2023 is coming to an end and self-reflection typically occurs during winter break. The time when you step away from work, as much as you can, and focus on those quiet moments that linger in your soul. The time to reconnect with God and to find solitude in His plan. As I write this, I am reminded of what Addie said last night about a friend's social media post:
"Isn't it sad that we think someone is dying when they post about God."
Read that again. A 16-year-old, strong in her faith and innocent to the worldliness of adulthood, noticing that some only call on Him when in fear and doubt. Calling me out by noticing the shift in posts and the questioning of the change. The assumption is that anything on social media is real and then a deep dive of my own digital footprint. By the way, this post wasn't even about that comment but it's ironic how journaling connects many circumstances to align one thought.
The Gift:
A simple book from a colleague and friend that started my writing again this break. The book gives a narrative, bible verse, and reflection space to write. It's been very helpful as I sit with my thoughts and discern how I'm supposed to be leading and what is my next focus. Today's reading is what connected me to my blog; Just Love What You Do.
We are not self-sufficient but interdependent. Many will argue with that thought process. Just sit with that for a minute; that's what I did this morning.
God gave us free will, yes. He also created us with gifts to serve and model by His commandments. We are not to deny the gifts given to us by the Creator. We must also love each other as He loved us; spreading love and grace throughout our lives. Are you able to do that with your work?
1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
I remember pulling away from the funeral home, on our way to the final church service, and I checked my phone. There was a message from IWU: Congratulations, you've been approved for the Principal Leadership program. As I was saying goodbye to the man who modeled service at its finest, I was preparing to embark on the next journey that I wasn't sure that I wanted.
James 1: 22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
The doing became apparent as I poured myself into schooling and a new position. I've written many times about not wanting to be a principal. Do Not Deny His Gifts! That's the message that filled my heart today.
As I sit in the quiet moments and reflect on the past 8 years of leadership, I see the work that needs to be done. While I once served kids by teaching, I now serve kids by supporting teachers. Take any recent news article and see what teachers have to deal with daily. FAPE is just that, we don't get to pick the kids we teach or deny any student from public ed. Yet, the trauma and circumstances that teachers are faced with on top of trying to educate, is remarkable. Interdependent. We need each other. We have to utilize each and every gift given in our lives; including those we serve.
Teach. That's the ultimate goal of school. Our society has challenged teachers with so much more and it doesn't seem to be slowing down. This is where perseverance finishes the work. We often say, stay the course, for a good reason. When you are living in your gift and doing the work, it will be hard. Teachers and staff that work with our youth are living their gift. They chose to follow His plan of service and yet they are bombarded with more obstacles than most professions. BUT, they are doing the work. Together, they are doing the work. How can I love and support them?
Principals have a very powerful role if supported and trained correctly. The biggest thing I can do is listen and do. It all starts with doing. One cannot be passive and call it leadership. You must do the work you are asking your teachers to do. You must know the programs, participate in the training, listen to their challenges, and then support them. Do the work, persevere through the hard times, and always have a plan that is backed by your ethical standards, all while building capacity in each gift/talent of your staff. After 8 years, I can still say I love doing this work.
A simple gift that grows my spirit also encourages me that the work I'm doing needs to be done. It is never my place to tell anyone about my faith in a public ed setting. It is always acceptable to lead by example, treat others as you want to be treated, and just love. My lens of love has always been my leading trademark yet does that qualify me to be a building-level leader? So far, I think so.
Just Love,
Kirsten
