Saturday, December 4, 2010

Does it REALLY matter?

I know, I know. You're staring at the page thinking, "How can this girl post a blog at a time like THIS?" Yes, when I have an impending 20 page paper, more homework, and papers to grade, I'm writing a blog. Why, you ask? Because, my research book has made me, once again, realize what I'd RATHER be doing after I get out of grad school.
In this week's chapter, the author is urging music teachers to utilize research in the classroom to better the educational system. He says that through conducting our own research and implementing the research we read, we could change the course of education in this country. That's a pretty weighty statement, if you ask me. While that may be true, that the research done in the field of music education concerning teaching methods, assessment and evaluation, learning, perception, practice habits, cognition, etc. could very much change music education in many beneficial ways, I can't help, but think of an even bigger and better change.
As I'm also reading this, I'm also seeing this movement on Facebook to "change your profile picture to your favorite cartoon character or past favorite cartoon character to raise awareness about child abuse." A friend of mine posted in his status that he didn't understand why everyone was changing their pictures for the weekend, when the majority of these people probably haven't given a second thought to how they can donate their time and resources to actively taking a part in fighting child abuse. In posting this status update, he's hoping to challenge people to do something, to actively taking a part in providing social justice. As I began thinking about what I could do, again, I couldn't help but think of an even bigger and better way to help - an even bigger and better change.
I want to be Jesus to people. To help them see His light and love and mercy and grace. Let's be honest for a second, if you truly know and follow Christ, your whole life changes. You no longer live for yourself, but for Him, and His people. When I think about all the things I could be doing, whether it's devoting all my extra time to fighting child abuse, or becoming a music teacher and taking an active part in implementing and conducting research, becoming active in politics in the hopes of seeing educational reform... I can't help but think that I can do something more. Thinking about things like this reminds me of a former youth pastor of mine, whose life quote was:
"My greatest fear in life is not to fail, but to succeed in something that does not matter for Christ."
All those things that I COULD be doing... would I be succeeding in ANYTHING for the cause of Christ? Just as important to ask: am I even PASSIONATE about any of that stuff? To be honest, where teaching is concerned, I almost couldn't care less about whether or not I'm used newly researched methods and techniques to teach my children music or not! Honestly, it's not even a part of my teaching philosophy! My philosophy of teaching, and my concerns in teaching, deal with providing children a form of expression so they may be able to express themselves when words just aren't enough, a way to see beyond their surroundings - their "world", and to see the bigger picture of life. But even then, knowing that is what I'm passionate about, if I succeed in those things, will all that matter in the cause of Christ? Certainly, it could help. But then again, I know many people who are very expressive, who think about the "big picture", the world as a whole, and yet have hard hearts toward Christ.


This is what I want to change. This is what I care about. This is what I'm PASSIONATE about. I'm most passionate about high school and college students coming to know the God I know, my Jesus who loves them SO MUCH HE DIED, and to see that there is SO MUCH MORE to life than living day to day, than the carnal living this world provides. And in the end, once this is grasped, a whole and eternal love affair with the God of the universe, EVERYTHING ELSE WILL CHANGE. We can't truly know and be in a relationship with Christ without Him turning our every value, thought, and our entire world as we know it upside down. That's what He came for! If I can lead people to Him, storm the gates of hell and bring Heaven with me, then I think all these other issues would begin to change. As people come to know Christ, they see the madness, the mess that is our world, and they can't help but be passionate to change it. That's what I'm passionate about. Leading people through the gates of Heaven to our Savior, that they may see the world through His eyes, and share this passion to change the world.

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