A Pedagogical Trick

I discovered that dry-erase markers will not erase off of Scotch tape, and that discovery led to the following Bible class illustration.

Before the students arrived, I stuck Scotch tape to the white board in the shape of a cross. The tape was not totally invisible on a white board, but it wasn't readily visible either. Nothing a little misdirection couldn't cover, anyway.

Then, during class I drew a big box on the board (around the hidden cross) to signify the amount of time we have in a given week. I then asked the students to brainstorm all the many things they do in a week. I prompted them when necessary by giving them some categories of activities to think about. "What kind of activities go into playing a sport?" (practice, working out, games) or "What kind of activities are connected to school?" (clubs, homework, college applications) or "What do you do when you're just hanging out?" (TV, video games, Internet, texting) or "What kind of activities are connected with church?" (worship, Bible class, devos, retreats).

As they named activities, I would write them inside of the box, taking little care to write them in a neat or orderly way. When we were done, I had a box filled with words that I then scribbled on to indicate how we go from one activity to another to another to another with little time for rest. I made the point that even though many of the things on the board are good activities in which to be involved, we have to beware of over-filling our schedules. We need the rhythm of rest and work in our lives. Sometimes we need to declutter so that we can focus on what's most important. At this point in the lesson, I wiped the eraser through the box on the white board. The words were all wiped away, and the shape of the cross remained.

The trick accomplished its goal. The students were surprised and impacted, and I hope it will be something they remember long after they've forgotten who was even teaching class that morning.

A Nightless Day of Activity

Last week I posted the text from a Bible class curriculum that I have been creating for our church. Below are the notes from the class that preceded the lesson on "Refilling." It prepares for the lession on "Refilling" by focusing on "Decluttering." The two obviously go together: our lives are often too cluttered to allow us time to be refreshed by God's presence. We need to declutter before we can refill.

Mark 6:6b-13, 30-31
The first part of this passage ties closely with our theme from last week: emptying. Jesus instructs his disciples to travel light. Take only what is absolutely necessary; forget about food or money or stores for tomorrow; rely on God for security, sustenance, and success. The disciples had to empty themselves of any excess before being sent out to preach and heal.

And preach and heal they did! They drove out many demons, anointed many people, and healed many sick. It was a frenzy of ministry, and they were excited to tell Jesus about it when they gathered around him again. But the frantic pace didn’t slow when they returned: there were so many people coming and going that they didn’t even have a chance to eat!

Have you ever missed a meal due to an over-booked schedule? How often does that happen?How does your life compare with the frenzied pace of life the disciples seemed to be living?Where does the frantic pace creep into your spiritual life?
Note: the disciples weren’t busying themselves with selfish timewasters. They were pouring themselves into ministry. What contributes more to your busy pace? Selfish timewasters (TV, internet, etc.) or selfless service?

Hear Jesus’ words to his disciples: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” We need to hear those words. Too often our lives are lived at warp speed: we add more gadgets to make ourselves more efficient so that we can do more work. Any time we free up we fill with noise. Where is silence in this clutter? Where is rest? Our lives are meant to be lived in a rhythm of work and rest (see the creation story!), not a nightless day of activity. Jesus called his disciples to establish that rhythm, and we need to welcome rest back into our lives.

Why are we resistant to decluttering or rest?

Maybe we think it’s a selfish, irresponsible escape from duty. Maybe we worry that things will fall apart without us. Maybe it just sounds lazy. Rest isn’t productive (in the ways we normally measure porductivity), and we prize productivity. We receive significance and meaning from what we accomplish; and if we rest, we won’t accomplish as much. We’ll lose a sense of significance from having less to show for ourselves.

Engaging in rest, therefore, is a way of dying to self. We let go of that part of ourselves that strives to find meaning and value in a list of our accomplishments. When we rest, we loudly declare: "My accomplishments are not what makes me valuable! I am valuable not because of what I do, but because of what God has already done."

What are some ways you can declutter or rest?