Lent 2014
March 6, 2014
Read: Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.–Psalm 51:1-2, 10-12
It is hard to face reality. I have my own preconceptions of much in life and I would rather like to keep them, thank you very much. Through years of experience, I have carefully built up filters of protection against things that may challenge me to see the world as it really is. This prayer of the psalmist has become my old friend in trying to keep my filters as clean as possible, because, I fear; only God is strong enough and wise enough to break through that crust. As we start our season of prayer for education let us recognize our need for mercy and the restoration of the joy of our salvation so that we might be willing spirits in God’s service.
Reality for me is that school was and still is one of the best experiences I have ever had. Consequently, the vast majority of my filters regarding school are positive, and most of the negative memories I had, ended in positive outcomes. That is not the case for more and more of the children of our city, state and nation. I am going to target one school, Putnam Heights Elementary, because it is the intercity school with which my church has had a partnership for the past several years. I believe what is reality for Putnam Heights is reality for too many of our schools across this land. Putnam Heights serves a total of 478 children from preschool through 5th grade. Regarding those students:
- the turnover rate is 41%,
- 92% qualify for free or reduced lunches,
- 32% are English language learners,
- 9% receive special education, and
- 4% are classified as gifted and talented.
While there is no PTA at the school, 243 participated in parent-teacher day and 514 attended open house. The school has a majority of minority students. Among all the students:
- 34% are Hispanic,
6% are American Indian,
9% are Asian,
25% are Black,
20% are white, and
6% are Multi-racial
These students scored an F, 56, on the overall state school test and that score includes an extra ten points for good attendance. Are our children failing or are we failing them? How can we make their reality of school better?
Prayer: God of Vision, over these next six weeks help us to see the future of your little ones as You would have us see it, and more importantly help us make Your vision their reality. Amen.
The identities of students, families, or staff in stories that are shared in the devotions have been altered to protect their privacy. Any similarities between these stories and the experience of others are coincidental. No stories about students, families of students, or staff from Putnam Heights Elementary School are included in any of these devotions.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.