Sometimes We Get In Our Own Way

Today's reading is extremely timely for me. I'm having a difficult time at my summer job and feel as though I'm ready to explode as my stress level is tested its extreme boundaries. The days are becoming more of a battle between "do what I say and do it now" and "I understand we each have our own way of learning, and you need to be allowed to express yourself".

One thing I remember from a Civics class I took is that one person's rights end where another's begins. This usually helps me in finding fair boundaries for everyone to live in. Except that these past few days has honestly been filled with those around me pushing against those boundaries and as an educator I need to consider those in the class who want to learn but cannot with all the "noise", So it's important to enforce those boundaries.

And there it is - enforce. A comment was made yesterday by one of the students in regards to my enforcing classroom rules. He said, "Mr., don't you notice that the more you enforce the rules the more disruptive the class gets." I took a step back and realized he was right; which told me there was now a line drawn in the sand between the students and the teachers and the battle was about to get worse.

By the end of the day I was using negative reinforcement by subtracting points for not following directions. It came down to one student versus me; and it was the student who made the comment about them getting worse. Finally, after having almost all the points he had earned in the day he said, "Mr., why you gotta be like that?"

My response was simple and quiet, "I'm not the one at fault, you're the one continuing to be disruptive, even after you knew there was going to be a penalty. And, in case you haven't noticed, you're the only one continuing to be that way." He looked around and saw that everyone else was in their seat, working in their groups on their in-class assignments.

Paul's message is almost the same in today's passage from 2 Corinthians 6:1-13. Paul is telling the church at Corinth that he and his followers are trying everything they can and giving everything they have to help them be a unified people. It's because of the continued actions from those who oppose Paul the disruptions are happening. I especially like verse 12 when it says, "there is no restrictions in our affection, but only in yours."

If people are being disruptive in and around you just to test your limits you need to be firm in your love and acceptance of them anyway. Sooner or later those involved will see the truth in the love you have for them. It may not be easy, it will test your limits and tolerance levels, but with God's encouraging love you will find a way to get through.