Weird Math Teacher, Weird Christian
Enough Info to Judge Me
Here are a couple of titles to help you judge me quickly and easily. Two ways I can be described that will give you just enough information to seemingly “know me.” To know who I am, what I do, what I believe, and what I value. It’s funny to think how quickly we can judge or seemingly know each other based on our occupations or groups with whom we associate. But here goes. Prepare to judge me…
My occupation is math teacher, and the group I associate with is Christians. Take a moment to pause and think about what that means. Math teacher. Christian. I’m sure you could have long discussions about how well you know people like me without even knowing me. And I’m okay with that. But then again, I’m a little bit weird.
Just Like Everyone Else
A lot of times when I think about my occupation and my religious tradition, and how I often feel like I don’t quite fit in. I know that generally speaking, I fit the criteria to be in both of these groups. I’ve been doing the teaching thing for 23 years, and I’ve been doing the Christian thing for 48 years. So I should be at ease with those titles, but I’m not really comfortable with oversimplification when it comes to categorizing and truly understanding people. I remember seeing a poster one time that say, “you’re unique. Just like everyone else.” And I thought that was pretty funny. But if we switch that around, it’s actually pretty accurate. “You’re just like everyone else. Unique.” Or weird. Whatever you want to call it. And I think that’s where the beauty lies. In our unique weirdness.
A Weird Math Teacher
So I’ll admit it. I’m a little bit different. At least in terms of what I value compared to what traditionally seems to be valued. As a math teacher, I don’t care too much about quizzes, tests, or grades. But I love the conversation and the process and the application. I love the awe and the wonder. I am not inspired or impressed by mindlessly learning and repeating procedural algorithms. But I am inspired by people who truly want to understand how things work, how to communicate their thinking, and how to solve real problems. That’s what impresses me. I love to see deep thought, and I love struggling with deep questions. And I obviously love seeing faces light up when connections are made. And oftentimes, kids bring up thoughts that help me make connections I hadn’t made before. Or questions I had not considered before. This is what I love about math. Embracing the struggle. Thinking and questioning fearlessly. That’s what fires me up. That’s what gets me excited. And if that’s weird, I’m definitely okay with being a weird math teacher.
A Weird Christian
Growing up a “church kid” can be a tough experience for weird thinkers like me. I always felt a bit odd about the whole “being a Christian” thing. I always had a ton of questions about what I was being taught, but the answers seemed canned and oversimplified. And the real problem for me what that I was afraid to ask what I felt were deep, meaningful questions because doing so might put my faith into question. I saw a lot of things that didn’t quite make sense about what was acceptable and what was not, and about who was in and who was out, and about what we really valued and what was not. But since everyone around me seemed fine with the teachings and traditions and doctrines and the way things were, I figured it was just me. So even though I was able to blend in with the other church people, I always felt like I was out of place. I learned to speak the language of church, but I suppressed and avoided the conversations and discussions I really wanted to have. But as an adult, I’ve started having those conversations. I’ve started asking those questions. I feel like I’m growing up in my faith and transcending the small talk of Christianity. And I’ve never felt more alive and excited about spiritual living. It’s tough to know and follow all the rules, but it’s easy to show love and compassion. It’s tough to agree on belief systems, but it’s powerful to listen and empathize. I don’t need to argue who’s right or wrong. I need to think like a weird math teacher. I need to embrace the struggle. Embrace the questions. Embrace the conversations. Because that’s what fires me up. That’s what gets me excited. And if that’s weird, I’m definitely okay with being a weird Christian.
Back to Paragraph One
So do you remember that first paragraph? Back there in the “Enough Info to Judge Me” section? The one where I asked you to take a moment to pause and think about Thom, the math teacher and Thom, the Christian. If you don’t mind, take a moment to do that again. Then, take a moment to look at other people you “know” well. Consider other occupations or belief systems that allow you to easily make snap judgments and size people up. Think about people you’ve got figured out. Think about a person, an occupation, a belief system. Maybe those paragraphs between that first paragraph and now have allowed you to reconsider someone or something you know. It’s pretty fascinating to listen, to learn, to think, and to reevaluate. Give it a try. Or don’t. Either way, I’m okay with that. But then again, I’m a little bit weird.
