So You Want To Teach?

Although I don't work in a small, rural area (instead, I work in a large metropolis) I feel the same way about community.  

I like the part that you mentioned about God.  I feel like teaching can consume my life, but I also believe that it is a vocation and a ministry.  Although it's important to set up boundaries, I need to remember that my job there is to be salt and light.  

Incidentally, I like the name Joel.  That's my son's name.

I spent years devoting myself to school and staying later than late.  It took a good friend to make me realize that I needed to leave school at a decent hour and make time for other parts of my life.  This made me a better (and healthier) teacher.  

I work in a small community 30 miles from the city I live in.  I do not really get involved in the community much because it is so far.  I have been teaching there a long long time now and know a lot of the original community members.  However, it is growing by leaps and bounds as a bedroom community and I no longer am known by the entire community.  That is totally OK with me.  I like my privacy A LOT! I am involved in my church and with my friends who used to teach in my small community.  So, I have a very active life.