Pajama School Blog

Pajama School, Stories from the Life of a Homeschool Graduate

Riding to Hell in a Hopechest

by natalie

I rarely write on the topic of singleness or courtship or marriage because, frankly, in my opinion most girls – including myself – need to be thinking about it less, not more. Just about every girl I know has an innate longing for a romantic relationship with a young man. While our culture encourages the fulfillment of this desire through the modern dating scene, those who have elected to embrace a courtship model are apt to expend the same amount of time and energy on anticipating and preparing for marriage. In short, even for the well-intentioned marriage has become a god, occupying the foremost thoughts of the heart and driving the primary pursuits of the day.

That’s why the title phrase of this post, Riding to Hell in a Hopechest, really resonated with me when I read it in the fabulous article just posted by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin. Their post, Why Am I Not Married?!?, is a hard-hitting exposé that I think every young woman should read. In order to get the full context of that passing phrase that I lifted from the post, you’ll have to read the whole thing for yourself. (And hopefully it has sufficiently shocked you into going and doing just that…)

In addition to bringing to light what I believe are the foundational heart issues with which many young women are wrestling, the Botkin sisters also call us back to a remembrance of the faithfulness and sovereignty of God. This is an issue that I have studied at some length in the past, and which led me to write a short overview of my findings. I’ve previously only shared it with my family and a few close friends, but I am posting it here now because I believe it is relevant to this discussion. Perhaps it will also provide further hope and encouragement for other unmarried women who are patiently waiting on the Lord to bring them a husband…if and when He so chooses.

This study was initially prompted by a question posited to me by a friend regarding the parallel between salvation (the relationship between Christ and His Bride) and marriage (the relationship between a man and his bride) that is clearly put forth in Scripture. This is written, then, as a response to that question.

Marriage and the Sovereignty of God
originally written August, 2009

Although I’m familiar with the concept of marriage as a picture of Christ and His Bride, I had never considered the parallel between election/the Sovereignty of God and the initiation of a marriage relationship. Supposing that the analogy is valid, then we would recognize the Sovereignty of God not only in ordaining the marriage, but also in orchestrating all the events prior to the marriage, and in bringing about the consummation of the marriage at the particular time of His choosing. We would also acknowledge that each of these elements are so designed in order to make known God’s power in us and to declare His glory throughout all the earth (as we see in God’s dealings with Pharaoh – see Romans 9).

What appears, then, to be the delay of God’s plan may be seen rather as an indication that His glory will be magnified in a postponed deliverance. The intervening events serve as the conduit for greater glory, not merely as a holding time in which we wait for God to work.

For instance, if it is by God’s election that one is to be saved, but the point of salvation occurs at a late stage in life, do we conclude that God’s plan of salvation in this case has been thwarted? Indeed not! (see Job 42:2) We are all as clay in the hand of the Potter (see Isaiah 64:8; Romans 9:20-21). He forms us as He will and when He will. And we know that He “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:11-12a). All things. The means, the end, the schedule, the particulars.

With these truths in mind, we pray for the salvation of the unsaved; we preach the word, seeking to “be instant in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:3), knowing that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). But in the end, we hope unceasingly in the mercy of God, who alone is mighty to save (see Psalm 147:10-11; Isaiah 63:1).

Similarly, we pray for a godly marriage; we uphold and embrace the biblical covenant of marriage and God’s design for raising up a godly seed (see Matthew 19:4-6; Malachi 2:15; Isaiah 66:22). But in the end, we hope unceasingly in the mercy of God, who has promised that “no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

My hope, then, as an unmarried woman is ultimately neither in marriage nor in the prospect of a godly husband, but in the mercy of God. This is an incredible thought to me in light of Proverbs 13:12, which I have before used as justification for a spirit of discontent. “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” For if my hope is in a godly marriage, then until that desire is fulfilled, I will live in a state of heartsickness/heartache. But if my hope is in the mercy of God, I will be in a state of “lively hope” (1 Peter 1:3) because His mercies/compassions fail not; indeed, they are new every morning! (see Lamentations 3:22-26)

I can take heart in the knowledge that what seems to be a delay of God’s plan for marriage in my life is actually the means by which He is working to bring greater glory to Himself, both through His mighty and faithful deeds in the intervening period and in the eventual consummation of that plan. And I can likewise trust that the Lord who “hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil” (Proverbs 16:4) can still be trusted even if He has ordained that I should never be married.

Another thought that came to mind is that the Lord who fashions the seed of the next generation in the womb and who knows all the days ordained for it before even one of them comes to be, must necessarily also ordain the coming together of the two through whom He raises up that godly seed. We need not worry or become disheartened (as I am prone to do!) as the child-bearing years seem to pass us by, for that, too, is in the hand of God. Procreation itself is not the transmitter of a godly seed – the Sovereign God Himself is! “Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed” (Psalm 112:1-2). We must therefore fear Him, delight in His commandments, hope in His mercy, and trust in His timing.

Rethinking College

by natalie

Several weeks ago, I penned the beginnings of an article encouraging young people to rethink college. I sent the draft of those thoughts to my friend and Marketing Manager, Jana Kornfeld, who set to work with fervency to transform the message of my heart into a masterpiece! I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to her for bringing this to completion, and we both hope and pray that God will disseminate it widely and use it to encourage graduates this year and in years to come to think carefully about their path following graduation.

You may read the article below, or download it as a PDF from this link. Please feel free to share it with others!

Homeschool Graduate Encourages Other Grads to Rethink College

When Natalie Wickham graduated from high school, she wrestled with the question of whether or not to attend college. She had been homeschooled for nine years of her education, but the prevailing expectation was that she would pursue further schooling from some accredited institution. However, rather than follow some pre-designed plan just because everyone around her did, Wickham decided to keep her options open and trust God to provide the educational experiences and opportunities she needed.

Since graduating in 1999, Wickham has had uncountable experiences and opportunities that she never would have gained through a traditional college education. This included earning her National Certification as a Teacher of Music, and launching her own thriving private music studio. Despite having never even taken the ACT, let alone pursued a college degree, Wickham’s expertise and hands-on experience landed her in front of a graduate class at a local university. There she discovered that years of classroom lectures and hours spent studying for tests hadn’t prepared these students for the real world of teaching and running a studio. Real life has prepared Wickham far better than a traditional education ever could have. Wickham’s latest trailblazing has led her to publish Pajama School, a book that highlights her life and inspires other students to continue to challenge the status quo and trust God with the future beyond graduation.

Wickham is one example of a homeschool graduate who successfully followed the road less-traveled. While new doors to higher education are opening all the time, there is still considerable pressure on high school graduates to view college as the key to unlocking a successful future. Nothing could be further from the truth! Exorbitant tuition costs siphon thousands of dollars and instead serve to plague students for years after graduating. Propaganda-driven classes program the next generation to be minions of the state. Detrimental social environments perpetuate adolescent irresponsibility rather than equip students to be financially savvy, independent thinkers who can positively impact the culture. More and more high school graduates are looking for alternatives to the failing system that traditional higher education has become.

Cash In, Debt Out

Exorbitant tuition costs that plague students for years after graduating has become stunningly common. Many students are never even able to get a job in their chosen field.

In her well-researched book, The Case Against College, Caroline Bird reports, “We concluded that in strictly financial terms, college is the dumbest investment a young man can make.”1 Her chapters dealing with the cost of college tuition outline in great detail how they arrived at this conclusion. After interviewing hundreds of students at schools across the country, she writes, “Many . . . told us frankly that while college is a pleasant place to be – and beats working – it would not be worth it if they had to pay for it themselves.” 2 A recent survey asked thousands of students at hundreds of colleges if they would go to their school again. About 40% said they were not likely to enroll.

This trend was highlighted by the recent ABC News story, “Is College Worth the Price of Admission?” The promise that a college degree will guarantee a better paying job has proved to be a lie for many college graduates. “The bachelor’s degree is America’s most overrated product,” says Marty Nemko, PH.D., an education consultant and career counselor. “When your parents had a bachelor’s degree it was a big deal . . . today it’s like a hunting license for a job.”

Sandy Baum, an Economics professor, admits that a degree won’t make graduates the additional million that colleges promise. But she does insist that “on average people benefit much more from going to college.” However, statistics don’t back that up. Students in the bottom 40% of their high school class (students that colleges are working hard to recruit) have very low chances of ever graduating, even if given 8 ½ years, according to Nemko. The kids who are successful, on the other hand, are the ones who would have been successful whether they went to college or not, because they have the drive, perseverance, and hands-on skills to succeed.

Personal finance guru Suzu Orman agrees. “It’s smarter to acquire specific marketable skills . . . I would much rather see a student graduate knowing that they can go out there, get a job, and not be crushed under the burden of a prestigious degree.”

Perhaps if it were only exorbitant costs, the traditional educational establishment could be forgiven enough to be tolerated. But instead, there are ominous warnings that it wants students to check in their brains at the door along with their bills.

No Thinking Allowed

Lauren Bleser, an elementary teacher from upstate New York who has experienced teaching in public, private, and homeschool settings alike, points out that even the National Education Association (NEA) agrees that education cannot be neutral and that ideas do have consequences. In her recent article “A Teacher Learns the Truth About Education,” Bleser sums up the modern educational agenda with a quote from Joyce Elmer Morgan, former editor of the Journal of the National Education Association.

Morgan says, “In the struggle to establish an adequate world government, the teacher can do much to prepare the hearts and minds of children for global understanding and cooperation. At the very top of all the agencies which will assure the coming of world government must stand the school, the teacher, and the organized profession.”

Worldview does count. The old cliché that “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world” rings hauntingly true in Morgan’s statement. But college students are not infants, and they are not prone to be lulled to sleep by relativistic, socialistic ideas, are they?

Perhaps more than we might think.

In a recent controversial book, “Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America’s Youth,” college graduate Ben Shapiro reveals the liberal agenda college students are expected to adopt if they want to be considered tolerant and academic. Professors with liberal agendas seek to champion tolerance for all – except for those with a conservative worldview. As Phyllis Schlafly notes, “the radicals of the 1960s have become tenured professors.” Situational ethics and groupthink pervade not only the classroom but also infiltrate the dorms, until all the world seems to think, act, and speak in exactly the same way. Josh Sterling, a senior at Cornell University, said, “When 1% of the campus is conservative and the other 99% who care are incredibly liberal, you’re going to get something approaching a socialist state.”

Even some avowed liberal professors have grown so disgusted with the lack of critical thinking and work ethic of students that they have decided to leave the job they love. As one such professor, who asked to be called John Smith, explained, “Intellectual sparring . . . about ideas – among students and faculty – has been replaced by one-sided, partisan drivel . . . my partisan colleagues . . . do not hear the other side, so it is easy to demonize the other side. Their students are listening, and sadly think of conservatism in its many forms as horrific. Worse still, they now conflate liberal passion and advocacy with justice, and by default, analytic rigor and reason. They do not weigh evidence, or take note of pro, cons, costs or benefits. Doing so would be to admit that there are merits to positions they do not hold.”

The question begs to be asked, why pay thousands of dollars to hear only one side of the story?

A Social Wasteland

One of the long-supposed benefits of going to college is simply for the social experience. Thousands have made lifelong friends – and found lifelong partners – at universities all over the world. But it has become increasingly obvious that college is more likely not only a fake – but also dangerous – social environment for students. Statistics show that both drug and alcohol abuse on campus has gone on a rampant increase in the last few years – with some drug increases up to 343%. According to a 2008 survey in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, violence on college campuses is also on the rise. 45% of students report that they have been the victim of some form of violence, whether physical, sexual, or emotional.

It would appear that being surrounded by peers is more likely to perpetuate a culture of irresponsible adolescence than prepare young adults for the rigors of the real world. In his article, Professor Smith describes higher education at many liberal arts colleges as a “puffy sofa nestled with down pillows” for scores of students. He observes that not only do students want it easy in class, they want to be comfy and passive beyond the classroom as well. “Student life” largely serves to debilitate the notion of a genuine, deliberative, academic community. Rather than fuel cerebral discussions with activities for the mind, resident advisors and their adult supervisors plan activities that redefine anti-intellectualism. There is Sensitivity Day, Tolerance Day, Wear [insert color here] Day, and a host of other events that are aimed at ‘inspiring.’ Dorm life is supposed to be cool, fun and engaging . . . my students are brutally honest – they tell me with candor and without shame that their peers think of college as a four year cruise without a destination.”

While there is nothing wrong with a little fun, it is not and should not be the purpose of a college education. Neither is it worthy of piling up student debts to earn nothing in return.

Rethinking College

In spite of all the negative trends, a growing number of young people are growing frustrated enough with the way things are to blaze a different trail. Those leading the charge are often young people already accustomed to challenging the status quo – homeschool graduates.

Jana Kornfeld, Marketing Manager for Natalie Wickham’s book Pajama School, can testify to a similar dissatisfaction with the traditional options available to homeschool graduates that Wickham experienced. Kornfeld also determined to trust God to show her an alternative path. She discovered an organization called CollegePlus!, a coaching program which assists students in earning their degrees via accelerated distance learning methods. “It was an answer to every prayer I’d ever prayed as far as continuing my education went. I would not only be able to save time and money, but I would be able to remain at home and stay involved with my family, church, and community ministries,” says Kornfeld. For under $10,000, she was able to earn her fully accredited four-year degree in just 14 months and 14 days.

Brittany Barden can attest to the vital assistance of CollegePlus! with similar results. Barden earned 120 credits toward her fully accredited BA entirely through credit-by-examination alone – in just 10 months. Neither did she become a mole under a pile of textbooks to accomplish this seemingly impossible feat. While she studied and took tests, Barden found time to run her mom’s business, coordinate a local Bible Bee Competition, help advise political campaigns, and serve her family. “It was absolutely crazy, but proof that you can live a full life while completing a college degree in record time!” Barden declares.

All three of these graduates present proof that education is about more than just simply going with the flow. It’s trusting God with our futures and being willing to blaze a different trail. For graduates like Wickham, Kornfeld, Barden, and countless others, it has been more than worth it. For others willing to take the challenge, new and exciting opportunities await!

Copyright © 2010 Natalie Wickham

A Right Perspective During Hard Times

by natalie

February was a difficult month for me. There were a number of contributing factors, but ultimately God allowed me to experience some trials that tested my faith. A friend and I were recently discussing some similarities between what we experienced and she sent me an e-mail with some insightful, truth-filled thoughts that she gleaned from a conference she attended this week. She graciously gave me permission to share a paragraph of her comments here:

God doesn’t want the pain we feel in our trial to go away. It produces a “staying power.” This comes from the Greek word used for perseverance; to stay under pressure. We can’t quit, complain, run, lash out, or fold. We have to stay under pressure so we can become mature and complete. And God is ready to give us wisdom while going through the trial. The only problem is we have to get our eyes off the trial long enough to ask for it.

I was so challenged by these thoughts! Usually the substance of my prayer during difficult times is that God would take away the trial and the associated pain. The realization that it is the very pain and pressure of the situation itself that serves as the agency of spiritual maturity is sobering. It reminds me of a quote that I heard years ago to the effect that we should see to it that any pressure in our lives does not come between us and the Lord so that it might instead serve always to press us closer to the Lord. There is, indeed, a certain joy and sweetness that is experienced more fully during hard times than during times of ease and pleasant situations. That’s why we must learn to give thanks and rejoice in the midst of trials – however big or small they may seem.

Inspiring Unmotivated Kids

by natalie

In his periodic e-newsletter, Jeff Myers always has valuable educational insights. In his latest newsletter, he included an article titled, Inspiring Unmotivated Kids: What to Do, and What to Not Do. Drawing on research from Daniel Pink’s book, Drive, he identifies several practical ideas that parents and/or educators can use to properly motivate children:

  • Have a FedEx Day.
  • Try DIY Report Cards.
  • Give them an allowance and some chores–but don’t combine them.
  • Offer praise…the right way.
  • Help kids see the big picture.

Check out the article for details about each of these great ideas!

In Memory…

by natalie

Wes Gum

He was a fixture in the neighborhood for years. Every morning, like clockwork, he ambled down the sidewalk beside our house, enjoying the fresh air and frequently stopping to visit with friends along the way. While out for my morning run several days a week we often crossed paths, and I came to look forward to our occasional chats. He filled me in on his wife and the grandson that was living with them temporarily, and I gave him the latest on my various projects. Last summer, I had a chance to share my faith with him. He listened politely, but said he didn’t need a crutch to get through life. Oh how I protested that Jesus is a crutch! I couldn’t imagine anything further from the truth. Instead, I referenced Isaiah 40:31 and told him that having the Lord in your life is more like being lifted up on wings so that you can fly in the midst of life’s difficulties! But he was resolved in his unbelief. As one might expect of an 84-year old.

I knew the day would come, but it still sent me into momentary shock tonight when my sister relayed the news that the obituaries in last week’s paper listed dear Mr. Wes Gum. He breathed his last on January 31. Only a week before, Dad and I were walking back from breakfast and I had a chance to introduce Dad to the man he had heard me speak of on multiple occasions. He looked as fit as ever and responded in his customary pleasantness when queried as to how he was doing. Little did he know that in a week he would take his final trip around the block. Little did any of us know. I prayed often for Wes over the last year, but never again conversed on matters of faith. I wish I would have. Death has such a way of bringing eternity into focus. If only I could remember every day to pour my time and effort into things of eternal value. My heart is sad. I will miss Wes Gum.

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

2 Timothy 4:1-2

Capture the Moment – January 17-23

by natalie

Funerals don’t fit very neatly into a schedule. Nobody sends “Save the Date” cards to give everyone advance notice so that they can block out the date and time on their calendar. But funerals are an essential part of life – worth making time for, in my opinion, because they impart a level of sobriety that is seldom experienced otherwise. The reality of death prompts introspection and a renewed sense of eternity.

Gerald Snodgrass

A dear, godly, 92-year-old man passed away last week, leaving behind his wife, daughter, two granddaughters, twelve great-grandchildren, all their families, and numerous friends who were touched by his life – including me. Gerald Snodgrass was the beloved dishwasher at the Tea Room where my Mom and sister and I worked for several years. (Those of you who have read my book may recollect him from the chapter, In which I serve tea and solve mysteries.)

And so it was that Monday of this week found us traveling across town to attend the funeral service for Mr. Snodgrass. In the midst of sadness, we also experienced the joy of catching up with old friends, the blessing of reminiscing about treasured memories, and the inspiration of honoring the incredible legacy that Mr. Snodgrass has left behind.

Gerald Snodgrass

I was asked to speak this weekend at a retreat for a group of student worship leaders from a local university. After a full week of teaching, meetings, and trying to meet deadlines on various projects, the retreat proved to be a refreshing time of fellowship and worship. The organizer did a fabulous job of maintaining a casual atmosphere even with a very full schedule, and I was greatly blessed by the biblical and Christ-centered focus of the event. All of the leaders are international students and I always love meeting Christians from around the world, learning about their culture, and drawing out their perspectives on various issues.

The verse that I used as the basis for my session was Psalm 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” A while back, in the course of our music-themed Bible study, my sister and I came up with the above diagram as a representation of God’s natural design for musical expression. I put together a larger version for the retreat and used it as a visual during my presentation. Here is a brief overview of what I shared:

1. God’s Character (“The LORD is my strength and my shield”) A right view of God forms the foundation from which our music must flow.
2. My Trust (“my heart trusted in him”) A right view of God should lead us to look to Him for guidance and help in every situation.
3. God’s Help (“and I am helped”) God wants to show Himself strong on behalf of those who trust Him.
4. Heart Rejoices (“therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth”) Experiencing God’s help affirms our faith and fills us with joy.
5. Song Praises (“and with my song will I praise him”) The overflow of joy in our heart will pour forth in praise to God.

In the course of preparing for the retreat, I came across a couple of quotes that I really liked and included in my session. The first is from the book, The Soul’s Quest for God, by R.C. Sproul:

“Nothing can be in the heart that is not first in the mind. Our hearts cannot be inflamed about something we know not of. Unless we know God deeply, we cannot love him deeply. A faint understanding of God is enough to begin the heart to stir. Emotions may be kindled by the slightest acquaintance with the majesty of Christ. But for that spark to rise into a consuming and lasting fire, our knowledge of him must increase.”

The second quote is from George Mueller, and was gleaned from a wonderful biographical sketch of George Mueller on the Desiring God website:

“I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the word of God, and to meditation on it. . . . What is the food of the inner man? Not prayer, but the word of God; and . . . not the simple reading of the word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts.”

In other random news this week, I finally found a pizza sauce recipe that I really like! I made deep dish Chicago-style pizza for dinner one night and did some tweaking of another recipe to come up with a concoction that was a winner with the whole family (a difficult feat, to be sure!). Here it is:

Ingredients:
14 oz. can crushed tomatoes
14 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
½ tsp. dried marjoram
¼ tsp. salt
3-4 cloves of garlic, finely minced

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer. Allow to cook for about 30 minutes. Once finished cooking, remove from the heat. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

3 Characteristics of a Person of Influence

by natalie

As I was reading Proverbs 22 the other day, I noticed three characteristics given that embody a person of influence. They are pulled from verses 11 and 29 that identify someone who has “the king as his friend” and someone who will “stand before kings.” Here are the three characteristics:

  1. Loves purity of heart.
  2. Speaks graciously.
  3. Is skillful in his field of work.

As I’ve been pondering these verses, I’ve realized that not only are they characteristics that I want to develop in my life, but they top the list of things that I would want to instill in my children some day (provided that the Lord blesses me with children some day!). And of course, the best way to instill something in another is for it to flow genuinely from our own lives – all the more reason to develop these characteristics! I have a long ways to go, but it’s always exciting to get a glimpse into the wisdom of God which He has so graciously revealed to us in His Word!

“He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.” v.11

“Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” v. 29

A Word to Congress

by natalie

In reading De Tocqueville’s Democracy in America, I came across this pertinent excerpt from Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist Paper No. 71:

The Republican principle demands that the deliberate sense of the community should govern the conduct of those to whom they entrust the management of their affairs; but it does not require an unqualified complaisance to every sudden breeze of passion, or to every transient impulse which the people may receive from the arts of men who flatter their prejudices to betray their interests. It is a just observation, that the people commonly intend the public good. This often applies to their very errors. But their good sense would despise the adulator who should pretend that they always reason right about the means of promoting it. They know from experience that they sometimes err; and the wonder is that they so seldom err as they do, beset, as they continually are, by the wiles of parasites and sycophants, by the snares of the ambitious, the avaricious, the desperate; by the artifices of men who possess their confidence more than they deserve it, and of those who seek to possess rather than to deserve it. When occasions present themselves in which the interests of the people are at variance with their inclinations, it is the duty of the persons whom they have appointed to be the guardians of those interests, to withstand the temporary delusion, in order to give them time and opportunity for more cool and sedate reflection. Instances might be cited in which a conduct of this kind has saved the people from very fatal consequences of their own mistakes, and has procured lasting monuments of their gratitude to the men who had courage and magnanimity enough to serve them at the peril of their displeasure.

I especially like the last sentence. Many legislators are too short-sighted and lack the principle to do what is truly best for the long-term interests of our country. I would venture to say that this is equally true of how the populace-at-large operates on a daily basis, so it makes sense that this same myopic vision guides the leaders of our nation. We all need to embrace a quality that is often maligned as outdated in our day and age: Prudence.

Having spent some time studying prudence, I would define it primarily as “choosing not to do something because of where it may lead.” Instead of making rash decisions or pouring time, energy, and resources into digging ourselves out of pits that could have been avoided in the first place, it would behoove us to spend more time thinking, pondering the consequences that attend to a particular set of actions, and crying out for wisdom to the Almighty God who alone sees the “end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10).

“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished” Proverbs 22:3.

“The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit” Proverbs 14:8.

“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” Proverbs 2:6.

Let us all aim to live more prudently and demand the same of those governing our nation!

4 Key Components of a Successful 21st Century Education

by natalie

In his latest column [Opportunity Knocks Twice] in WORLD Magazine, Marvin Olasky concludes his optimistic discourse on the future of journalism with the following statement:

So now is a great time for Christians to support young Christian journalists. Build programs that educate them in biblical understanding and train them to write, do video, and produce terrific websites. Give the kids enough money to eat peanut butter and fumigate the roaches. Right now we have the opportunity to change the path of journalism for the next 150 years.

I love this outlook! Media has such an undeniable influence in our society, and with modern globalization and universal access to various mediums of communication, almost anyone has a platform to be a journalist in some capacity. I echo Marvin Olasky’s sentiment and would add that the four areas he highlights are key components that every homeschooling parent should incorporate into the education of their children:

1. Biblical Training/Worldview

2. Excellent Writing Skills

3. Ability to Produce Videos (and I would include in this an understanding of how to contrive an appropriate plot, visualize and script it, capture the desired shots, and make it accessible via the Internet)

4. Website Navigation and Construction

Not only are these areas which can be harnessed by people of all ages to make a difference in the world, they also represent marketable skills that will be useful in any vocational field and are essential knowledge for entrepreneurs who aim to build their own businesses.

Although I’ve never considered it this succinctly, I affirm that these four areas (with the one distinction being that for #3 I would include video production instead as a sub-category in a larger study of verbal communication skills) are the ones that have afforded me the most opportunities and equipped me to serve and influence the people around me. In fact, come to think of it, these four areas are ones that I discuss more fully in my book, Pajama School – stories from the life of a homeschool graduate. But I’m quite certain neither Mom and Dad nor I thought in such concrete terms in our early years of homeschooling! How glad I am, though, that homeschooling provided me with the flexibility to make these four areas of study an integral part of my education.

EXTRA NOTE: If you’re interested in receiving a free PDF of Marvin Olasky’s book, “Central Ideas in the Development of American Journalism” send them an e-mail requesting it.

How to Educate for Beautiful Results

by natalie

Educate for Beautiful ResultsIn my last post, I linked to an article titled, “Simple Tips for Beautiful Writing” that emphasized the importance of editing, proofreading, and generally aiming toward error-free writing. It may seem like a stretch to associate the technical side of writing with beauty, but in reality it is the very substance of beautiful writing. This is the same thing I emphasize when I am teaching my piano students. The technical exercises that they are drilling into their finger muscles form the basis from which beautiful and artistic melodies will flow. If they don’t master the principles of music and understand the underlying absolutes that govern the world of music, the sound they create will be lifeless. An excerpt from another article I recently wrote seems appropriate:

In his book, The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, Thad Carhart recounts a master class he observed in which Gyorgy Sebok responded to a student who was trying to achieve a particular effect in his playing, “Leonardo spent years developing a codex of body parts. He drew ears, he drew elbows, he drew hands, he drew all parts of the body in as many different aspects as he could. Then he forgot about it and painted what he saw. You must do somewhat the same.” We err when we fail to learn the parts in our impatient quest to become experts of the whole.

I think one of the major problems with the way most education is conducted today is that it is so results-oriented that students are expected to immediately assimilate information and produce a finished product even though they haven’t been given the time or opportunity to develop specific skills.  As a teacher, I have to be able to see the “whole” and then break it down into a systematic and progressive collection of “parts” so that the student is led to master the skills that will eventually form the substance of a beautiful “whole.”

Piano StudioLet me give a specific illustration. One of my piano students is very expressive and loves to incorporate lots of impulsive nuances into his playing. The only problem is that the nuances distort the natural flow of the phrases and result in inaccurate rhythms. As his teacher, I visualize for him an end result of musical and artistic piano playing that will be lovely to listen to (which is also what he wants). However, I know that the elements that contribute to this include: precise execution of rhythmic values, natural ebb and flow of the phrasing, well-chosen fingering, and fluidity. So I pick one of these elements, in this case the phrasing. We work to understand the principles that govern phrasing – musical phrases tend to swell in volume as the notes rise and decrease in volume as the notes descend. Random notes should not be accented at will because this interrupts the flow of the phrase. Once this principle is understood, we reinforce it by applying it to all the musical assignments that week. Following weeks lend themselves to other areas of understanding and emphasis.

The same principle applies in other areas of study. Take writing, for example. If the end goal is to pen thoughtful, engaging articles addressing relevant topics, one must consider the parts that will contribute to this whole and plan an appropriate course of study. Perhaps a span of time will be given to constructing attention-grabbing introductions, or effective use of analogies and metaphors, or appropriate incorporation of authoritative quotes, etc. Of course, many curricula are designed to aid in this process, but the creative and resourceful teacher may make use of a great many easily accessible resources and ideas to aid a student in achieving the desired end. The key, I believe, is to maintain a thoughtful perspective. Be ever conscious of the overarching objective. And then be patient in outlining and working toward the development of specific parts/skills that will eventually see that objective met.

Just as a gardener who longs for a beautiful bed of flowers must first prepare the ground, then plant the seeds, and then tend the growing buds, before his dream is realized, a teacher or parent who hopes for shining students must first cultivate the ground of understanding, then plant seeds of carefully-designed instruction, and then patiently tend to and guide the emerging musician or writer or scientist as they advance through stages of growth and develop the parts that are ultimately the substance of the whole. That, it turns out, is the necessary, though oft-neglected, path of a beautiful education!