What Would You Fight For?

We are in a fight for Catholic education...so, in one of my grad school classes this semester, the professors asked us why we are part of this fight. For me, there are so many reasons, some more easily able to be articulated than others, but I finally got my response (which is actually a script for a video) down to what I've pasted below.

I have to admit, it's good to think about what we stand and fight for from time to time, as it helps us stay focused and striving toward our goals.

And so, even when times are hard, we keep fighting the good fight...

When I think about why I have chosen to fight for Catholic education, I think of Pedro Arrupe and his “Fall in Love” prayer. He says, Nothing is more practical than finding God, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.

It’s simple, really. I’m in love...with God. And, when you are in love with someone, you want to share that love with everyone. As a Catholic school teacher, helping kids come to know, love, and serve God is part of my job. Who else gets to say that?

Pedro Arrupe continues: (What you are in love with) will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,

The coffee helps the getting out of bed, sure, but I am, for the most part, excited to get to school each day. I am living out a vocation that challenges me to grow and learn about the faith on a regular basis because I work with middle school students who ask incredibly deep questions to which I do not have all of the answers. I show up every day for my students, prepared with lessons and activities to try to engage them about the faith, and, when I need them most, they show up for me in the most beautiful ways as well - with artwork, with smiles, or with hugs.

Arrupe explains: (What you are in love with) will decide what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends,

How many weeknights have I found myself at a middle school basketball game or weekends at a school play, Mass, or other activity? I’m not there because I have to be. I’m there because of my students - all of the ones I have ever taught and all of the ones, God-willing, I will one day teach. I love them, and I love seeing them participate in activities they are passionate about because that is part of who they are and it helps to build character.

Pedro Arrupe goes on: (What you are in love with will decide) what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Children help us as adults recognize beauty found in the simple things, pointing out the sunshine after cloudy days or finding a deeper meaning in a quote posted for the day’s journal warm-up. Every day is a gift, and they realize that. As a Eucharistic minister at the school Masses, I watch the students as they come up to receive communion, and I see Jesus in each one of them. And I am overwhelmed. These students are entrusted to our care, and they are saints in the making.

...Fall in Love, stay in love, and it will decide everything. The poem finishes.

For the past 10 years I have fallen deeper in love with God, my students, and Catholic education. I realize the goal of the Christian life is to get to heaven and to bring as many people with you as possible. As a Catholic school teacher, I feel that I work for this goal every day. This is why I am here and why I believe in Catholic education.