The Bleak Midwinter – Bus Duty Week

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“In the Bleak Midwinter…”

The fog lay like a blanket over the fields surrounding the school the other morning. The driveway lights cast an eerie glow in the pre-dawn darkness. The slush, slurped beneath my boots as I walked the chilly circuit along the ‘bus drop-off zone.’ For me, this week is Bus Duty Week. Here are some random thoughts…

“What can I give him poor as I am…”

I guess people don’t get into Christian education to get rich. However, … (Oh, don’t get me started. Why ruin a perfectly good blog with a rant about teacher salaries.. Just never mind…)
Anyway, I don’t count myself among the poor by any means. I’m rich in many ways. Much of that comes by way of the students I teach and the people I work with here at school. Here comes another bus…

“If I were a shepherd…”

How many buses roll through here every morning? I don’t know. There are buses from our school and buses from the local public school. All bringing the children for another day of learning. But not just any old learning, but learning in which teachers are leading students to a greater knowledge of and closer relationship with Jesus. Indeed, it’s a special privilege and more so, a great responsibility.

“If I were a Wise Man…”

The other day – I had three boys in tears at different times during the day… a student’s cut thumb, not clotting and needing several Band-Aids throughout the day… two students icing some jammed finger or something and the girl drama. No wait! There was no girl drama that day. (Gift of the day?) If only I were a wise one.

Then, there was a bus driver of one of the public school buses who liked to talk…. What do you do when it’s 7:30 in the morning, 22 degrees, wind out of the north, and you’re shivering, one layer short of being barely comfortable, waiting for that last bus to pull in? Why, of course, talk creation and evolution with one of the public school bus drivers! Doesn’t he have some kid to pick up somewhere? Lord, give me wisdom… patience…. and a warming trend.

“What I can, I give him…”

So there I was this week, waiting to greet, guide and protect my young charges as they made the transition from their at-home world to their world of learning. The little ones turning to the right and the big kids going left, each taking a different path to hopefully the same destination… learning about God, his world and how to make a difference in it. It starts with a heart belonging to Jesus, which makes all the difference in the world, for the world… his world.

“I give him my heart.”

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Coming Next… “The Angel’s Amen!” – a story

Paths

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The thing about paths is….

There’s a beginning and an end,

an A and Z

an Alpha and Omega

Three parts to the paths we trod are…

where we are

where we’ve been

where we’re going

Our paths have…

twists, turns, tunnels, terrain that tests us

on we go

one step, two

all things will work out for those who…

We travel on our paths with …

family, friends – people we love

or those we don’t

or … alone

But really, never alone

That’s the thing about our paths…

we’re never alone

but always with the One who loves us.

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart…and he will make your paths straight.”

Not About Me…

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This was almost one of those Sunday mornings.  They happen from time-to-time, usually after a particularly grueling Saturday.  And it was a full Saturday, not unpleasant by any means, just full.  I was tired.  So, there I was this morning.  My wife was already off to church, due to duties she needed to perform, and I would follow later.  Except, maybe not. That’s what I thought.  Maybe today would be a good day to skip.

It’s been done before.  After all, the past week was go, go, go,  my foot hurt and I was doing some writing this morning.  The writing was going well and it seemed a shame to stop just to go to church.  So I kept going to the last possible minute…. and… then… shaved… showered… dressed and… went to church.

It was there, on World Communion Sunday, I was reminded that there are people all over the world who love Jesus and at some point on this Sunday also are celebrating the Lord’s Supper just like us.  I was reminded again that it’s really not about me, but all about God.  It was good to be there. I’m glad I went.

Babe and Alice

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We thought it would be nice thing, if they could get together again. It had been awhile. They were in similar straits after all. Both in their late eighties. Both pretty much confined to wheelchairs. Both of them living in nursing homes, different ones, across town from each other. We knew it would take some intervention on our part to make this happen. A little reunion for my mom and Aunt Alice would be a nice thing. They’re sisters after all.

Not every reunion is nice or desirable. I’m sure there are people out there with whom we just don’t want to reunite. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like these two stopped speaking forty years ago estranged by some terrible tif.  I’m sure their separation all these months (years?) was more likely health related or apathy.

Anyway… we picked up my mom this afternoon, drove across town and visited Aunt Al.  They sat and chatted, reminisced and compared notes on their various conditions and complaints. There was some good natured kidding and ‘b-s’ ing. Their ‘swiss-cheese’ memories made for some interesting but not always factual conversations, to be sure.

We’ve had our share of reunions and get-togethers this year.  They’re a good thing. Today’s reunion was very nice and a good thing, too… for all of us.

“Early in the Morning…”

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IMG_0810This was my view this morning – full moon setting in the west over the corn field and Jupiter in the east just before sunrise.  The shaky pictures do not do justice to being there, witnessing these awesome events, in person,  this morning … which was today’s gift.

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“The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.” Psalm 65:8

What Am I Doing Here? – A Story (4)

On By dklinegIn School ThingsLeave a comment

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Note:  A new school year is dawning for me, my students and colleagues.  This story explores the question of calling and purpose for the Christian educator.

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… Harold wondered, “When is enough, enough?”

Then he thought about Mickey. “Things seemed to be finally going his way. He’s been doing better, lately … answered prayer, for sure…” Harold realized that his own problems paled in comparison to what the Jensen family has been going through.

The room brightened as the light from the morning sun slid under the rising fog bank and sneaked through the windows of the faculty room. Harold sipped coffee from his “I ‘heart’ teaching” mug. His own mental fog began lifting about midway through the weekly faculty devotions. A glimmer of light penetrated his soul as Sandy wrapped up her devotions. She read from Matthew, Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples, “… Go and make disciples … teaching them to obey everything I have commanded … surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Sandra ended the meeting with a prayer. As Harold walked down the hall, he added his own prayer for Mickey, for himself and this year’s candidates for discipleship. He didn’t know if he would be teaching until the “end of the age,” but he figured 3:10 that afternoon would be a good start.

What Am I Doing Here? – A Story (3)

On By dklinegIn School ThingsLeave a comment

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Note:  A new school year is dawning for me, my students and colleagues.  This story explores the question of calling and purpose for the Christian educator.

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“Hi, Mr. DeWit,” Mickey chirped, his morning mood matched the artwork on the wall.

“Morning, Mickey. How’s it going?” The question was meant to be rhetorical, but the fifth grader answered anyway.

“Okay. My mom got this new job. Has to start early… She drops me off before she goes to work.” Harold recalled the struggles the single parent family had been through this year. “Starting that plant experiment today?” Mickey liked science.

“Right after noon hour, Mick.” Harold remembered he still had a few things to get ready. “Did you want to help set some things up after lunch?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks, Mick. Talk to you later, I have to get to a meeting.” Harold ambled down the hall to teacher’s lounge.

“I’ve been teaching kids for thirty-plus years,” thought Harold, as he plunked down into his place at the weekly faculty devotions. “Sure, there have been ups and downs before. Working for the Lord is what it’s all about, … right?” He rubbed his eyes, trying to concentrate on the meeting. Sandra Brown’s devotional flew right by him. His thoughts went back to his own load of troubles – hassles with parents, the discipline problems, the committee work, the mountain of papers to correct – Harold wondered, “When is enough, enough?”  …

… to be continued…

What Am I Doing Here? – A Story (2)

On By dklinegIn School ThingsLeave a comment

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Note: A new school year is dawning for me, my students and colleagues.  This story explores the question of calling and purpose for the Christian educator.

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As Harold negotiated the path to school in the dim morning light, it seemed to him that the energy required to educate his students was being eroded by “extra curricular” pressures. Trying to motivate students who found him less entertaining than the latest video game was tough. It annoyed him. Answering criticisms from parents and students who found his methods of teaching differing from “what were used to” was frustrating. Dealing sensitively with the children in his class whose parents had separated or were divorced was emotionally draining.

He turned into the parking lot as he had every school day for the past umpteen years. His fingers tightened around the steering wheel and he thought ruefully, “I could have gone into the landscaping business with my brother-in-law.” His headlights flashed against the school’s doors as he backed into his parking space.

Mickey Jensen, one of Harold’s students and the subject of much prayer, stood at the door looking out. “He’s at school before most of the teachers lately,” Harold muttered to himself. Then he walked from the fog into the brightly lit hallway decorated with cheery displays from the elementary art classes.

“Hi, Mr. DeWit,” chirped Mickey, his morning mood matching the artwork on the wall. …

…to be continued…