You've Got to Stand for Something... or You Will Fall for Anything.....

This is the line from a country song. It keeps playing over and over in my mind. It is this itch that I cannot scratch. And the problem is... scratching it ... stretches the boundaries of what I'm comfortable with. But.... this is supposed to be "something for me" ... right?  So let's start.

First and foremost - I LOVE teaching. When I say love... I mean love it. I really can't remember ever wanting to do anything else.  From the time I was a small child - I can remember "teaching" my dolls.  I used to bring home the extra papers in elementary school (the ones the teacher was going to throw out) and use them for my brother, neighbors, or ... again, dolls.  I graded their papers, I re-taught.  I loved every minute of it.  I went to college knowing I wanted to be a teacher. AND - every day I walk out my door happy that I am going to my job... a teacher. I love my students. every last one of them. and I think it shows. My students are respectful to me (for the most part... they are still teenagers) .... I get a great joy from my profession.  This is important for you to know because ... I can't stop this feeling that I might be experiencing this "calling" to do something more.  I do not believe this "calling" is to the ministry... but a similar feeling. Like God is guiding me to be more. To do more.  But what? It might be as simple as doing something outside of school - or as complex as a career change.

So... while you read the rest of this post, can you please picture me as something different than a teacher? What would that be? I'm really interested - because - although I feel called... the only thing I can put my finger on is one word: Altruism.  But that could take so many different forms - I don't know what to make of it.

Back to the title of my post. It is bizarre - because I have spent my whole teaching career showing students there are 2 sides to every story. And there are. If there was only one logical side... then there would be nothing to argue about. But - everyone should know where they stand. Everyone should stand for something.

I believe in the power of Prayer.
I believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I believe they all exist and that I will make it to Heaven because of this faith.
I believe in the right for all people to have their own opinions - and to be able to speak them.... no matter what they are. If you don't like them.. don't listen.
I believe in the right to life for all people. I believe in the power of life. I respect my friends who have other values - you are still my friends. But.... I would love to see more adoption in our world and less .... abortion. (there I said it.) This is coming from someone who has watched some very close people in my life struggle to have families and long for children of their own.  This is also coming from a mommy of a child with special needs... who wouldn't have changed a thing.
I believe in the right to love your soul mate.  I know - to some this may smack in the face of my church's values. But.... I will allow God to judge as he sees fit.  For now, I see too many examples of love that is not recognized and marriages of convenience that are given much more respect.  I'm a big proponent of compromise, so if your religion has strict marital laws... why can't your church abide by them. But if our government separates church and state... then the state could have different standards.  Example: I can stay at home and raise my family because I can go on my husband's insurance.  Other families cannot.
I believe in the right for all people to have health care. This is coming from someone who has a child who would not be here without health insurance.  My children have each cost over a million dollars... that's each. The twins were in the NICU for 21 days and Alexander... well that is self explanatory.
I believe that all people should be treated with respect and dignity. In all situations.
I believe that children should be taught discipline .... that a parent should not be a friend, but a parent.
I believe that the best thing in life you can ever be ... is a good person.

There. If I am fired for posting my beliefs... I will deal with the ramifications. (Please don't let me get fired!) However, having said that.... I feel like we have been blessed with the gift of life for this precious child. I feel like I am being changed every day.  When people - old and young (as in students) come up to me and tel me they find our story inspiring... I wonder if I am really doing what I am supposed to be doing.  When someone comes to me and says, "I need to talk to you. I feel like you will understand." ... and I have to refer them to another person because that is not my role - it is starting to bother me. I feel the need to ... do something ... to reach more people. To help more people.
I thought this blog would scratch that itch. But .... it is not quite.

So.... if you didn't see me as a teacher - what would I be?