Bartimaeus The Blind Beggar


In my first year as a vice principal in 2006, I asked my principal what I needed to learn or do to become a principal. I have always been ambitious. At the time, my goal was clear — I wanted to build my tool belt and be ready when the opportunity came to be a principal. He told me, “The first thing you have to do is let people know what you want to do.”

Fast forward twenty years. I’m sitting in church and my pastor is telling the story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar. According to scripture, Bartimaeus wanted to see. When his moment came, he started shouting for help. The crowd tried to silence him, but he only yelled louder. Eventually, he was called forward. He threw off his coat, clearly stated what he wanted, and he received his sight. That sermon brought me right back to the advice I was given as a brand-new vice principal.

Here are the lessons that stood out to me.

- Use whatever you have. We all have skills and abilities. You are where you are because you earned the right to be there. Everything you used to get to this point has value — and so do you. Bartimaeus had nothing but his voice, and he used it. Your voice matters too. You represent not only yourself, but others in your organization who may feel the same way but haven’t spoken up. Sometimes their voice is heard through yours.


- Get where you need to be. Proximity matters. Get close to the people who are doing what you want to do. Build a network. Ask questions. Find the decision-makers and learn what they are looking for. You may discover you are closer to being ready than you think. Bartimaeus knew he only needed to be within earshot — so that’s where he positioned himself.


- Refuse to be ignored. The crowd tried to hush him. He got louder. I’m not suggesting you yell at work, but your work should clearly communicate what you want. There will be people who support you and people who don’t. That’s life. Your consistency, your preparation, and your impact should speak so clearly that they are heard in rooms you’re not in. I often tell people that getting mad at haters for hating is like getting mad at your dog for barking — that’s what they do. Stay focused on your purpose.


- Tell people what you want. If an opportunity doesn’t come your way, don’t let it be because you were unclear. It can feel immodest, but your ambitions should be known. When Bartimaeus was asked what he wanted, he didn’t give a speech — he said, “I want to see.” Be just as clear.

To be clear, ambition doesn’t always mean moving up. For some, it means being excellent where you are or finding peace and purpose in your work. The principle is the same: use what you have, get where you need to be, refuse to be ignored, and be clear about what you want.

The Whitehall Studies, which began in 1967 and continue today, found a strong connection between control over one’s work, job satisfaction, and life expectancy. In simple terms, the more agency and purpose people have in their work, the better their quality of life.

So what does that mean for us at Lone Pine USD?

Every student deserves an opportunity — whether they’ve found their voice or not. Many are just waiting to be called forward. At their core, students want to be accepted, to belong, and to be supported. That happens through connection. Talk to them. Ask how they feel. Find out what would make school more meaningful for them. Those conversations will teach us more than any survey ever could.

Every employee deserves that same opportunity to be seen and valued. Some voices are quieter. Some have been drowned out. Our job is to make the connection, provide the support, and create the conditions where people can thrive. When we do that, people step up, speak up, and the entire organization improves.

I’ll close with Matthew 7:7 which was part of today’s sermon

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

If you’re ambitious, make your goals known.


If you want to grow where you are, ask what it takes.


If you serve students, find out what they need and work to deliver it.


If you serve a community, learn what matters most and bring it to life.

At Lone Pine USD, we are building something special — and we are always looking for people who want to be part of that work. Give us a look.

 

William A Brown, Superintendent/Principal

Lone Pine Unified School District https://sierrawave.net/bartimaeus-the-blind-beggar-by-william-brown/