Teaching high school provided me with a wide variety of experiences. One year, my first two classes of the day taught me a valuable lesson. The first class of the day had a few grumblers in it. There was no way to make them happy or satisfied. Even fun or play days were miserable to them. The second class had two students who playfully inspired each other to be the best. They would call across the classroom with their test grades, which were always high.

At the end of the term, I calculated the average grades of each class for all my classes. The grumblers were one letter grade below the average of all other classes, and the inspirers class was one letter grade above the average of all other classes. This taught me that the students had more power to influence each other than I had. I had to fight my ego to see dynamics that were beyond my control. I was only one of the influencers in the class.

This experience puts a bright light on the Bible story of the twelve spies who were sent to examine Canaan for the Israelites. Their report infected the tribes more powerfully than Moses. Ten were grumblers. Two believed and trusted God with great encouragement, inspirers. The response of the tribes was to join the grumblers, and their outcome was like my first period class. They all went down together. The attitude infection caused all, even the inspirers, to suffer the consequences together.

This challenges me. I know which class I want to join. I prefer the two inspirers who brought their class up than the grumblers who brought their class down. All twelve spies saw the same beautiful country and terrifying obstacles. How they handled hardship and adversity were different. All students faced the same training and tests, all good and bad of the class, but one class rose while the other fell.

I am having an influence on others, whether I want to or not. I must consider them, even when they are not facing the test that is challenging me. I am a part of a greater community and need to be concerned with their health and well being even as I face what I consider private dilemmas. We are a part of one another’s lives. I know from seeing other Christians that inspiration can come during the worst of circumstances, not just during the best. I want to be like that.