Those that know me well recognize that from my love of Jesus, I draw a deep love for all people. I fight for things that some middle-age heterosexual, married, mother of teenagers couldn't care less about. I live in the suburbs and I find my heart fueled by the issues of the intercity streets and low income housing projects and recovery centers and teen shelters. I have lived this out in wild and weird ways through the years. My parents still shutter a little when I say, "We feel led..."
I have political leanings that make me the butt of most Texas family jokes, including my own. We don't have a gun in this house and while I never say NEVER, I don't see that in our future. I struggle to call my 9th grade daughter a freshman...gets me every freaking time. But, a freshperson just sounds creepy. I believe with every particle of my being that every single human is so very, very, very, very special and unique and perfect in creation. That is my starting place. As my pastor says, I base my hope in Genesis 1 because our story did not start in Genesis 3. Think about this...it's so rich.
Because I am a passionate learner, I require myself to read and listen to opposing voices. I follow social media sites that come from differing viewpoints, but hold high respect. I read those that I know disagree with me as long as it is presented from a place of humility. I love a good conversation. Just ask my friend James. When we get to talking, I can forget I am watching a Mardi Gras parade. I love thought and perspective.
What I can't handle is when I encounter classism and racism and homophobia and sexism, especially as it relates to kids. My blood boils. If there was ever a time that we need love, it is in the years when our view of the world is being shaped. Give me an 10 year-old that genuinely wants to change the world and has been loved into thinking they can do it, and you can't stop them.
This is where I have to stop and give a standing ovation to my educator friends. I have so many that I adore and respect and hold high. Immediately, I think of my sister and the laying down of her life that she does every day in public school administration. I think of my friends Lauren and Jennifer who taught me in the way that they shaped culture in my own kid's school. They live and teach that every single kid is valued. If you asked either of these principals to name any student on their campus they could do it. Because they greet them everyday. And I could go on forever. From the coaches, to the teachers and the librarians to the custodial staff. Our schools are filled with servant leaders that teach me how to love.
So tonight, I am scrolling through my regular sites and I came across a heated argument over our local school district bond election. For my League City friends, please no bond talk on this site, this is a heart issue. A citizen explained that there was no need to build a state of the art school as a rebuild for one of our Title One schools because we did not need to "attract" more people to this already "built out area". She suggested this was furthering the Robin Hood program that is a disaster here in the state of Texas...again, we can discuss this later.
Oh. My LAWD!
I just typed and deleted. And typed again and deleted. And censored my language and deleted and then I said this:
The idea that within the same school district, we find it acceptable to have state of the art educational resources for some students and not comparable for all is a faulty comparison to the Robin Hood program. Rather, a desire to give our best to kids in neighborhoods with higher home prices and settle for anything less in other areas is a function of the -isms that plague our country.
I would not only be disappointed with CCISD had they proposed anything but the best at McWhirter, LCE, and any new build in the future, but I would have fought them on it. We must do better than this in our conversations, our Facebook posts and our leadership. I thank the school board, administrators and teachers that I have worked with through the years in this district that are not only fighting for equality but are expecting it in the classroom. I would not have my girls being led by anyone that could find this thinking acceptable.
And my blood pressure is still elevated a bit. I honestly do not recall posting on this site before, but I could not let this one go. It cuts to the very core of the way I think we are all called to love. I am currently leading a book study on Bob Goff's book Love Does. As I was responding to this post tonight, I kept thinking to myself what would Bob and Lauren and Liz do? Would they speak up? Would they show up for the kids? You bet their butt they would! So, I spoke up.
And here is where I know I am gaining a little maturity. I then logged off the page. I am not going to argue. I am not going to Facebook fight. I am instead going to remind the people around me that I think God calls us to more. And then I am going to practice my yoga breathing, write a bit and take a bath. All of these things help me to be prepared to live out the why of my statement tomorrow and the next day and the next. We must. We must. We must.
The world needs our voices and our love.
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