There is so much evil in this world. Words cannot describe how much my heart breaks for the victims of the Colorado shooting. In times like this I do question God, I will be honest. In the end my faith is strong and I know that evil does lurk and we are in a war here. But still, incidents like this leave me speechless. There was a school shooting a few months ago that deeply affected me as well. After that incident I wrote the following and it once again sums up my feelings the best way that I can.
"The Reality of Our Society"
What has happened to our society?
That kids killing kids has become reality
Instead of loving one another
We choose to bully our brothers
We walk past familiar faces
But we never examine their individual cases
So obsessed with our own lives
That we do not see the warning signs
We preach to be fishers of men
But yet we are busy indulging in our own sin
Never stopping to think
That our friend may be on the brink
One bad day could end it all
And leave us wishing that we only saw
For the Lord sought after the lost
But we are scared of what that would cost
Yet He asks us to be a city upon a hill
So that darkness will cease and light will fill
To seek out those who feel all alone
And let them see that they are not on their own
Amidst the evil they face day after day
There He is telling us we do not have to pay
For the bill has been taken care of
Paid by His son out of selfless love
We should beg our friends to open their hearts
That He will accept even their worst parts
To put down that gun
And find a new life through the Son
For we are the Body of Christ
Together we can take over evil with a heist
We do not have to live our lives as slaves to sin
But instead we can stand up and fight like men
Encourage our brothers to join our cuase
And that they will see a love that does not pause
For they will no longer seek to destroy
But beg their Lord to let them deploy
For this is the society that was invisioned
But in reality it has become imprisioned
Friends we were all lost and now have been found
So I beg you to earnestly look around
This love we live in was meant to be shared
For that is ultimately why we were spared
Monday, July 23, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
More Than a Job
So, last week I was hired on as an Intervention Specialist (Special Ed teacher) within the Toledo Public Schools. Now my license is as an intervention specialist: moderate to intensive. That essentially means I could potentially teach in just about any special ed setting, k-12. A ton of options there. But when I began my job search a few months ago I had a dream job envisioned; I wanted to stay in Toledo, I wanted teach kids with multiple/ more severe disabilities, and I wanted to work with high school age kids.
I applied for over 30 positions and up until my last application I put in, not one of those positions matched my wish list for a job. I had given up on teaching what I was passionate for. I even almost decided to move to Maryland for a Co-teaching job, which I really did not want to do. I had all but given up. It was tough for me. I thought I would have to move from Toledo, which has been my home for 5 years. I thought I would have to teach in a mild spec. ed setting which I am not as passionate about. But God being God, he came through.
When I had given up hope He reminded me just why He is so incredible. As a last ditch effort last week I called TPS to check on my application status. They immediately transferred me to the lady in charge of hiring for special ed. She asked me where I planned to be living next year, I told her Toledo. She then told me to come in the next day and she may be able to help me out. Sure enough I get there, they ask me a few questions and then offered me a choice of three positions. And long and behold my dream job was among them. A high school aged, medically fragile unit at a school 2 minutes from my house.
I am beyond humbled and thankful for the opportunity. Not only to teach in an urban setting, which I have long wanted to do, but to work with students with more intensive disabilities. People often tell me how "awesome" it is that I want to do that. Today, the drug test lady thanked me for wanting to do this. But I always feel weird when people do so. Look, this is my passion. Working with kids with disabilities is my life ministry. I want nothing else. I know God has placed them upon my heart. I know that what I can offer them is FAR LESS than what they can offer me.
As I go into this "job", I view it as life. I am trying to help bring a ministry for kids with disabilities to Toledo, and I see this as a way that God is continuing to provide. So, this is more than a job for me. It is life. It is ministry. And for me, it is just another way in which the Good Lord is working in me.
Friends, a job is more than a job.
With love
Oph
I applied for over 30 positions and up until my last application I put in, not one of those positions matched my wish list for a job. I had given up on teaching what I was passionate for. I even almost decided to move to Maryland for a Co-teaching job, which I really did not want to do. I had all but given up. It was tough for me. I thought I would have to move from Toledo, which has been my home for 5 years. I thought I would have to teach in a mild spec. ed setting which I am not as passionate about. But God being God, he came through.
When I had given up hope He reminded me just why He is so incredible. As a last ditch effort last week I called TPS to check on my application status. They immediately transferred me to the lady in charge of hiring for special ed. She asked me where I planned to be living next year, I told her Toledo. She then told me to come in the next day and she may be able to help me out. Sure enough I get there, they ask me a few questions and then offered me a choice of three positions. And long and behold my dream job was among them. A high school aged, medically fragile unit at a school 2 minutes from my house.
I am beyond humbled and thankful for the opportunity. Not only to teach in an urban setting, which I have long wanted to do, but to work with students with more intensive disabilities. People often tell me how "awesome" it is that I want to do that. Today, the drug test lady thanked me for wanting to do this. But I always feel weird when people do so. Look, this is my passion. Working with kids with disabilities is my life ministry. I want nothing else. I know God has placed them upon my heart. I know that what I can offer them is FAR LESS than what they can offer me.
As I go into this "job", I view it as life. I am trying to help bring a ministry for kids with disabilities to Toledo, and I see this as a way that God is continuing to provide. So, this is more than a job for me. It is life. It is ministry. And for me, it is just another way in which the Good Lord is working in me.
Friends, a job is more than a job.
With love
Oph
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