t get me started! Well, ok…go ahead and get me started.
I have a pastor friend in OKC (Westmoore Community Church) who started a church by canvassing a community and simply asking people what they didn’t like about church. As with the case with your student, he said that people were thrilled to tell him what they didn’t like about church. After completing the survey, he took all of the answers back to his house and went through them one by one, beside the Bible, and figured out which ones weren’t scriptural mandates. After figuring that out, he simply tossed the ones that weren’t mandates and started a church free from the s**t. (Have you heard the diamond rolling down the dunghill analogy? If not, ask me about it.) They moved to a new building about three years ago and are already running three Sunday morning services. They call themselves “The flock that rocks.” Jamie and I attended that church for about a year before we moved to Pittsburgh. I’ve never witnessed a church as good at both getting people saved AND discipling them.
Good stuff.
I know that church! I have not been there but many of my students have been.
TRENT! sorry ive been MIA since camp! thanks for taking the extra effort in that kid. I promise he will remember you. I dont think i ever said thank you for being patient and listening to me all summer long. You never know what else this kid is going through or who else doesnt take the time to listen to him. Thanks for also connecting this to our christian walk. I wonder how many people with questions i have totally skipped over. YIKES
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