Quiet!!

As I tried to calm myself in a chaotic room full of a bunch, 10 to be specific, of 3 year olds, my frustration only seemed to grow. "Hey class! Let's all play a game called 'sit on the mat'." Ha! What was I thinking? I think one kid looked at me like I insulted his intelligence. 


Ten minutes later...

• 2 students on the mat! WHOO HOO!
• 8 running around at the freedom their teacher left them with when I came in for her.

Fifteen minutes later...

• 9 students squirming uncontrollably on the mat and 1exhausted teacher (me) ready to read a book 
• Yes, the one student whose intelligence I insulted was still standing in the same spot staring quizzically at me.

Then I came up with an idea! I'm going to write their names down on the board and call them my "good listeners"! What a great idea! I hoped.


So I began to write... one name after another calling out the child individually, thanking them for their listening ears and bragging about them to the rest of the group. Eventually the class was silent (except for the one boy who raised his hand every 3 seconds asking if his name was on the board - which it was). As I finished writing the names I noticed that every child wanted their name called out. They wanted me to recognize them... they wanted to be called by name.


How many times are we like that with God? He quietly asks us to listen, to obey and yet we run around thinking we are in charge. My mind in that moment was immediately humbled; for when I do obey, when I listen and I see the light God shines on me I realize that it was all worth it. The giving up control and obeying was more exhilarating than running around in madness.


Be Still and know that I am God... Psalm 46:10

Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I'm leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn't, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God."  Luke 9:23 The Message