Article March 17, 2014 ISSUE

God-governed children

Jodie Swales

Being called upon to teach five different classes of apparently “wild” high school children was not really my idea of fun. But that’s the job offer I got after I had been praying to know how I could best serve God.

One morning I opened my Bible at random, landing on these words reflecting the vision of the prophet Isaiah: “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

Shortly after that, a high school offered me a temporary contract. The opening had come because a teacher was taking “stress leave.” Her classes were apparently so out of control that she needed time off.