28 May, 2009
How Far Are You Willing To Go?
Promise to students leads to long walk to school for Portage Northern teacher
PORTAGE, MICHIGAN - May 15, 2009
Mike Huber figured it would be the perfect motivation to persuade some failing students to study for a chemistry test. The Portage Northern High School teacher promised to walk to work today if every student from at least one of his two freshmen chemistry classes passed a test earlier this week. It was no small pledge. Huber lives in Parchment, about 8 miles from the Portage school. And the 38-year-old had his left leg amputated below the knee and uses a prothesis.
The challenge was tempting enough for the students, many of whom had compiled low grades throughout the year, their chemistry teacher said. "It's not the intelligence factor," said Huber, a nine-year teacher at Portage Northern. "For some of them, it's about motivation and study efforts."
On Wednesday - sure enough - almost all of his students passed the test. "They were drastic enough for me," Huber said of the improvement in test scores. "I wanted to celebrate." So this morning, Huber planned to leave home by 4:30 a.m., to give himself enough time to reach the high school before the tardy bell. He said he was confident he'd finish the walk, which he expected to take a little under three hours. "Eight miles is not an exceedingly long distance," he said, although "it's enough for me to feel it."
Huber planned to take along a camera as a measure of proof that he held up his end of the bargain. None of the students were willing to get up that early to see it for themselves, he said with a laugh.
Article and photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Gazette.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!”
What does God’s Story say about today’s story?
‘Nuf said. I don’t know that we can go beyond what Jesus did for us! I can’t even imagine giving up paradise to come to earth to fix mistakes that someone else made. Talk about going above and beyond! Jesus called people out in a loving way and challenged them to become the full person of God they were designed to be.
But what does the first part of the passage say? “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...” We are to have the SAME attitude. Humble and obedient. Willing to give up in order to impact others.
How can we connect today’s story & God’s Story with my story?
One thing the article doesn’t say is that Mike Huber cares about his students beyond a passing grade. He sees the potential each student carries and the impact each of them can have on eternity. He desires to see them whole and healthy. He lives a 3Story life every day by living a lifestyle that’s different. Huber challenges his students to be their best. This time, his challenge included personal sacrifice. His legs were sore for a couple days but when I asked him if it was worth it, he replied, “Of course! To see kids pass a test they never thought they could pass...that was awesome!”
So...think about this:- How far would you go to show someone their importance to you?
- Are you willing to go that far?
How can we connect today’s story, God’s Story & my story with their story?
Do you know someone who needs you to go above and beyond for them? Maybe a friend? A parent? A co-worker? A teacher? A stranger?
Remember that no matter where we are or who we are with we have the opportunity to have an eternal impact.
Get out there - and go above and beyond!
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