It might not be as exciting as, say, being a Navy Seal or a pop star, but the life of a teacher has many surprising facets you probably never imagined. Over the weeks to come I will reveal all. Classrooms take on a life of their own. Part of it is supplied by the teacher. The character and personality-mix of the children furnish both hilarious and tender moments. They live here for 7 hours a day--more time with me than with their own parents--yet our relationship is unique. I only have them for one year. They start as recent 3rd graders and end the year about to enter 5th grade. So it's a big jump from little kid to big kid. Responsibility, as you can imagine, is one of my mottoes. And then of course I leap back in the fall to little kids again. It's a great life, a life fraught with its own dangers and miracles. It's a secret life. Stay tuned.
Monday, September 27, 2010
The Secret Life of a Teacher, Part 1
It might not be as exciting as, say, being a Navy Seal or a pop star, but the life of a teacher has many surprising facets you probably never imagined. Over the weeks to come I will reveal all. Classrooms take on a life of their own. Part of it is supplied by the teacher. The character and personality-mix of the children furnish both hilarious and tender moments. They live here for 7 hours a day--more time with me than with their own parents--yet our relationship is unique. I only have them for one year. They start as recent 3rd graders and end the year about to enter 5th grade. So it's a big jump from little kid to big kid. Responsibility, as you can imagine, is one of my mottoes. And then of course I leap back in the fall to little kids again. It's a great life, a life fraught with its own dangers and miracles. It's a secret life. Stay tuned.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Summer Vacation Blues Redeemed
We left in mid-July for the Midwest. We had just bought a "new" Ford Taurus station wagon to replace our old one, and had named it Patience; as we had been praying that God would help us to learn patience with each other and life in general.
God was generously willing to grant us that request!
However, God provided for us--one of Jenno's cousins lives in Denver & was able to come get us to stay the night with them. The car was towed to a local shop, where the next morning the mechanic pronounced it OK... test drove it & had no clue. So we stopped using the AC and drove into eastern Colorado... temps about 100 now. Oh yeah, and the dog was in the back too, on top of the sleeping bags in what we coined "her glovebox".
until we went for a hike that ended up being a muddy trail with at least 4 downed trees. Only 15 hours before, a powerful wind storm had knocked down trees & limbs. Good thing we weren't camping here the night before! We washed off our muddy shoes & got into our humid tent. Mosquitoes were also happy to sneak in for a midnight feast. I woke up in the night to the noise of screech owls in the trees above. That was weird. I dozed off to sleep, until 5ish, when a thunderstorm moved in and rained on us. We broke camp, stashed the tent in the car, and got off to a nice early start.
We scrambled to pull up the tent again & stuff tent, tarp, and all into the car, as sheets of rain started falling on us. We sat in the car to wait out the storm. At this point I was in High Grumbling Mode and sad to say was not the most patient dad. All of which served to remind me that God was quite willing to send whatever he needed into my life to humble me, and remind me of how patient He has been with me and my shortcomings.
"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2 Peter 3:9
"Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" Romans 2:3-4
So the end of the story is that we decided to not stay the night but drive on. Jenno and I switched off until dawn, then took a quick snooze and drove the rest of the way back to Spokane at which time I promptly broke my little toe. At this point however, I got the point and decided to exercise a little patience....
God was generously willing to grant us that request!
After setting out in our wagon, we drove a grueling 13 hour day (thanks to construction) from Spokane to the Yellowstone area of Wyoming where Jenno's sister & fam live. The next morning we were off again, going south into Colorado so we could take I-80 into Kansas for a family wedding. We got as far as Denver, when our car lost power & we took shelter under a highway overpass. Note the waifs & luggage.
However, God provided for us--one of Jenno's cousins lives in Denver & was able to come get us to stay the night with them. The car was towed to a local shop, where the next morning the mechanic pronounced it OK... test drove it & had no clue. So we stopped using the AC and drove into eastern Colorado... temps about 100 now. Oh yeah, and the dog was in the back too, on top of the sleeping bags in what we coined "her glovebox".The wedding in Wichita was great, and we enjoyed the coolness of a hotel Sat night. The next AM we drove on to Kansas City, where we attended Providence Church (coincidence?), and then bombed on to Iowa just south of Des Moines. Walnut Woods State Park was wonderful...
until we went for a hike that ended up being a muddy trail with at least 4 downed trees. Only 15 hours before, a powerful wind storm had knocked down trees & limbs. Good thing we weren't camping here the night before! We washed off our muddy shoes & got into our humid tent. Mosquitoes were also happy to sneak in for a midnight feast. I woke up in the night to the noise of screech owls in the trees above. That was weird. I dozed off to sleep, until 5ish, when a thunderstorm moved in and rained on us. We broke camp, stashed the tent in the car, and got off to a nice early start.We were starting to wonder if we had prayed for the right thing. But God knew best!
We arrived in eastern Wisconsin Monday afternoon and spent 2 weeks with relatives & friends. It was all worth it. And we were learning more patience there too.
We arrived in eastern Wisconsin Monday afternoon and spent 2 weeks with relatives & friends. It was all worth it. And we were learning more patience there too.
Finally it was time to pack up again, and drive off to see Jenno's brother in Iowa & his family. Enjoyed the fireflies so much. Then last Tuesday we drove on to South Dakota. We arrived at our favorite camping spot, Cedar Shores. Except it was covered with mayflies. Apparently they had hatched out that morning. We got there the one day they were alive. The kids were bummed out, but we moved on to a nearby campsite with a pool that was mayfly-free. We heard on the radio that a big storm was heading south of us that evening. After a nice swim & supper, we relaxed. Then I walked up the hill with the girls before bed to check the sky. We noticed a rapidly moving bank of clouds heading for us. Hmm. After I shot this picture, the clouds passed overhead 2 minutes later, and the wind hit. Meanwhile Jenno heard on the radio that the storm had veered northeast, and 60 mph winds were expected.
We scrambled to pull up the tent again & stuff tent, tarp, and all into the car, as sheets of rain started falling on us. We sat in the car to wait out the storm. At this point I was in High Grumbling Mode and sad to say was not the most patient dad. All of which served to remind me that God was quite willing to send whatever he needed into my life to humble me, and remind me of how patient He has been with me and my shortcomings.
"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2 Peter 3:9
"Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" Romans 2:3-4
So the end of the story is that we decided to not stay the night but drive on. Jenno and I switched off until dawn, then took a quick snooze and drove the rest of the way back to Spokane at which time I promptly broke my little toe. At this point however, I got the point and decided to exercise a little patience....
The dog in the glovebox, posing with the troops
Friday, April 30, 2010
L'Abri Journal Entry
Journal entry March 23, 2006... after arriving at English L'Abri in Greatham, Hampshire
Last Saturday was a providential preparation. I attended a talk on Francis Schaeffer at WYSOCS. I understand much better now his life and the special calling the Lord gave him and his wife Edith.
Not that some callings are special while others are ordinary. Every calling that is true is significant and equally worthwhile if it is from the Lord. In that sense every calling is ordinary and special... usually at some point the former appears as the latter when some insight is gained.
And this is really why I have come to L'Abri tonight. I know the general calling of God for Jenno and I. We specifically serve Him now as missionaries in England, and yet I am uncertain of the reality of that call continuing. Is God calling us as a family to a different work, a different ministry, or a deeper experience of the calling He's already given us these last 4 years?
It is my father's birthday today--he is 68 years old.
It occurred to me that my Abba, my Father in heaven, knows no such measurement of His existence. What is the use of counting infinity? He truly is the Ancient of Days. All has its birth from His creative acts.
I am waiting now at the Liss train station, waiting for my lift to L'Abri. It is a cool evening, but deliciously fragrant with the hint of spring and pungent earth.
Waiting. Waiting on God. Wings of eagles... resting in harbour? Or ready to embark? Retreat or onward? Hesitation, or purpose and a future...
Background information not mentioned in journal:
I waited for the L'Abri worker who was supposed to pick me up. After an hour, I realized she wasn't coming, so I set off in the direction of Greatham at twilight. I walked north on Station Road, passing the Spread Eagle pub. Now the lane was called Farnham Road, and it crossed over the busy A3 into the quiet, dark countryside. I was lost for a few minutes, with no light, but got myself turned back in the right direction. Finally I saw the turnoff for Greatham village, and I followed the brick wall on my right until I saw the little sign for the Manor House near the gate in the wall.
I finally arrived. I trudged up to the door at about 10 pm. The sign on it was good to see. I entered and wearily wondered what to do now...
A L'Abri helper named Paul saw me and arranged for the room where I would spend the night. I felt like no one was expecting me, but strangely I was not much bothered. I knew it would somehow work out. I had asked to stay for one week (all the time I could afford).
Sunday, April 11, 2010
L'Abri Journal Entry
The Fellows home at English L'AbriMarch 23, 2006
With a reluctant anticipation I boarded the twilight train at Warrington Bank Quay, en route to London, on my way to English L'Abri in Greatham, Hampshire. I will spare the reader every detail of my journey...
Right now I have "survived" the crossing of London via the Tube, 9 months after the Tube bombing. Things are mostly back to normal; just more guards I think. I am uncomfortably ensconced in a doorway of a train bound for Liss.
I am looking forward to being at L'Abri for a week of learning about my calling and the exploration of how we would best serve God as a family in the future.
to be continued
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Hi,
I'm heading out to Louisville, Kentucky next week Monday night for a conference called "Together for the Gospel". It's a meeting of 7000 church pastors and other leaders who come from a diverse range of backgrounds (i.e. Baptist, charismatic, Presbyterian) but they all have one common passion: to see God and His gospel glorified. I am really excited about this. I am hoping and praying that God will use it to deepen my faith in Christ (which has been pathetic lately) and to give me direction for the future in ministry in some way.
I'm heading out to Louisville, Kentucky next week Monday night for a conference called "Together for the Gospel". It's a meeting of 7000 church pastors and other leaders who come from a diverse range of backgrounds (i.e. Baptist, charismatic, Presbyterian) but they all have one common passion: to see God and His gospel glorified. I am really excited about this. I am hoping and praying that God will use it to deepen my faith in Christ (which has been pathetic lately) and to give me direction for the future in ministry in some way.
Together for the Gospel: T4G 2010 Conference from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
In March of 2006 I took the train from Warrington, England, south to London, then changed trains to the little village of Liss in Hampshire. At the end of the day, I had arrived at English L'Abri (a network of study centers founded by the late Francis Schaeffer). I was there to explore truth, God, and my future. I will be writing posts about it in the next few days.
Friday, February 5, 2010
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