Thanksgiving

Yep.... A picture is worth a thousand words.  It doesn't take words on this day to describe what I should be thankful for. Family.  

A servant attitude

I'm trying to be intentional with this blog - trying to see clearly those things that make me happy, contented and whole. 

We do a Logos mid-week ministry at our church.  Jan and I are the "Dinner Deans" meaning we guide the dinner process, celebrating birthdays, leading grace, games and all things associated with family time. I get a certain amount of enjoyment out of it and honestly I think I'm one of the few people at the church who can carry off the silliness and be okay with making a fool of myself. After dinner, everyone leaves and I do the job that I just realized gives me the most pleasure. The first time I got stuck with this job I complained, but this week it finally dawned on me that I enjoy doing it. We have big round tables that need to be broken down and moved upstairs.  I fold up the legs and roll them the length of the church, stuff them into the elevator, take them to the second floor  and roll them back the length of the church to where they're needed for the rest of the week. 

I had an "aha" moment this week when I realized that I was enjoying doing my job....a job that no one else was going to do and was being done quietly with no audience. It's the job of a servant. I was happily rolling big tables down the hallway and could have whistled while I worked. I wasn't doing this in front of a crowd, no one was telling me what a great job I was doing.....I was just doing a job and enjoying it. Maybe that's the correct attitude to have all the time....be a servant...don't worry about being told you doing a great job. Just do the things that need done and take satisfaction in the completion...something to shoot for.

I was blind, but now I see.....

I went to the Taste of Home cooking show with a good friend last night. Lots of fun. There was One Thing that really struck me and it had nothing to do with food or cooking or winning door prizes. The Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind (VSDB) has a bluegrass band comprised of visually impaired students. This group was providing some pre-cooking show entertainment. Standing in the back of the hall watching these kids perform was pretty inspiring. Imagine how hard it is to learn to play a musical instrument when you're blind. Then they started singing Amazing Grace:

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now I'm found

Was blind but now I see.

I'm still trying to put into words how that made me feel listening to blind kids singing about the redemptive power of God's amazing grace. I'm a fully sighted individual, but I'm failing to adequately see so many things in my life. I need to open my eyes and drink in my world....it's an opportunity that shouldn't be wasted.

Why "One Thing?"

I'm approaching 37 years in public service..... The last 18 as a middle school teacher. I'm tired. It's not my age, although I am getting frighteningly close to 60 years of experience on this planet. Even though I have every reason to be contented and happy I find a dark cloud hanging over me. I have the most wonderful wife, family and friends. I have been blessed with two grandchildren and a third on the way. Well, let's just say I could spend significant time counting my blessing.....and it wouldn't make me feel any better. I'm not enjoying my job. I seem to work harder and harder as my students work less and less.  There's a lack of work ethic, motivation and drive in them that I can't seem to change.  Schools have taken a pounding from politicians and the press with headlines screaming about schools failing our children. Teachers are the problem...not a part of the solution. My definition of success has narrowed to the point of having to get one particular student to pass a test so our school isn't labeled a failure. Forget the other 85 students I work with...we need our special education students to pass so we meet AMO - Annual Measurable Objectives.

I believe all children can learn.... I don't believe all children can learn the same things at the same level. My days have become a data driven whirl of testing and paperwork designed to get that one kid to pass and to prove that I doing something to insure that success. 

I remember the day I got my first teaching job....I don't remember the exact day, but I remember the feeling. I was going to be a teacher and I was going to be great! Where is that excitement? I'm feeling sucked dry and that feeling is starting to bleed over into my life outside school. I need an attitude adjustment and that's where "One Thing" comes in. I admit I borrowed this from the movie City Slickers. This was Curly's advice to the character played by Billy Crystal....to be happy in life you need one thing. Chrystal's character desperately wants to know what that one things is......but as Curly says - you have to find that out for yourself. I figure there's one thing each day that gives me joy, makes me feel good, makes the day worthwhile. Those are the moments I need to focus on and I hope writing this blog will help me zero in on those moments that might not take my breath away, but definitely make my life one worth living to it's fullest.