We are all hypocrites in transition

Erwin McManus is a favourite speaker of mine and I have had the chance to listen to him a lot the past couple of years. He wrote a book called "Soul Cravings" and in there he points out that we are all hypocrites in transition.  What he means is that the things we believed in the past change as we develop in God's image.  Sometimes its a radical, deep change, such as when we turn our lives over to Christ and live in relationship with Him.  And sometimes it is a gradual development that God does in our lives as we come to understand the nuances in how He sees the world and the fact that he unconditionally loves every person alive (past, present and future).

What does this have to do with my teaching practise?

Good question.  I think that all of us have come to realise the things we tried to do and tried to practise as beginning teachers have changed as we have honed our skills and learned new information.  Again, sometimes it is radical transition in how we go about what we do (I started with mimeographs and now I use smartboards!) and sometimes it is a gradual development of change and improvement of fundamental beliefs (moving from summative to formative assessment).

It is important, I think, for us all to acknowledge ways that we have changed as we approach the future of our practise because our practise does change.  Every year, whether it is students, technology, schedules, classes or administration, something changes around us.  And these changes incrementally affect what we do.

So what do you want from me?

Wisdom.

As Proverbs 2:1-5 says:

¹ My son, if you accept my words
   and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
   and applying your heart to understanding—
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
   and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
   and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
   and find the knowledge of God.

I do not have all the answers (shoot, I don't even have all the questions I need to ask!) but I do know that there is a great body of knowledge surrounding all of us.  It is in you and your colleagues and it is my hope that we can together arrive at greater wisdom.

So, now what?

So now, we start a conversation.  The best blogs have a wide range of opinons that can connect and inform each other.  I would never hope for total agreement on any issue, but always in discussion of why you think what you know is right and what you think I have expressed needs correction.  ;-)

By contributing to discussion, and suggesting new discussions, hopefully we can all learn some new things this year.

And by extension, continue our journey of becoming hypocrites.