Stay in Your Lane

I know you’ve heard it – “stay in your lane”. It’s becoming quite the popular line lately. And rightfully so . . . I mean, we live in a time where our knowledge of what others are doing or experiencing is in the palm of our hands. Add to that All Access Pass, a strange compulsion to compare oneself, and you, sweet teacher, have a recipe for what I like to call “never enough syndrome”.

This may or may not be you, but at the end of the school year, my mind starts doing something like this. . . “Once I get to summer, I’m going to eat smoothies every morning and put together this awesome workout plan.” or “When summer hits, the kids and I are going to do fun, creative projects and outings.” Thanks to Marie Kondo there’s this, “I can’t wait to purge and clean out all the drawers and closets.” I cannot relate to this next one because I’m horrible, but “I’m going to use this summer to reorganize and redecorate my classroom!” or my absolute favorite, “This summer, I’m going to purge and organize my Google Drive!!!”

And then it hits, summer break . . . and your social media feed quickly becomes inundated with not one, not two, but 20-30 pictures of all your “friends” incredible vacations and creative outings, camps, and projects. Some of your teacher friends have already completed their professional development and it’s not even the 2nd week of summer (over-achievers)!! I mean, get it together! I still need to purge my closets and smell my clothes and tell them thank you for all they did for me . . . don’t I? And my kids need to have fun, creative, consistent activities in order to have a memorable summer . . . right?

It doesn’t take long for the pressure and busyness of summer to replace the pressure and busyness of the school year. And before we know it, it’s July and we haven’t gotten anything meaningful done.

Am I the worst parent ever? I mean, my poor kids, the reality is they’ve watched waaaay too much tv, we haven’t do anything “fun”, I’m almost positive (on more than one occasion) I didn’t even bathe my poor kids because “they swam that day”. I haven’t looked at anything school related, I’m not ready to go back!!!

And just like that . . . you, dear teacher, are now entering the classroom defeated rather than rested & inspired.

You know this . . . but hear it again. The summer that other people are portraying on social media may seem like the best thing ever, but don’t fall into that trap. Don’t let yourself start comparing and living life according to a society running on “more”. If you do, you will constantly be spinning your wheels, missing all the great things going on around you. Possibly the Greatest Thing . . .

​Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3

I love Hebrews – it is filled with knowledge and inspiration in pursuing a life of faith and commitment to Jesus. It warns us of the distractions, and seemingly important duties, that will try to steer us off course and take us away from relationship with Jesus.

Teachers, catering to our time with Jesus this summer is simply the most important thing that each of us can do for ourselves, our families, and our students. Sure all those things we plan to do or “need” to do are fun and possibly productive, but none of them are capable of filling us up and creating true joy like time well spent in the Word.

Check out that last line in Hebrews 12:1-3 . . . “so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” It’s happened from the beginning of time. When we take our focus off what God has planned for US and shift it to what others are doing or experiencing, we miss out. We grow weary and we lose heart. We suddenly feel that what we have isn’t good enough or that we aren’t doing enough. Rather than chasing down what God has placed in our lane, we waste our time and energy chasing what was meant for someone else.

Don’t let this be you. Shift your focus and your plan to Him. Pour into yourself with Living Water. Let go of that busy list and cherish the fact that you have more time to grow in your relationship with Jesus. Start a new, life-giving habit with the Word, so that when school starts, you have a rock solid foundation to fall back on when the crazy starts.

Stay in your lane. Do not get distracted. There’s something waiting for you that will equip you like no other.