Oct. 29, 2006
The Good Is The Enemy Of The Best
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The conflict continues to rear it's ugly
head; the internal one. The one that can't seem to figure out how
to find balance. The one that doesn't want to give up the best
simply for the good - knowing that it's not a fair trade. Yes, it's "good" to get that math lesson in, and throw in Language Arts for good measure, day in and day out. In fact some would say it's necessary. I'm not sure that I'm not in that camp...mentally anyway. Emotionally - I want to laugh and read and play and run and giggle and *know* my children. Really know them. Hear their hearts speak. Yes, we laugh and read and play and run and giggle and know one another...but, all too often, after the "good" has taken it's place in the affairs of the day. Lets face it...the "good" of school seems to be so all-consuming. The fear that they won't succeed, the fear that we won't succeed...that we'll fail them as 'teacher'. The fear that they won't know what they need to know, when they need to know it. The fear that it's wrong, even, to put the books aside more often and -- enjoy the "best". Intellectually, heck yeah -- we know to keep the main thing, the main thing - God, character, relationships, love, service... Why does the conflict present itself so often if we know the best and we long for the best, indeed, crave the best? Daily remind me, Lord, that before these are my charges, they are Yours. The struggle for balance seems intangible at times - but when my mind is at peace and in the stillness of that midnight hour - when everyone else is alseep and I'm alone with my thoughts....they always bring me back to the best. Thank You Lord for those moments of clarity in a life filled with chaos. Teach me to trust. Remind me, daily, hourly, that the good cannot begin to fill the shoes of the best. As long as the best is accomplished...the good will find it's proper place among the rest. The good, indeed, is the enemy of the best. |