http://www.christianegalitarians.org/archives/14 Christians for Gender Equality Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:28:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.3 http://www.christianegalitarians.org/archives/14#comment-5 Sun, 15 May 2005 22:45:00 +0000 http://www.christianegalitarians.org/archives/14#comment-5 I am an active reader of this blog site and I’ve finally decided to post. The “Biblical Support for Positions,” and the “Lightning Rod” are the blogs that have made the biggest impact on me. <BR/><BR/>I love teaching and consider my classroom my ministry. God allows me to see students through His eyes and because of this, I go the extra mile when teaching. I go to work early, stay late, and academically push students to be the best that they can. I am more “at home” in my classroom than anywhere else. However, I feel like I spend most of my time with other professionals apologizing for my "passion" and dedication to teaching. Somehow, my enthusiasm seems weird—misplaced at best—to many of those who teach around me. I think they often see me as a work-aholic who has nothing better to do, mainly because I don't have children of my own. I frequently get the sensation they feel sorry for me, and that my Christian female acquaintances, in particular secretly pray that I'll have kids so I can focus my passion in the way it “should” be. <BR/><BR/>The worst part about this is that I unwittingly, make others uncomfortable. I've realized lately that the sarcastic remarks I get are a way that others deal with comparing themselves to me. I hope that doesn't sound egocentric, but others usually make fun of me—my organization and my strong need to be prepared, or my logic (often considered male characteristics)—because they think I judge them because they're not like me. When this is not true. I am the way I am because its who I am. I don’t judge others for not being like me. Basically they're highlighting the face that I'm different, but doing it junior-high style—where I’m being pulled down in order to make someone else feel better. <BR/><BR/>I ran across a quote the other day that intrigued me and scared me. "We do not change as we grow older, we just become more clearly ourselves." While I am comfortable with who I'm becoming, I feel that I apologize more and more as I get older for just being me. <BR/><BR/>While these thoughts are not cohesive, they are my thoughts. Thanks for listening. I am an active reader of this blog site and I’ve finally decided to post. The “Biblical Support for Positions,” and the “Lightning Rod” are the blogs that have made the biggest impact on me.

I love teaching and consider my classroom my ministry. God allows me to see students through His eyes and because of this, I go the extra mile when teaching. I go to work early, stay late, and academically push students to be the best that they can. I am more “at home” in my classroom than anywhere else. However, I feel like I spend most of my time with other professionals apologizing for my “passion” and dedication to teaching. Somehow, my enthusiasm seems weird—misplaced at best—to many of those who teach around me. I think they often see me as a work-aholic who has nothing better to do, mainly because I don’t have children of my own. I frequently get the sensation they feel sorry for me, and that my Christian female acquaintances, in particular secretly pray that I’ll have kids so I can focus my passion in the way it “should” be.

The worst part about this is that I unwittingly, make others uncomfortable. I’ve realized lately that the sarcastic remarks I get are a way that others deal with comparing themselves to me. I hope that doesn’t sound egocentric, but others usually make fun of me—my organization and my strong need to be prepared, or my logic (often considered male characteristics)—because they think I judge them because they’re not like me. When this is not true. I am the way I am because its who I am. I don’t judge others for not being like me. Basically they’re highlighting the face that I’m different, but doing it junior-high style—where I’m being pulled down in order to make someone else feel better.

I ran across a quote the other day that intrigued me and scared me. “We do not change as we grow older, we just become more clearly ourselves.” While I am comfortable with who I’m becoming, I feel that I apologize more and more as I get older for just being me.

While these thoughts are not cohesive, they are my thoughts. Thanks for listening.

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