A young teacher-in-training on Moderation

Yudhie (center) with two of his fellow student teachers Rudy (left) and Johnson (right)

Yudhie Kristanto, almost finished with his practicum as a student teacher in a Christian school in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, has written the following reflections…

If there is one thing that students nowadays need to learn in the midst of so much materialism in the world both economically and intellectually, it is moderation.

How many times do the students hear that they’re to be ‘as high as’ they can be, that is, to get the most, to extract the most from their resources, etc. I don’t think this is wrong in itself, but it can lead the students to be too much achievement-oriented.

‘Success’—as it's defined by the world—is pursued in such a way as if it were the only meaning of life. I am really interested to reflect on this at a deeper level. Why not just tell the students to do their work, and the things they believe in, carefully and deliberately, that is, ‘with all my heart and trusting the Lord first, before anything else’?

I was very moved to see (I guess it’s common among the other Asian cultures as well) how these young people were loaded with such high and lofty expectations to be a ‘success’ in their schooling. I would be really happy to hear this if the definition of ‘success’ were the knowledge of God in the Lord Jesus Christ, but most of the time, it’s not. Even for some students this can be quite frustrating, because they will feel so bad for being who they really are. The reason is because they think they have to attain certain credits or achievements to be called ‘good.’ This frame of mind can be very deeply rooted in their thoughts.

This is what I believe:
that we are what the Lord says we are, and that is sufficient.

In Love He formed us according to His own image and we are created for Him and His glory. When the students do their work heartily and with all their strength, that’s more than enough to make me pleased, and let the Lord guide them into a greater knowledge of Him. Lest we make their young hearts to be discouraged, it is for us teachers, especially those who work together with parents (sometimes even in loco parentis) to encourage them sincerely to attain knowledge and wisdom.

So, here is my conclusion on this matter: that we should not put our yokes, our desires on the students, but let them come to the Lord and receive their yokes—which are easy and light—from Him. But neither should we let the students liberally choose their ways, for this also can be very dangerous for them.

Not with our (teachers’) wisdom nor with their own (students’) wisdom, but let’s lead them—walking along beside them—in the light of His commandments, because “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Amen!

And my postscript…

I am always very proud of Yudhie for the good work he's doing, for what he's learning, for his gentleness and meek heart, for his seeking the Lord in everything, and for his following Jesus. If it is indeed his calling to be a teacher, he will be a good one, after the Father's heart. I wish the teachers we are training in America could have the kind of humble heart that he has, willing to trust the Lord first, and willing to hand over with love to their students real wisdom, which is from the Lord, and not just information. Though the world can seem dark sometimes, the Lord is faithful, and He keeps sending out children of Light. I thank God for Yudhie every day.

See also: A young teacher shares the Word, Love is action, Silence

And…

Yudhie's poems published on Cost of Discipleship:

Keep Me Awake, Always Seeing Him, Search for… Love,
Love the Thirst and Tears