Noodlers

I listened intently as my brother-in-law, gave a Memorial Day speech to hundreds in Griffith, Indiana about ten years ago.  He spoke of service and valor as only someone who served six tours of duty could relate. He spoke of sacrifice and his duty to serve “So that others may live” as the driving force and the motto of the C-CAT (Critical Care Air Transport) teams.  He also spoke of the fact that he had never been to a foreign country prior to Iraq and Afghanistan…”except for my time in Mississippi.”  That broke everyone up.  Mississippi, a word that kids never have to look up, sometimes gets a bad rap about being a place of backwoods thinking, coon dogs, and Brett Favre doing Wrangler commercials.  Along these lines, there are those in Mississippi that call themselves “Noodlers.”  Noodlers are a type of fishermen who do not use rods and reels, cane poles, or even bait. The technique that Noodlers use goes like this – they stick their hands in muddy water in the hope that a large catfish latches onto their arm (bait must really be expensive there).  However, that same arm can also be the “bait” for snapping turtles, water mocassins, or other assorted predators.  The catch of the catfish is the goal, but often they must get rid of other things that get in the way.

In teaching, sometimes we have to be Noodlers.  We have to put ourselves out there and see what we can catch.  The goal is to “catch” students making progress toward the long-term and daily goals. That is the “muddy water” that we trudge through.  We work hard toward those goals. We post them. We talk about them. We show the kids the connections between the two.  However, there are things that get in the way of the prized catch.  These will not be real snappers or snakes, but these will nonetheless get in the way of your pursuit. Our predators take the form of assorted physical issues of our students who suffer from them. Maybe that predator is your own physical ailment.  Predators to  Noodlers-Teachers may present themselves in the form of student apathy. Keep in mind that it is our job to inspire students.  So, those kids who just don’t care – they are yours to inspire. They are under your umbrella. Remember that message? The list of predators is far-reaching. Some you have a direct influence on; others not so much.  My advice is to keep putting yourself out there and sticking your hands in that muddy water.  You will catch what you are seeking.  Keep noodling!

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By the grace of God, the Browns have a “bye” week and will not play this weekend.  Sunday is already looking better for me!