Give Voice to Thankfulness

While working in the gift shop at “the caverns” yesterday, I encountered a young man (9 or 12 or something) that made quite an impression on me. What did he do? He thanked his parents for bringing him to see the caverns and for the things they bought him in the shop.

Now, that may not seem like a big deal. After all, it’s simple good manners to say thank you. I’ve waited on hundereds of parents buying their kids stuff in the gift shop this summer though, and this is the first time I remember hearing the child say thank you. I’m sure there were others that I have forgotten, but all the same, it’s a rare thing for this to happen. More often I hear kids whining about not getting the item they really wanted, or wanting more, or while seeming happy about the purchase not saying a word of thanks.

When the transaction was completed I looked at the boy and said that I needed to tell him something. “I’m really proud of you!”, I began. “You said thank you to your parents and not many kids to that. I’m impressed! You’re a good kid. Keep up the good work.” A huge smile lit his face as I talked to him.

We all take so much for granted, children and adults alike.  We forget to say thanks and don’t take the time to use good manners. As parents and teachers we need to be grateful ourselves and voice that gratitude, and gently teach the children in our care to do the same. Once they’ve been taught, we should expect good manners and hold one another accountable. Not a big deal, but it sure would make the world a better place.

There’s No Friend Like an Old Friend

I grew up with Kate. (Kate is not her real name, but I do like to protect the innocent when I’m writing.) Our parents were friends, we went to the same church, we went to the same school and had the same teachers, and we were in some of the same activities. When we were around 9 we went to church camp for the first time in cute matching shorts outfits. When we were teens we went to a church youth conference and came home not speaking to one another. We began our college careers at the same University. Kate was beside me when I got married. Kate and I share some history.

We are very different in many ways, although I suspect that upon close scrutiny we may find that we have more in common that either of us will ever admit to.  Our lives went in different directions many years ago, and while we remained friends we did not make the effort to see one another often. I’ve sometimes wondered why, but I guess I never allowed myself to dwell on it. Kate went to music school and eventually became a minister. I got married, had kids, and eventually became a teacher.  We are just too different to be close, I supposed. At times I’d lament that fact, because at times I’d really miss Kate; but things are the way they are, I reasoned, and there’s nothing to be done about that.

It had been years since I had last seen Kate and I began my summer vowing to myself that this year I would pay a visit. It had been so long in fact, that I was afraid we would be akward together and find little to talk about once we had caught up on the basics. What would I do if, after all these years of absence, Kate had decided that she was better off without ever seeing me? The friendship business can be risky at times, and

Everyday Blessing

God bless you and keep you,

Always in Light.

God guard you and guide you,

Whatever your fight.

God with you and love you,

In depth or in height.

God for you,

 Restore you,

By day and by night.

Computer Use – Necessity or Habit?

My computer was making a lot of noise….noises computers aren’t supposed to make. I put off taking it for repairs because I imagined it would be very hard to live without the Internet for a week or more. I was right! And I was also wrong!

The first 4 days I actually felt relieved that I didn’t have to ”bother” with the computer. I was surprised! I had never before realized that (sometimes as least) I consider the things I do on the computer to be a bother. Upon reflection I decided that much of what I do on the computer is more habit than everyday necessity. By day 5 I was becoming a little anxious about what may be in my email box and I started thinking about some things I need to type,  but it wasn’t until day 7 that I actually missed having my computer, and that’s the day I got it back.

I’m glad that my computer needed repaired. My experience of being without it has led me to make the decision to choose two days of the week that I will stay away from my computer unless I need to do something for work that just can’t wait.  Two days a week of pretending to go back in time, to BC time…that’s BC for “before computers.” Remember those days? Two days a week without going on-line. Two days a week that I will have more time to do other things. I’m still thinking about which two days, and I’m not going to be totally inflexible about the whole thing. I think that I’ve made a healthy decision though, and I pray for the grace to stick with it.

“To-Do” List

It’s nearing the end of July now and I’ve yet to make my “Summer To-Do List”.  Well, there’s no time like the present!

1. Remove horrid wallpaper from spare room and paint the room    (not started)

2. Write on blog  (working on it)

3. Visit relatives in Parma Heights OH (accomplished yesterday!)

4. Read books! (currently reading Thomas Merton’s Seven Storey Mountain)

5. Learn to meditate  (making good progress)

6. Get together with friends Christy, Carol, Katie, Carole, Kathy, Becky, Holly   (no progress here)

7. Get my house thouroughly cleaned  (some progress but those places are already in need of cleaning again…AND I can’t find my “dusting thing”)

8. Paint cabinets in kitchen (done!)

9. Go away for private retreat  (did that in June but it was a short time and I wish I could go again!)

10. Get rid of clothes that are not flattering and/or comfortable…especially shoes   (some progress)

11. Have some days where I can stay home and do very little   (happened once I think)

12. Prepare new classroom  (working on it)

13. Read over all standards and etc. for 2nd grade  (not yet…)

14. Do some fun things with other people   (Sunday had dinner with friends and went to outdoor concert, went to July 4 concert and fireworks, out to dinner with hubby and kids, browsing downtown with daughter, went to photo exhibit with group from church….not too bad!)

15. Ride my bike further than my own neighborhood  (I’ve thought about it a few times…)

16. Take care of all those once a year medical type appointments  (most scheduled)

17. Get computer fixed so it doesn’t make loud noise and works better  (I got a phone number of a guy…)

Ok, that’s enough!  God help me!

I think I’ll go to school now and keep working on number 12.

Everyday Adventure

It’s a beautiful sunny morning and I’m pondering the notion that every day can end up being a bit of an adventure.  It all depends upon the way I choose to look at the things that happen in the day.

On Saturday morning I woke up in the mood to bake oatmeal cookies. This was rather unusual as I have not baked cookies in 3 or 4 months. I was working that afternoon (at the caverns) so I went ahead and made the cookies then took some to work to share, as well as a few just for me. While at work that day I was in charge of cleaning the “museum”, which is the building directly over the entrance to the cavern where the tours end. A woman came up, obviously in some distress, and asked if I had any food. She explained that her blood sugar had dropped and she was not feeling well at all. We don’t carry snacks in the gift shop, but I did have the cookies I had just baked, so I gave her one. She soon was feeling better, and was quite grateful. When I told her the story of how I woke up with the unusual urge to bake cookies, we both realized that Someone was aware of her need. It pleased me that I had listened to the “urge to bake” and thus had been able to give the woman what she needed. That’s an adventure!

I wonder what today will bring?

Remembering and Planning: Second Grade

I spent a good part of the day today working in my new classroom. After teaching 1st grade for ten years, I am excited to move down the hall to 2nd grade. I was thinking today, that I don’t remember much about my own 1st grade teacher, but what I remember about my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Albright, and that 2nd grade year, helped to shape my life in some important ways.

In second grade I learned to create. My teacher invited an artist to visit our classroom and we got to create all sorts of wonderful things. In second grade I learned that it’s not always wise to pursue what one wants at the moment. I got in trouble when I talked to the girl next to me asking to borrow a silver crayon. I learned that I could do well in spite of bad circumstances when I managed to get good grades on my report card in spite of missing more than 20 days of school due to illnesses including chickenpox and a hospital stay for an appendectomy. I learned about “class” from my 2nd grade teacher who was well travelled and had a certain flair that I had never before noticed in someone I knew. In 2nd grade I learned that the gifts I am given are the ones I am meant to have. My teacher gave us each an Advent calendar as a gift and got upset when we started trading them with one another, and made us give them back to the person that had them to begin with. Mine had a beautiful candle in the center of the picture that was for the 24th…my birthday. I realized eventually that my teacher had cared enough to choose that one especially for me. I still have that Advent calendar, and I still have fond memories of my 2nd grade year.

As I begin to prepare to teach 2nd grade, I am mindful that now, perhaps more than ever, the things that I do and say, or don’t do and say, will have a lasting impact upon my students. I want the room to be just right for them. I want the way I interact with my students to meet their needs. I want my students to feel safe at every level and be happy to come to school each day. I want the lessons to inspire them to love learning, not just to prepare them to pass a test. I want my students to be able to think back when they are 50 and say, “I remember my second grade teacher and 2nd grade was an important year.”

Blogging….Health Benefits?

Well, this settles it. Scientific American has declared that blogging is good for you, and me, and people in general. So, I just have to keep at this!

Read this informative article here.

Embrace the Mystery

I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it.
-Harry Emerson Fosdick

I think that often we, I’m speaking as humans in general, feel the need to figure things out. We want to have an explanation of why things are the way they are, and how things happened, and what will happen next and who made these things happen, and what we can do about it. If it is beyond our mental capacity to figure something out we take some “expert’s” word for it and may never give it another thought. We feel in control if we have the answers.

It’s been a risky business, but in the last couple of years I’ve dared to question the “right” answers I’ve held on to in matters of faith and discovered that I don’t know half of what I thought I knew.  I’ve had to admit that even the things of which I feel quite sure, may not in reality be quite the way I think they are. Further, I’ve concluded that for many questions there really are no definitive answers, and that it really does not matter.  I trust that God loves not only me, but all of creation, enough to lead us through life and get us where we need to be by the time we’re done.

Living a life of faith in God means trusting enough to give up control and embrace the Mystery. I find that the universe if full of possibilities now that I no longer feel the need to have all the answers.  I am not saying that there are no absolutes in faith; of course there must be. I am finding though, that there are far fewer absolutes that I once thought and that my faith becomes stronger the more I realize this. There is such freedom in embracing the mystery! Alleluia!

Is UN-QUIT a word?

Long time no blog….

Ok, I admit that I’ve allowed myself to become discouraged with the whole blog thing. Mainly, I am confused by the technology. I want to do things that I don’t understand and don’t want to take the time to figure out, and don’t know how to begin to figure out.  I don’t think I’ve been doing the categories and tags right either.  Secondly, I’ve been asking my self, rather seriously, “just why do I do this anyway?” I didn’t much care for some of the answers I was coming up with. This reflection then led to the question, “just why would anyone anywhere want to read what I write anyway?” I concluded that anyone anywhere probably does not want to read this stuff, for the most part, although I must say “God Bless YOU” to anyone who does. I think the stats tell the story there. So, I quit.

I find that I miss it though…the discipline of writing on a regular basis, the occasional kind comment, the reading of the wise and funny words of some folks I’ve met through this mysterious (to me) electronic medium. So, I un-quit.

May the words begin to flow as the Spirit leads.