As an educator facing so many hurting students that my job finds its dwelling spot in pseudo "mama, social worker, accountability partner, encourager and teacher." At the end of the day realizing I teach future teachers and run a prek lab for their submersion experience yet I am called to be the coach. I find that I'm helping struggling students write English papers or stories or poems I haven't read in 25 years. Encouraging them to press on, more one step at a time while meeting the standards required to excel in my class. Helping them move forward to post secondary options, apply for scholarships, act as a reference, complete college referrals, etc.
So my question as I rejuvenate is "why does my heart struggle or feel overwhelmed?" It's because we are called to intersect our lives with the broken-hearted, oppressed, voice less ones of our world. It's our commandment, our calling. We can't teach those who are hungry and feel down hearted. It's not possible to turn away from their personal issues. We can set boundaries that offer peace and point to hope as it makes way into their lives, praying they hear or see this manifesting of love.
Yet balance is the key...trading my own burdens to a God who never misses sleep because he's worn out and has no solution. Turning my emptiness to him where he can turn "turn beauty from ashes or water to wine". He is able to travel home with these young lives, can restore them and offer hope. I'm the instrument, the priesthood offering only companionship. Not healing, not even "fixes" as they search to find their way.
This thanksgiving, I'm thankful for brokenness. I'm thankful for friends who show up with empty hands and offer to carry these hurts and issues to God as I feel my arms breaking. For those, not many in numbers, but saints along the journey. These folks don't stand from a distance and speak a good word. They roll their sleeves up, put on their boots and ask no questions. Later they sit and offer companionship with or without words, they're present.
May we be more present and like Augustine says "use words only when necessary."
