Live justly....Love mercy....Walk humbly with your God.
I was encouraged to post this on my blog. It happened recently and after getting a chance to talk to this student a little more, it's apparent that he's a great kid who made a poor choice and is working on taking responsibility for that choice. Here it is:
How do mercy and justice coexist?
In the life of this teacher, ridiculous anecdotes for my life with Christ are an almost daily occurrence. I often vent with my colleagues and friends about the apathy of today’s youth, the inability of some to take responsibility for anything, and the rampant epidemics of entitlement and instant gratification. When I shine the spotlight on my own heart, my responses to Christ are eerily consistent with the very behavior I complain about. I approach my quiet time and the Great Commission with apathy all too often. I have numerous excuses ready for any sin I commit. I often behave in a manner that suggests that God owes me something immediately – waiting is not an option. I’m an apathetic, selfish, irresponsible wretch who deserves eternal torment. Yet, I’ve been given eternal and abundant life. I still have to live with the consequences of my actions, but, oddly enough, even those consequences appear less severe in light of God’s mercy.
Today, I had to convert a spiritual, holy, perfectly balanced concept into a practical, actual consequence/circumstance. During the test, one of my students asked to be allowed to get a drink of water because he wasn’t feeling well. I let him leave. I was concerned, so I poked my head out the door a few minutes later to check on him and see if he needed to go to the nurse. He turned the corner to head back to the classroom, folding up a piece of paper to put in his pocket. I asked for the paper and he volunteered to throw it away, but then gave it to me. It was a copy of the same test from 2 or 3 years earlier. Now, I can’t fault kids for using previous student’s tests as study material and I should be changing the problems from year to year. But the issue was that he asked to leave so that he could look at it and come back to finish the test. I think I was more caught off guard than anything else. I couldn’t believe that he lied to me and cheated. He returned to his seat and finished working the test while I tried to figure out what I was going to do. If he honestly didn’t feel well earlier, he really appeared to be ill now. Initially, my response was to give him a zero – let him learn his lesson. A zero seemed just. But my heart broke for the kid. After he finished the test, he asked if he could go call his mom and let her know what happened. At that response, my heart broke a little more. His willingness to take responsibility for what was to come made me think he was going to learn his lesson quite well. So, I decided that he can come by today after school and retake the whole test in front of me for half credit. Perhaps that’s too generous and perhaps that’s too harsh. I really have no idea if it’s the “right” decision. But it makes me realize how unbelievable my God is – on a moment by moment basis, He exacts mercy and justice in perfect harmony, holiness and fairness. His ways certainly are higher than my ways. And thankfully, I don’t have His job!
How do mercy and justice coexist?
In the life of this teacher, ridiculous anecdotes for my life with Christ are an almost daily occurrence. I often vent with my colleagues and friends about the apathy of today’s youth, the inability of some to take responsibility for anything, and the rampant epidemics of entitlement and instant gratification. When I shine the spotlight on my own heart, my responses to Christ are eerily consistent with the very behavior I complain about. I approach my quiet time and the Great Commission with apathy all too often. I have numerous excuses ready for any sin I commit. I often behave in a manner that suggests that God owes me something immediately – waiting is not an option. I’m an apathetic, selfish, irresponsible wretch who deserves eternal torment. Yet, I’ve been given eternal and abundant life. I still have to live with the consequences of my actions, but, oddly enough, even those consequences appear less severe in light of God’s mercy.
Today, I had to convert a spiritual, holy, perfectly balanced concept into a practical, actual consequence/circumstance. During the test, one of my students asked to be allowed to get a drink of water because he wasn’t feeling well. I let him leave. I was concerned, so I poked my head out the door a few minutes later to check on him and see if he needed to go to the nurse. He turned the corner to head back to the classroom, folding up a piece of paper to put in his pocket. I asked for the paper and he volunteered to throw it away, but then gave it to me. It was a copy of the same test from 2 or 3 years earlier. Now, I can’t fault kids for using previous student’s tests as study material and I should be changing the problems from year to year. But the issue was that he asked to leave so that he could look at it and come back to finish the test. I think I was more caught off guard than anything else. I couldn’t believe that he lied to me and cheated. He returned to his seat and finished working the test while I tried to figure out what I was going to do. If he honestly didn’t feel well earlier, he really appeared to be ill now. Initially, my response was to give him a zero – let him learn his lesson. A zero seemed just. But my heart broke for the kid. After he finished the test, he asked if he could go call his mom and let her know what happened. At that response, my heart broke a little more. His willingness to take responsibility for what was to come made me think he was going to learn his lesson quite well. So, I decided that he can come by today after school and retake the whole test in front of me for half credit. Perhaps that’s too generous and perhaps that’s too harsh. I really have no idea if it’s the “right” decision. But it makes me realize how unbelievable my God is – on a moment by moment basis, He exacts mercy and justice in perfect harmony, holiness and fairness. His ways certainly are higher than my ways. And thankfully, I don’t have His job!
Loved reading this...it's a great practical reminder of God's grace and mercy, and how we can be Christ-like in our showing of grace and mercy to others. So proud of you!
ReplyDeleteLove it also. I'm so grateful that our God is gracious. I'm also grateful I don't have his job (or yours), teaching is hard work when your constantly making judgment calls. Well done and keep it up.
ReplyDeleteThank you both! What a blessing you both are to me - miss you so much!
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