For the last year and a half, almost two years, I’ve been praying much about my job. Currently I serve as the principal of First Baptist Christian School.
“Principal?” many of you ask. “Principal? Did I just read that right? Does he mean he’s actually like the guy in charge of running the whole school? Like the administrator? Perhaps he’s kidding. I knew Ken Kistler in college. He’d never be a school principal. I remember the time he and I snuck out of the dorms late at night . . . I shouldn’t write that here. One of his students might read about it. I can’t believe someone put him in charge of a school. Perhaps he’s just pulling our legs.”
No, I assure you: I’m the school principal. When I take the time to think about it, it shocks me as much or more than it shocks most of my friends and relatives who then call the school and ask to speak to the person really in charge.
To return to the point of the blog, I’ve been praying about my principal position for almost two years. I love what I do. I enjoy talking with kids, working with parents, helping the teachers, organizing projects, and just trying to make sure everything gets done. I just don’t know that I’m suited for the job. During the two years before I became principal I taught full time at the school. That I truly loved! Standing in front of different classes and working through American Literature, Earth Science, the Iliad, Proverbs, and countless other subjects stirred my heart. I love teaching! Love it! Even as I write this my mind starts to salivate (weird mental image) for the classroom. I’m looking forward to what I’m going to teach tomorrow.
But . . . I don’t salivate over the principal’s job.
My mother posed the question this way (she’s so wise).
Mom: What would you say if someone told you you could never preach again?
Me: I’d probably be very disappointed.
Mom: What would you say if someone told you you could never teach again?
Me: I’d sob and go into a depressional funk.
Mom: What would you say if someone told you you could never be principal again?
Me: I’d fall on my knees, wrap both arms around their legs and cry ‘Thank you! Thank you!”
Mom: I think that ought to tell you something, Ken.
Aren’t mom’s great? They know their kids so well.
Unfortunately that wasn’t enough for me. Perhaps the biggest reason I journeyed to California this summer was to get away from the school and ask the Lord about my future there. I didn’t want to wimp out of God’s will for my life. Though I understood what my mom was trying to tell me I didn’t quite believe her reasoning worked on every level. Sometimes the Lord places us in situations that we’d love to escape, but He has us there for a reason. We’re in the oven cooking until we’ve become who He desires us to be.
Well, God’s decided to pull me out of one oven for now. After much prayer, council, and deliberation I talked with Pastor Dave and the school board. This will be my last year as principal (Lord willing). I’ll miss the job. I really will. I’m grateful for the job. I really am. It’s taught me MUCH!
The worst part of quitting was having to get on my knees, wrap my arms around the legs of every single school board member and cry “Thank you! Thank you!”
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