Collaboration: From Burden to Beauty
“Group project.” I loathed these two words during high school and college. There was very little that brought me more anxiety. I was a good student. I was diligent. And I worked hard. I was not the smartest, but I knew what I lacked in intellect, I made up for in my work ethic. However, when it came to these assignments, I knew that one of two things were bound to happen.
I would end up doing all the work.
My quality of work would be inhibited by my peers’ work.
I could not see the benefit of working and collaborating with others. It was a heavy weight on my shoulders that was not lifted until the project was completed.
Fast forward to the start of my teaching. Prior to being at VCS, I taught at another school for seven years. As a new teacher, I sought out people for support, guidance, and encouragement. In my enthusiasm and excitement, I attempted to establish and build relationships with the parents of my students. I knew in order to be successful in my profession, I needed the insight of these parents to know how to best educate their children. Even though I did have parents who were on board, and ready to help and support, I faced a lot of opposition from others. These individuals who I thought were my teammates, were often disengaged or waiting for me to make a mistake. After enough failed attempts at establishing a relationship and cultivating trust with certain parents, I started to give up. Yet again, I was resigned to the fact that I was better working alone.
A couple years ago, when I was approached about the prospect of teaching at VCS, I was told a great deal about this school’s vision and hope; how they were structured, and how they operated from day to day. The board member who approached me shared that VCS was a collaborative model where the parents shared the teaching responsibility. Collaborative? While many aspects of classical education appealed to me, active collaboration with parents was not one of them. After having many poor experiences with collaboration in the past, I was hesitant to say “yes” to this new position. Thankfully, the Lord, who knew what was best for me, my heart, and our family, led my husband and I to accept the VCS job.
When I started at VCS, I felt overwhelmed: a new curriculum, a new teaching model, and a new group of parents to work with. I was still very unsure of what this “sharing” of teaching would look like. Very quickly, the Lord began to soften my heart to this unique model of collaboration. He used my co-teachers to illustrate the beauty of how the Body of Christ works. Being new to VCS, I made some mistakes, and I sometimes felt lost, which I am sure is a common experience for new teachers and co-teachers alike! However, instead of judging me or disengaging, my wonderful co-teachers showed me grace, offered their support, and most importantly they prayed for me. Not only were these co-teachers not a burden, but they were encouraging, supportive, and loving during a time of uncertainty and weakness. I did not have to do it alone, and it was a beautiful thing.
Since being at VCS, the Lord has continued to shape my perspective on working alongside others, and the amazing way He uses the Body to bless, support, encourage, and most importantly bring glory to His name. As I work with co-teachers, the Lord continues to demonstrate truths about who He is and how He created me to be.
One thing I’m reminded of is how my weakness allows God’s power and strength to be revealed and proclaimed. As Paul states in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10,
“‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Instead of declaring my greatness, or my competence in educating well, I should be professing God’s glory and goodness in how He uses me to accomplish great things. If anything I do is done well, it is because of the Lord’s strength and faithfulness.
Another realization that has brought great peace in working with others is that it is a blessing for me to share the load with my brothers and sisters in Christ. This adventure of teaching, of shepherding hearts and minds, is a difficult one. It can be discouraging and disheartening. But it can also be beautiful and filled with joy. On the days where I feel my strength is failing, I can reach out to my co-teachers and ask for their prayers and encouragement. When my co-teachers are feeling overwhelmed by their home days, I can step up to the plate and cover them in prayer. A beautiful picture of this can be found in Exodus 17, when Moses instructs Joshua to fight against Amalek. While the Israelites fought, Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. Moses had the staff of God in his hand. Whenever he raised his hand, Israel prevailed. However, if Moses lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. As it says in verse 12,
“But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”
Moses was tired. His brothers in Christ stepped in and physically supported Moses in a time of great need. Because they shared this load, the Israelites were victorious. I can think of many times where I have exhausted all my resources and feel that I have nothing left, and God brings someone alongside of me to help fill the gaps. My Father leads me to victory, not because of myself or what I have done, but because of what He is doing.
As we go through this last quarter, may we all be reminded of the beautiful nature of collaboration to teach these students. Whether it be a bad attitude, a messed up math lesson, or a failed Latin quiz, may we remember that God is bringing us alongside one another to share in these burdens, and to turn our hearts and minds back to Him. By acknowledging our limits and our weaknesses, let us encourage one another to go back to the cross, surrender ourselves to God, and put our trust in Him.