For the Veritas kids...
03.15.10
I teach at a private Classical Christian school, founded on the principles of Jesus Christ and Christianity. I teach English to thirty some odd kids who come from every kind of walk of life imaginable. They’re young, impressionable, and yet, so very old at the same time. Borne from alcoholic parents, former gang members, and delivered from the evils of this world; daughters and sons of every kind of parent imaginable, these children come to us – myself and my colleagues – and they beg with their eyes for mercy, grace and love. And we dole it out, in words, and in prayers, in advice and scripture, hoping against hope that something gets through to them, something that will sink in about the love of God and the sacrifice of His Son for them. We guide them, and show them through actions the love and grace of God. We pray with them and for them, when they don’t know how, introduce them to the Bible and scripture and the holy words of Jesus. We give them compassion, where there is none, grace when it is needed and an endless supply of love – even in punishment.
I have been charged with one of the greatest responsibilities given to any human: teaching and inspiring the youth of America, filling their minds and hearts with, not only a love for literature but thoughts and advice for life. My job isn’t a “job” – every day is something different, something new. And I love it. But, I have a double responsibility. Not only am I in charge of the education of some of the youth of this country, but I also am blessed to be at the beginning of their Christian journey. I don’t have to be at the end of it… just having a part in their beginning is enough.
What’s more, is that I am blessed to be a part of a family. The Veritas family is special, unique and only a little bit dysfunctional as most families are. There are teachers, and an administrator, students and parents, but what’s more than within the walls of our school, is that we love each other, we care about each other. When one of us hurts, we all do, both students and teachers alike. We pray for each other – daily, hourly, minute by minute, to strengthen each other. And, I’ve seen first hand how God is moving in a powerful way through the hearts and minds of these 115 students.
We give them love, and teach them about more than Shakespeare and poetry and novels, more than mathematical equations and historical facts. We teach them how to love each other, how to respect each other, even when they may not agree. We help to form and mold strong warriors for God, to be sent into the world and do mighty things in His name.
We have high expectations, and our students rise to meet them, every day, from solving a word problem, to completing an essay on responsibility, these individuals from every possible walk of life are the heart and soul of our school. From the smallest kindergartener to the biggest “big kid” (our 10th graders) they rise to the occasion, meeting us step for step, matching excellence for excellence.
There is a song, written by Steven Curtis Chapman, called “When Love Takes You In.” He wrote it for the children who were not born to his wife biologically. It says: when love takes you in, everything changes. In a world that teaches hatred and disgust among community leaders and people of this world, this school… this place… teaches love. Above all, above everything else, the love of Christ is exemplified in the walls of this school, of Veritas Academy and of its members. As Christians we have been called by a higher power to share the word of God with everyone – regardless of race, origin, homeless or the wealthiest man in America. The children are no different. Regardless of whether they come from the poorest of poor, to Midas of the wealthy, we teach love. And it shows in their faces, in their compassion towards others, in their love for each other. They get it. Our purpose is great and our path prepared mightily long before we came together – for God has put us all in this place, in this time. Who knows what kind of impact these 100+ students will have on the world?
I don’t have to be there to see their end. I don’t have to know where they go in their lives or what they do – but I am a part of something special, and unique. I get to see their beginning in their walk with God. I am blessed to be able to see their eyes open with wonder and excitement the first time they share their testimony; hear their voices rise in song, praising God, see them show love and mercy to each other. This is what Veritas is about… this is what makes us different from other public and private schools. We raise up the children of God to be strong warriors in a world that is rapidly losing its Christian values. As in all families, members come and go, branch off and create their own family. As my time at Veritas is drawing to a close, I realize that even though many of us are going our separate ways, that the Veritas family will always be that: a family. And that families never break up; everyone always have a piece of each other. And while I will miss those who go away, those who will only be memories in my mind, photographs of time frozen forever, I know that I will carry them with me, always.
And now that 9 of those Veritas kids have become Trinity kids, the family continues, moves on, transitions into something new, something fresh, but still with that same type of familial atmosphere, that same joyous reunion when they saw each other (whether for the first time in three months, or the first time in three days) remains the same: they love each other. In their struggles, in their teasing, in their time away, they have realized how much they love and care for one another. And no matter where they go, or what they do, these 9 kids will always remember Veritas, and now Trinity and that they were a part of something incredibly special.
(c) J. Brooke Bowden, 2010
03.15.10
I teach at a private Classical Christian school, founded on the principles of Jesus Christ and Christianity. I teach English to thirty some odd kids who come from every kind of walk of life imaginable. They’re young, impressionable, and yet, so very old at the same time. Borne from alcoholic parents, former gang members, and delivered from the evils of this world; daughters and sons of every kind of parent imaginable, these children come to us – myself and my colleagues – and they beg with their eyes for mercy, grace and love. And we dole it out, in words, and in prayers, in advice and scripture, hoping against hope that something gets through to them, something that will sink in about the love of God and the sacrifice of His Son for them. We guide them, and show them through actions the love and grace of God. We pray with them and for them, when they don’t know how, introduce them to the Bible and scripture and the holy words of Jesus. We give them compassion, where there is none, grace when it is needed and an endless supply of love – even in punishment.
I have been charged with one of the greatest responsibilities given to any human: teaching and inspiring the youth of America, filling their minds and hearts with, not only a love for literature but thoughts and advice for life. My job isn’t a “job” – every day is something different, something new. And I love it. But, I have a double responsibility. Not only am I in charge of the education of some of the youth of this country, but I also am blessed to be at the beginning of their Christian journey. I don’t have to be at the end of it… just having a part in their beginning is enough.
What’s more, is that I am blessed to be a part of a family. The Veritas family is special, unique and only a little bit dysfunctional as most families are. There are teachers, and an administrator, students and parents, but what’s more than within the walls of our school, is that we love each other, we care about each other. When one of us hurts, we all do, both students and teachers alike. We pray for each other – daily, hourly, minute by minute, to strengthen each other. And, I’ve seen first hand how God is moving in a powerful way through the hearts and minds of these 115 students.
We give them love, and teach them about more than Shakespeare and poetry and novels, more than mathematical equations and historical facts. We teach them how to love each other, how to respect each other, even when they may not agree. We help to form and mold strong warriors for God, to be sent into the world and do mighty things in His name.
We have high expectations, and our students rise to meet them, every day, from solving a word problem, to completing an essay on responsibility, these individuals from every possible walk of life are the heart and soul of our school. From the smallest kindergartener to the biggest “big kid” (our 10th graders) they rise to the occasion, meeting us step for step, matching excellence for excellence.
There is a song, written by Steven Curtis Chapman, called “When Love Takes You In.” He wrote it for the children who were not born to his wife biologically. It says: when love takes you in, everything changes. In a world that teaches hatred and disgust among community leaders and people of this world, this school… this place… teaches love. Above all, above everything else, the love of Christ is exemplified in the walls of this school, of Veritas Academy and of its members. As Christians we have been called by a higher power to share the word of God with everyone – regardless of race, origin, homeless or the wealthiest man in America. The children are no different. Regardless of whether they come from the poorest of poor, to Midas of the wealthy, we teach love. And it shows in their faces, in their compassion towards others, in their love for each other. They get it. Our purpose is great and our path prepared mightily long before we came together – for God has put us all in this place, in this time. Who knows what kind of impact these 100+ students will have on the world?
I don’t have to be there to see their end. I don’t have to know where they go in their lives or what they do – but I am a part of something special, and unique. I get to see their beginning in their walk with God. I am blessed to be able to see their eyes open with wonder and excitement the first time they share their testimony; hear their voices rise in song, praising God, see them show love and mercy to each other. This is what Veritas is about… this is what makes us different from other public and private schools. We raise up the children of God to be strong warriors in a world that is rapidly losing its Christian values. As in all families, members come and go, branch off and create their own family. As my time at Veritas is drawing to a close, I realize that even though many of us are going our separate ways, that the Veritas family will always be that: a family. And that families never break up; everyone always have a piece of each other. And while I will miss those who go away, those who will only be memories in my mind, photographs of time frozen forever, I know that I will carry them with me, always.
And now that 9 of those Veritas kids have become Trinity kids, the family continues, moves on, transitions into something new, something fresh, but still with that same type of familial atmosphere, that same joyous reunion when they saw each other (whether for the first time in three months, or the first time in three days) remains the same: they love each other. In their struggles, in their teasing, in their time away, they have realized how much they love and care for one another. And no matter where they go, or what they do, these 9 kids will always remember Veritas, and now Trinity and that they were a part of something incredibly special.
(c) J. Brooke Bowden, 2010
No comments:
Post a Comment