And We Shall Be Created

 I had the opportunity to pray a beautiful prayer at a training over the weekend.

 

At least ten times throughout the weekend, I prayed the words, “Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.”

 

Honestly, the first few times, I simply read the prayer like I was supposed to. I went through the motions, not really grasping what I was saying.

 

Then it hit me, “Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.”

 

We SHALL BE created. Not, “We WERE created.” Not, “We ARE created.” But, “We SHALL BE created.” In a future moment, through the Spirit.

 

What this prayer is implying is that creation didn’t take place just once. There wasn’t one creation story and the end. God is constantly creating, and, according to this prayer, God is constantly creating us!

 

What this means is that we are not static robots, pre-programmed to live out our destiny.

 

Instead, we are active art—pottery that God is spinning and molding and creating afresh each day—music that God is composing with motifs and themes and movements—a story that God is writing with a plot and chapters and characters—a building that God is designing with different levels and hallways and rooms—a painting that God is revealing with lines and strokes and colors.

 

“Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.”

 

In constant creation, God is renewing the face of the earth. And we are part of that renewal! Our words—our actions—our thoughts—our feelings—our very creation through the spirit—helps renew the face of the earth…if we let it!

 

Is that not amazing to think about?!

 

“Oh, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faith and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy your consolations. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” –a Roman Catholic prayer to the Holy Spirit

Annie Arrival Day

 There aren’t many things that I’d go back and re-do in life because I can see how most mistakes and/or difficulties have ultimately worked for good. But since becoming a cat-owner, I often replay an afternoon where I made a very insensitive friendship error and wish I could go back and right my wrong. Here is what happened:

 

I stopped by a friend’s house on my way home from work. She and her kids were very upset because one of their cats had gone missing. They were out looking for the cat, fearing that it had gotten lost or injured, and my friend asked if I would join the search.

 

I told her that I needed to get home—that the cat had probably gone off to die alone. And then I left. [In my defense, the cat was sick, and I knew that animals sometimes DID want to die alone.]

 

I cringe just writing this story. It’s a terrible confession! 😳

 

You see, I had NO IDEA just how important those little goobers could be to someone’s life—just how much love one could hold for an animal that can be aloof or loving, weird and unpredictable.   

 

But then Annie and the Alphabets showed up one year ago today and changed my life (and my parents’ lives, too)! While all of the Alphabets (Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Gamma) have found other homes, Annie has made her home with us, and now I can’t imagine life without her. She scratches me and bites me, wakes me up early in the morning, requests food throughout the day, goes in and out of the house countless times a day, chews up boxes and leaves little bits of paper all over my floor, sits where she’s not supposed to sit, and won’t let me rub her soft belly without a fight…but my goodness do I love that cat…and if she disappeared, I would be highly distraught. I would ask everyone I knew to help me look for my mean-sweet Annie Mae, and I would be so sad until we found her.

 

Thankfully, on that horrible afternoon when I was a jerk, my friend found her cat hiding in a drawer. My searching would not have helped the end-result, but it certainly would have helped morale and been the right thing to do. I understand that now, thanks to Annie, and how much love I feel for her today, on her one-year arrival day.  

 

So…Happy Annie Arrival Day, everyone!

 

May today be a day when you vow not to be an insensitive jerk like me…

 

Amen.

 

 

Blessing of the Backpacks

I’d never been to a Blessing of the Backpacks before yesterday, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was really very simple, though. Sing a congregational chorus; walk to the altar with your backpack or workbag; stand with your hand open to catch the words of blessing; close your hand around the blessing and transfer it to your heart to receive it; sing the congregational chorus once more:

 

Take, oh, take me as I am.

Summon out what I shall be.

Set your seal upon my heart

And live in me.

 

There were probably ten people at the altar receiving the Blessing of the Backpacks.

 

I could have been the only one, though, because everything else faded away as I focused on Pastor Ann’s words.

 

In typical Deanna-fashion, I cried. I felt silly as tears welled in my eyes, but I couldn’t stop them as I heard::

 

God of fresh starts and new beginnings

We bring ourselves, our big feelings, and our backpacks to you.

In them, we carry the tools we need for school and work.

In our hearts we carry big feelings, unanswered questions, and hopeful expectations.

There are endless possibilities for what this new school year might bring--

Of what we might learn, what we might accomplish, who we might meet, and who we might become.

God our friend who is always with us, be with us through it all.

Be with us as we travel to school and from work.

Be with us as we prepare for each day.

Bless each day’s journey into something new.

Also be with those who travel with us, learn with us, and work with us.

Give them what they need each day.

God of love and care,

Bless our hands and fill our hearts for the school and work that lie ahead of us.

Amen.

 

And amen. 

Rise Up!

 Our assistant principal is an upstanding guy. Yesterday, he posted a prayer for the beginning of the year. Trusting that he won’t mind, I’m reposting that prayer, having taken some editorial liberties.

 

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know how prayer works, but you’d better believe that I will be praying for this school year—for myself and for others. And not only that, but I will be willing to be an answer to my own prayers and to the prayers of others. I hope you will be the same.   

 

Dear God:

Here we are again at the start of another school year.

As we contemplate all we have gone through over the last few years, we can’t help but wonder what this year will bring.

Thoughts, feelings, and anticipation flood the mind and soul.

Worries and fatigue seem to overwhelm.

I have come to a critical conclusion, though.

The mind is such an important part of our perception.  

And my mind tells me that it is time to RISE UP!

So help us, God, to rise up in our hearts, and hope.

HOPE that what we are doing makes a difference.

Help us to LOVE!

Spread love to all we meet.

Help us to be a listening ear and a guiding heart.

Help us to RISE UP in spirit and truth.

Let the right mindset engulf our thoughts.

Let our minds be determined, passionate, and versatile.

Let us RISE UP together and push for a wonderful year, no matter the odds!

Help us to remember that in the light of eternity, this is but a moment.

So, while we have breath, help us seize the moment.

While our hearts beat, let them beat to the fullest.

Help us today!

Help us tomorrow!  

Help us this school year!

Help us to do this!

Help us to RISE UP!

Amen.

And Amen.

 

I Don't Want To Go Back

 To be honest, I’m not ready to go back to work, and I don’t know any teachers who are.  

 

I’m sure that there are some out there who are excited and refreshed after summer break, but I would posit that they are few and far between.

 

Instead, I suggest that most teachers already feel burdened for the year and don’t look forward to going back into the classroom where they will likely not be respected—by students, parents, politicians, and possibly even coworkers and administrators. .

 

Some would say that those of us who feel this way should quit. Thousands and thousands of teachers have left the profession where they once felt called. But quitting is not a viable option for so many and so we stay—for whatever reason—for better or for worse.

 

I want it to be for better.

I want to believe that teaching makes a difference.

I want to believe that teaching changes lives.

I want to believe that experience matters.

I want to believe that there is joy is in the educational process.

 

Yet it feels like everything teachers do is judged,

That one perceived wrong could land us on the news,

That we are attacked and unsupported in classroom discipline measures,

That we are left to the whims of decision makers who aren’t trained in education,

That we are expected to be superheroes capable of taking on more and more, without proper funding, planning time, bathroom breaks, or nutrition.

 

The system is broken.

I don’t know how to fix it.

 

I just know that I go back to work this week and that I’m not ready. And I know I’m not the only one.

 

Dear God: Forgive me for sounding like The Complainer, but sometimes I can’t do anything but confess what’s on my heart. All of it being said, though, you have granted us the ability to work, and for that I am grateful. I just pray for the work—for the year—for sustained health for teachers—physical, mental, and emotional. I pray that you will grant us strength and that we will find moments of contentment and peace each day. Renew our sense of purpose. Renew our sense of call. Help us to hold to light even when darkness tries to consume. We can do this, God. One step at a time. We just need help. So I ask for help today. Amen.  

The Super Positive

 On Monday, I wrote about The Complainer. Today, I want to write about her opposite: The Super Positive.

 

The Super Positive was a woman named Elizabeth who wore a perpetual smile on her face and saw each opportunity and morsel of food as something wonderful.

 

We first met Elizabeth at lunch in Olympia, Greece. She and her husband, Art, sat at our table for a meal that lasted no shorter than two hours. That day, each time she tried a new bite of food, she made the “This is so delicious” facial expression and truly savored the moment for what it was.

 

After that, we saw Elizabeth and Art on a few occasions. Each time, they were so very pleasant to encounter—picking on one other and laughing, seeing the world with wide-open eyes. And each time, Elizabeth had something positive to say:

 

“Did you try the Chinese meatballs at breakfast? They are so good.”

 

“I can’t wait to go into town tonight. I want to say that I’ve experienced European night life!”

 

“I just had my first facial. It was delightful. If you’ve never had one, you need to get one. Our faces are the first things people see!”

 

I never a heard a negative word come out of Elizabeth’s mouth.

 

On the morning I went to Postojna Cave in Koper, Slovenia, I ran into Elizabeth and Art in a little café outside the entrance. As soon as Elizabeth saw me, she said, “If I buy a pastry, would you care to half it with me?” “Sure,” I said. The pastries really did look good.

 

When we sat down to eat, Elizabeth, once again, made the “This is so delicious” facial expression and truly savored the moment for what it was.

 

Shortly after we ate, Elizabeth was trying to take a selfie and wasn’t paying attention to her footing, so she stepped backwards down two stairs. She grabbed Art for support and he kept her from falling and hitting her head. She was so very grateful that he had caught her and that she had avoided a trip to the hospital instead of a trip to the cave. She didn’t complain about falling. She simply rejoiced that it had not ended in catastrophe.

 

As we walked into the cave, I captured this image of Elizabeth and Art holding hands. This is the image that I will remember of the Super Positive.

 

The Complainer taught me to mind my words and actions lest they bring others down. The Super Positive taught me to allow my words and actions to bring others up.

 

Dear God: Help me follow The Super Positive’s example and let my words and actions be for good. Amen.

 

The Complainer

 As soon as we got on the bus, she started complaining.

I immediately named her The Complainer.

True to form, The Complainer complained about almost everything on our Tuscan Extension.

And not only did she complain, but she also sighed really loudly over and over and over again and made little comments under her breath. She was quite passive. A victim of sorts. Who carried an exasperated look on her face for three days. I felt sorry for her husband. Then again, I imagine he is used to her complaints and has probably learned to ignore them.

…

We ate five, four-course meals in three days. Thanks to the Queen Bee clique always sticking together and not allowing anyone into their group, JG and I ended up sitting with The Complainer and her husband for four of the five meals.

…

Last night at dinner—which was probably my favorite meal of the trip—The Complainer first judged the gnocchi—she doesn’t like potatoes. Then, after the main course—meat and more potatoes—she said, “Is this it?! I was actually hungry when I came down and a little bit of meat and potatoes isn’t going to cut it.” She said all of this as the waiter was picking up the plates and the whole room just happened to go silent.

I had to suppress my laughter.

For dessert, the chef came to explain the origins of what we were having. As she was talking, The Complainer mumbled, “Well I don’t like it.” 😮

…

The Complainer is a church-goer. Her church is alive and well. They’re moving to two services soon. Contemporary and traditional. I imagine she has some complaints about the service that she will not be attending. And I imagine I know which one that is.

…

Dear God, Help us to never be The Complainer—especially those of us who profess faith in you. Help us try to find the good in all circumstances, even when it’s hot or hilly or loud or not enough. Thank you for The Complainer, God. She taught me a lot. Amen. 

Rich

 As a teacher, I will never be rich.

I will seldom, if ever, have expendable money.

I will rarely not think about how much something costs.

I will almost always wonder if I spent too much on a meal or a purchase.

Thankfully, being single and living with my parents allows me to have enough.

But if either of those things differed, then I would struggle to make ends meet,

Much less come on this vacation that my aunt has gifted me with.

We are surrounded by rich people.

We are surrounded by people who have traveled to so many places that they don’t always care to see more.

I have heard more than one person on this trip say, “I can only see so many museums and churches. I don’t want to see anymore.”

Maybe I could get to that place?

I don’t know.

I just know that I never want to get to a place of complacency—

To a place where I lose my sense of awe—

To a place that I have so much that I begin taking things for granted—

Like a sunset or moon rise or boat ride or waterfall.

I have seen so much on this trip.

Heard so much history.

Been to so many places.

There is no way I will remember it all.

But I hope that I will never forget the feeling of gratitude that I feel for being able to travel the world—

For being reminded that I am just one part of a much larger whole—

For seeing the vast beauty of God’s creation.

Dear God: I may never be rich by the ways of this world, but I am beyond rich in gratitude and thanksgiving. May I—may we—never reach a point of complacency in awe—even if life never takes us far from home. Amen. 

Rule Following Judgment

 I’ve noticed something about myself on this trip: I am a rule follower.

When Viking has suggested masks, I have worn my mask—even though, yes, it has been challenging.

When Viking has told me to be somewhere at a certain time, I have arrived early—even though, yes, I have done a lot of waiting.

When Viking has told me to carry my vaccination card and government issued ID, I have carried both—even though we haven’t needed them.

When Viking has told me to drink plenty of water, I have consumed plenty of water—even though I’m not the best water drinker.

I have followed the rules—all put in place for my safety—and I have inwardly judged all of the persons who have not 🤦🏻‍♀️.

I’ve noticed that about myself, too: I am quietly judgmental.

But there are limits to my judgment. And there are limits to my rule following.

If a rule doesn’t make sense to me, then I will push against it. If a person is not doing anything that I find offensive, then I am welcoming and affirming. And more often than not, I am very welcoming.

But not on this trip!? I am judging people left and right. As I follow the rules. And those around me do not. Because people’s safety is at stake. And that is where I draw the line.

Dear God. Thank you for helping us notice things about ourselves and be curious about what they mean. And now that I’ve noticed, help me to do better in my judgment. Amen.