Service/Mission/Leadership Blog

Life at Judson College is a lot like a musical.

We sing for EVERYTHING.

We sing a blessing in the dining hall before lunch everyday at 12:30.

We sing in chapel and during The Core.

I sing in choir, in the car, while doing laundry, and with the kids in my field experience class for education classes.

We sing for traditions.

We even write our own songs together as a class.

My roommate is a music major, so she is ALWAYS singing.

Call me cheesy if you wish…

But singing a song is sometimes the best way to tell a story.

Just think about it.

We have the Psalms…songs to God, stories of war and grief, regret and deliverance, passion and indifference, loneliness and love.

We hear singing in literature…just think of how Walt Whitman paints a picture of American culture in I Hear America Singing or how Maya Angelou brings us to tears in a story about identity, racism, and coming of age in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

There are musicals, Broadway shows, and symphonies. What about in the movies? Surely you remember the scene in 10 Things I Hate About You when the tough guy in school, Patrick Verona, stops time as he sings to hard-headed Kat Stratford over the PA system for everyone to hear…this is the moment we know she’s fallen for him.

We even hear our songs at sporting events as marching bands play and fans cheer.

We open our hearts and raise our voices to God at church on Sunday, as we rock the children to sleep at night, riding down the road with our best friends, or into the ear of that special someone during a slow dance.

Songs reveal pieces of our most personal stories, and it just so happens that a major piece of Judson’s story can be told through a single song.

Pageant is a tradition that dates back to the beginning days of Judson. The ceremony used to be performed in the fashion of a wedding, but now, each year, the Junior-Sophomore class performs a musical as a gift to their big sister class. The gift represents the ties of sisterhood here at Judson and the ties between Christ and his bride as we consider His relationship with us and our relationships with the people around us.

Although the characters, directors, and storylines of pageant are kept secret from the rest of the school until the evening of the performance…the theme of pageant has remained the same throughout the years.

LOVE CONQUERS ALL

Through late nights, arguments, too much homework, family problems, hurt feelings, burnt macaroni, research papers, and missing sneakers. After drama and break-ups, make-ups, dropouts, and cop-outs. Even after mistakes and failures, losing the way, or simply losing the map.

LOVE CONQUERS ALL

But this theme is not only for Judson. Pageant reminds us of Christ’s love and sacrifice for humanity and His commandment for His people to love others.

The 2010 pageant is tomorrow, October 3^rd. And even though I’m not too sure what this year’s play or musical is, I do know that from the time the stage lights flicker on at 7p.m. to the time the last curtain is drawn, all in the audience will hear a song and a story of an everlasting and undefeatable love that binds us not only to each other but also to our Groom.  

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:14

Without Wax

I woke up early.

I ate my breakfast and took my vitamin.

I drank extra coffee.

I even wore my hair down (I had to borrow my roommate’s hairbrush…shhh…don’t tell).

I picked my clothes the night before.

Do I look like a teacher?

My roommate responded with a reassuring affirmative.

Today was my third first day of first grade. My first 1^st day took place as an actual first grader…a long time ago. The 2^nd first day of first grade was my first day of field experience at Albert Turner Elementary School last year. And today was my first day of field experience at Meadowview Elementary School in Selma, Alabama, at town near Judson/Marion.

Wow, that’s a lot of firsts! Oh…P.S…this is the “Bethany’s thoughts” font. I’ve come to the realization that, often times, I need to insert something into the story that comes from outside of the story. So anytime you see this scribbling…just think of it as author’s notes. It’s sort of like footnotes, but just in the middle of everything. I think we’ll call them “torso notes.” Now…back to the story. 

Meadowview Elementary School

Doesn’t that sound like the happiest, most lovely school in the world? Of course you must understand that I have yet to visit every school in the world…but this particular haven of learning is quite lovely. When I first received my assignment from Judson’s certification officer I was disappointed. I felt as though I’d been stripped away from the familiar and God’s calling for me to serve in Perry County.

It’s okay though…because God’s lesson plans are always better than mine.

It turns out that the teacher I’m, in a sense, “shadowing” received the Teacher of the Year Award out of all thirteen Selma City Schools last year. Her list of accomplishments is endless, and she is just now finishing up her master’s degree in counseling.

The principal greeted me as soon as I walked up the front sidewalk, gave me the heads-up on how to avoid morning traffic, told me a bit about the school, and immediately directed me to her secretary. After meeting her and hearing about Meadowview I am seriously beginning to consider a later in life career in administration.

Grad school, anyone?

My first day was F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!

I only stayed for the morning, but I had the chance to work with different reading groups, learn everyone’s name, and see Ms. Coleman’s mad teaching skills in action. Being the Friday of a short week (because of Labor Day) the class was a little laid back and even sort of crazy, at times. A special needs student became upset, and one little boy cried ALL DAY because he got in trouble and the principal had to visit our class. But I feel like I got a true taste of classroom life. It was also interesting to notice how much I’ve changed since my beginnings in the field of education. After last year’s experience and the work I was blessed to do with children in Marion this summer, I feel much more confident. God has truly used Judson to bring me out of my shell, and every time I get the opportunity to step into a classroom it feels like a tiny word of reassurance that this is who I am and what I’m called to do.

Man, isn’t that nice?

I think my favorite moment from the day was during part of the math lesson. Ms. Coleman was reviewing money counting, and when she asked “how much two quarters, a nickel, and a penny made,” one of the more rambunctious boys in the class responded with a very loud and confident, but very incorrect, answer.

Ms. Coleman sort of looked at him funny and told him to count again. Eventually he gave up and said,

“Man Ms. Coleman I don’t know my cents, but you don’t have no sense!”

For a moment everything in the class was silent, but then Ms. Coleman just laughed, complimented the student on his pun, and resumed her lesson.

It was so nice to see a teacher who had such a personal, fun, and even joking relationship with her students…while still holding their respect. I hope that, after Judson, God places me in a school and with a group of students where I can achieve that same sort of balance.

It’s things like this that sitting in an education class could never teach you…but I guess that’s why they call it “field experience!”

Without Wax

I’ve been back in school at Judson for three weeks now, and I think I’m finally ready to start unpacking my suitcases. I’ve opened up a few and grabbed something that I needed for the day, just to zip them up and slide them under my bed again. One of my suitcases, the one I put all the important items in, is locked…and I can’t seem to find the key.

Now, anyone who knows me knows that I’m not talking about actual suitcases…you better believe that this OCD kid unpacked all of her belongings the night she moved into the dorm and had everything in perfect order before classes started.

The debriefing for my summer of mission work in Marion was about a month ago, and this is what we talked about…unpacking. My "suitcases" from the summer are full of memories, questions, and…you guessed it…stories. But, to be honest with you, it’s just been too painful for me to unpack until now.

Think about it. When you’re going on a trip, especially if you’re traveling to somewhere you’ve never been, going on a road trip with your friends, or just having a relaxing vacation… packing is not such a chore. You’re excited! Of course you want to pack up and hit the road.

But what about coming home? You’re leaving the beach. The sun, surf, and sand are beautiful…you’ve already checked the weather at home for your return. It’s going to be cold and rainy for the next few days. You’re tired. The drive is long, and once you get back all you want to do is throw your stuff under the bed or in the closet, sleep, and try to resume the activities of your daily life. Unpacking means finding little souvenirs to remind of where you’ve been, what amazing things you took part in, and the cool people you met. And as fun as a trip down Memory Lane can be…it’s only a matter of time before reality comes knocking on your door to remind you that the trip is over.

Now that it’s my day off and my roommate is in class…it’s time. I’ve crawled under the bed and pulled out my suitcases. I’ve dusted them off, unzipped the tops, and started to rummage through. I’ve even taken a few things out…snapshots; letters, even a few stories…and I’ve put them in a special place to keep forever.

After the urging of a few close friends, a few tears, and the need to make sense of things, I’ve unpacked every suitcase but one.  Why, why, why is it just so much easier to leave this one shoved out of sight?

The first message Judson’s Campus Ministries president delivered during our weekly Bible study was entitled “Matters of the Heart.” Ryan used the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 to explain her realization that sometimes we just need to stop and listen to tend to our hearts.

Judson’s first chapel service of the year included a sermon on “The Kind of Person God Uses,” in which Dr. Roger Wilmore challenged Judson girls to give God “every key to every space” in our hearts. We studied the kind of man Elijah was and how God used his seemingly ordinary life for Glory.

And last night at the college Bible study at Siloam Baptist Church, our college minister led a discussion about “Loving God With All Our Hearts.” We studied the life of Solomon, noticing how his heart turned away from God and began chasing one idol after another. As wise as Solomon was, he was not careful to watch over his heart.

Why is this suitcase so difficult to unpack?

It contains the “matters of the heart” Ryan talked about at the Core. I am reminded by the passage in Luke to slow down and pay attention to what my heart is telling me so that I can fully love and serve my LORD. As Ryan put it…

“If you don’t love God with all of your heart, how will you love

people in the same fashion?”

After finally listening and finding the key to unlock this precious suitcase, I’ve found piles and piles of an increased desire to be used more by God. Digging through the stories and memories from this summer reminds me that if I want to pursue the Will of God, I must pursue God…much of which includes digging even deeper into this suitcase and giving every bit of its contents to my Heavenly Father…no matter how difficult it may be.

(Thank you Judson College chapel speaker!)

The bottom of an unpacked suitcase is always the worst. As Siloam’s college minister noted, sometimes our hearts are like haunted houses full of dark and frightening rooms. I don’t want to go exploring…there may be too many skeletons in my closet from years and years ago. The dirty laundry from my travels can also be found in the depths of the unpacked suitcases. My unresolved anger, unanswered questions, and relationship struggles are crammed into the back corner. And my own dreams, plans, and need for security, comfort, and approval hold a frightening resemblance to Solomon’s idols.

Our hearts can imagine new things all the time, and there is

nothing more terrifying than realizing what you put in the place

 of God in your heart.

Ending a blog is always difficult for me…I never know how to wrap things up just right (hence the unpacked suitcases and lost key) but I leave you with a verse and the hope that we can keep sharing our stories and journeying together.

And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

Matthew 22:35-40

Without Wax

Ah, the education classes have truly begun.

Now…classes here at Judson started a couple of weeks ago. But the real work for my elementary education classes is really starting to hit me like a ton of bricks wrapped in a concrete box tied with iron ribbon and an anvil bow on top.

Okay…so maybe I’m being a bit dramatic, but I truly am adjusting to my 18-hour course load of classes, all of which require a great deal of reading, writing, and wondering. It doesn’t help that I have a cold/sinus infection/life and energy-draining illness right now, either.

Now, don’t get me wrong…

I ADORE these classes.

I’m taking Developmental Reading, Materials and Methods of Social Studies, Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science and Health Education for the elementary classroom.

But my absolute favorite class is Children’s Literature. That’s right, I have an entire class dedicated to the reading and, I dare say, studying, of quality Children’s Literature. What’s even more exciting is that, beginning next week; this wonderful class offered by Judson’s education department will meet in an elementary school classroom. We’ll be working with struggling readers, and I’ll be able to see some of the strategies I’ve been learning in Developmental Reading put into practice before my very eyes. I can hardly wait!

Speaking of exciting events, there are a few more coming up in the life of this Judson girl. Tomorrow will bring my very first day of field experience for this year’s education classes. I’ve been placed in a first grade classroom again, so you can expect to hear a lot more about this sometime next week…

You never know what sort of shenanigans first graders can get themselves into.

 And if that news isn't exciting enough...

Thanks to Judson College and the Department of Faith-Based Service and Learning, I, along with a few other Judson girls, will be attending a conference sponsored by the Alabama Poverty Project. The conference is to take place on September 17th and focuses on service learning.

Naturally, I’m most excited about the sessions on community outreach through schools.

Then (as if that’s not enough) Ryan Dowling and I will be headed to the University of Missouri’s Community Development Academy on September 20-24th. After a summer of mission work in Marion through Student.Go and Sowing Seeds of Hope, we met the director of Together for Hope, and he’s sending us to this international conference where leaders of various places meet to learn strategies for building their own communities.

I look forward to telling you too many stories about the next few weeks, but for now…I’ve got some homework to do.

Without Wax