I have been learning and preaching the upside down way of Jesus for all of my life. Societal life in Jesus’ Kingdom looks backwards or the opposite or upside down compared to the way our society works. When His will is being done on earth as it is in Heaven the last get to go first, debts are forgiven, generosity and plenty rule. When we live in Jesus’ Kingdom, even in small ways on this present earth, we turn the other cheek when someone wrongs us, we give expecting nothing in return, we show honor to all, we admit when we’re wrong.

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that these past couple weeks in 5th grade have given me my first real taste of just how upside down the Way of Jesus really is. Fifth graders are mean, you all. They are ruthless. If someone calls them a name (or they think someone called them a name), they retaliate and the conflict escalates from zero to sixty in about 3 seconds. They’re best friends one minute and screaming at each other the next. There’s fights in the hall over spilled Coco Puffs (I kid you not) and fights in the gym over which mat so-and-so got to use to build their “bedroom” in their make believe house. They go from playing pretend to threatening each other. It’s crazy town.

I’ve been surrounded my whole life primarily by those who call themselves Christian, and so we have this common ground to appeal to. I’ve always known it wasn’t the way of the “world” but I never really knew what the “world” was like.

I’m 37 years old. And I’ve been calling myself a pastor and now a missionary, and this is the first time I have ever intentionally surrounded myself with people whose lives could actually be beautifully affected by the Way of Jesus. Most of my students’ standards for living are the exact opposite of Jesus. This could be super discouraging. But I am being totally honest when I say I am loving this. I can confidently say without exaggeration that I have done more real ministry in the name of Jesus in the past 10 days than I have done in the past 10 years. Seriously.

I have had so many conversations with students about being “slow to become angry.” After an initial teaching conversation I can just walk by and take a deep breath and say “slow to become angry” and they do the same. I’ve had conflict-resolution conversations with too many students to count, teaching them how to listen, how to share what they’re feeling, how to open the door of vulnerability to bring healing. As a class we talk regularly throughout the day about creating a classroom where everyone belongs, where all of us feel safe and loved. We ask if we’re being kind or unkind, encouraging or discouraging respectful or disrespectful. And they are getting it. It’s been hard. It’s been exhausting. But it’s been so worth it.

Speaking truth and value into these students is so important to me. I spent time last weekend writing an “I See in You” notecard to each individual student. They couldn’t believe I had handwritten that many letters. I loved watching them open their notes and read and re-read them in secret. I love those moments when I can affirm a student with a quick passing comment. I loved being able to follow through on my promise to bring my needle and thread and sew up comfort item/puppet’s arm and mouth.

Please pray with me this week. I’ve been preparing the students that a new classroom arrangement is coming but I know they’re going to panic Monday when they arrive. Pray for them to acclimate well and to thrive in the new environment we’re creating together. I can’t wait to set up our new classroom rugs and furniture once my permanent placement is official.

Pray specifically for two female students, L and M. Their strong personalities can make or break a classroom environment and we’re gaining good traction together. But I need their trust and their ownership of the classroom culture.

Pray for my completed Interim Teaching Certificate application to be approved and issued by the state faster than I am expecting. I would love to see this come through this week! And then for district HR to move through the staff onboarding process as quickly as they’ve suggested. (I know both of these things are long shots. But God is this good.)