Back in Session (Trina Agee Cornell)

Trina is one of my heroes! We have been on many mission trips together in Honduras and I've grown to love and admire her. She's such a wonderful example, WCS has tried several times to persuade her to teach for us. Trina and her husband Bob live in St. Louis and are expecting their first child!  Pray for me as I recover from my mission in Vietnam!

It's officially that time of year - as of Monday, I am back in the mode of school!  We had our opening faculty meeting, along with a little breakfast, and time to work in our rooms and meet as departments throughout the day.  It was great to catch up with my colleagues, share about our summers, and look forward to the year ahead.  

The beginning of a new school year is quite a novelty - the previous year is over, and a brand new one lies ahead.  There is a sense of anticipation - an air of excitement - and a feeling of optimism in the air.  For the first time in a very long time, I will teach the same subject twice - and work as a reading specialist again this year.  It's amazing what a little consistency can do for you - last year, there were so many unknowns for me.  Working as an interventionist differs drastically from the role of a classroom teacher in a number of ways - and I knew lots of changes were ahead.  I had to prepare myself for inconsistency - children moving in and out of my class throughout the year, consistent assessments, and individualizing like I never had before.  I knew I could not do things the way I had always done them - I had to modify and adjust, stepping out of my comfort zone for the benefit of my students, and for my growth as an educator.  

New things take time to learn - it is a day-to-day process that takes a positive attitude and an incredible amount of work.  Change is an inevitable part of life – we face it in a number of areas in our lives.  It is not actually the “change” itself that is the issue – the way in which you react to the change is the issue.  We have a tendency to be fearful of change, frustrated by its timing or upset by its pending arrival.  When people see us act like this, we become “of the world”.  That is how Satan wants us to feel about it – and display to everyone else.  James tells us that we can “count it all joy” when we face “trials of many kinds”.  We know we can be joyful – because the trials we face make us stronger, develop perseverance – and breed patience.  This is how we should react in the face of trials and change – with the best attitude possible.  That truly lets your light shine to everyone!

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com