Knock. Knock.

Come, Father, Creator.

Come, Son, Redeemer.

Come, Spirit, Sanctifier. 

Lent helped draw us in relationship with Jesus Christ the Redeemer. Easter fills us with the Love of our Father, recreating us in our the waters of our baptism. We now approach Pentecost and prepare ourselves to be set on fire by the Spirit. Do we allow the Spirit to transform our inner environment, the space around our relationships, to be fertile soil for creation, mercy, and God’s transformation? What barriers do we face?

Guiding Reflections:

We become like those we love. 

In our relationship with Christ, He is always the initiator. 

We can only love others as much we allow ourselves to be in love with Jesus Christ. 

Central to this week’s reflection is whether we are aware of the movements of the Spirit in our homes and classroom and that we are responding to them at all times. It is so easy to think that God is responding to us and our needs. Not so. 

Think of some really cool things you’ve accomplished this past week. Those moments that felt really satisfying. Do you see God’s role in their success? Are you aware of the Spirit’s movements?

Richard Hauser writes in his book, In His Spirit, that, “The Spirit initiates all good desires and we listen and respond (19)”.

If you are like me, your first mistake may be that you do not allow Christ to be the initiator or in some ways simply give him credit for being the initiator when it's most obvious. 

In our culture, we expect certain things to come to us or to be a direct result of the actions we take. Yes, it is by intentional and repeated effort we grow in virtue and develop our skills and talents, define our neural pathways, and change habits. However, these deeds and efforts and the desire to accomplish them are driven by God. 

We must prepare the interior fertile soil of our hearts so He can lead these efforts, direct them, and steer them toward the eternal place He has prepared for us. 

Think about the environment in which you teach or live. Your mind might drift to your crucifix with fresh palm branches tucked behind it, the scripture you’ve incorporated on your walls, or your classroom prayer space. These are physical signs in which we have control that create our environment. 

Yet, even more so is our body language, our presence, our spoken and unspoken words. Do your daily actions and how you present yourself (even on our most needy mental health days!) create a space for our children and colleagues that makes them feel in the presence of Christ, so they can clearly see and feel his role directing their actions and ours? 

Here is one great example I remember from one of those “feel good” keynotes at the beginning of year Professional Development for teachers. 

Standing at the door and greeting your students when they enter. 

What does this say to your disciples?

I care about you.

I care about what happens to you when you enter this door.

I am here for you with whatever challenges you face today and to celebrate your victories.

As a representative of Jesus Christ, it also says:

God cares about you.

He cares about what happens to you when enter this door.

He is here for you with whatever challenges you face today and to celebrate your victories.

A simple action. Yet, it is so tempting to be at your desk, getting one last thing entered into the grade book, or organizing the parent driver list for the field trip, details for whatever latest service project or student assembly you’re chairing, etc…As a principal, I am guilty of this too because uninterrupted moments before school starts are like liquid gold to me. 

I am often saddened when I miss the morning greeting because this is a time when teachers or parents often try to grab me to put things on my radar for the day. As a principal this is important too! It would be equally detrimental if I “put off” these encounters. The key is allowing the Spirit to lead and initiate where I place myself and that it is the best place for an encounter in which God can do His work. 

At one of my schools, our maintenance director opens the door every morning for each student and greets them too. He is right outside my door and I know that each day by this action the students are entering into a space where they know they are loved and cared about. 

Think about the rest of your day? Are you exhausted at the end of the day from trying to initiate virtue in your students and they just don’t seem to get it? Maybe you’re coming at it from the wrong angle? Maybe it is not ours to initiate, but rather nurture. 

We become like those we love. 

Your children (students) love you and desire to become like you. 

You love Jesus and desire to become like Him.

In our relationship with Christ, He is always the initiator. 

Are you trying to mold your students to your expectation of what learning should look like and sound like?

Or, are you allowing Christ to initiate what learning should look like and sound like by molding yourself to Him and them?

We can only love others as much we allow ourselves to be in love with Jesus Christ. 

Did Lent help discipline you in spending more time growing in relationship with God? Keep it up! Or, start now…

He’s waiting at the door to greet you.