We all have these dreams. You have them. I have them. One of mine for years was to teach at my alma mater, Indiana Wesleyan University. Well, I just found out not long ago that this fall, I will be teaching 2 classes of introductory New Testament. After my meeting with the division chair, it began to sink in that finally my dream has become a small reality.
I say small reality because I am simply teaching 2 classes, thus I am considered an "adjunct" faculty member. However, I believe this will be to my benefit since I have never taught on a regular basis before, and I do have a full-time job outside of teaching these 2 classes.
In writing this piece, I have been reflecting on what happens in our lives when our dreams become reality. Are we satisfied? What emotions do we have? Do we feel competent in this new reality?
I know right now I am tremendously excited, but also exceptionally nervous. I am excited because on every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:50am-9:15am and 12:05pm-1:30pm I will have the opportunity to open the New Testament up to freshmen in college who may have never seen the Bible in an in depth way or who may not even be Christians. I am excited because I feel as though I can build on what I liked from previous professors, but also what I did not like from previous professors. I am excited because I get to grow with my students as well. When they are studying the New Testament, I am studying the New Testament! Maybe I can even motivate them so much that some come out of the class with a new faith in Christ or even a call to the ministry.
However, I am also nervous. How will I do with classroom management? Will the students actually learn tons about the New Testament? Will I be too hard? Too easy? I also struggle with insecurity since I am not a Biblical scholar, yet I am a little further along the journey than these students will be, thus I feel as though I can bring something to the table that they will learn and be motivated.
All said, I will never cease to be amazed at how God brings our dreams to reality. My prayer is that we all can write a blog like this one. And may we never cease to dream, or share our dreams with others and with God.
