Where's My Banana

“Ooooh! Can we do that fast and slow one where we move around the room?”
“Where’s my banana?”
“How did the Great Depression affect Louis Armstrong and his family?”

Other than seeing the smiling faces of my car rider parents, these three statements have been the highlights of my first week back. Let me explain:

Last year at the end of the year, I taught fast and slow to my Kindergarten and 1st graders. One of their favorite activities was moving around the room at the appropriate speed. Sometimes, they even moved so fast that they made the ceiling fans turn! When I began fast and slow with my 1st graders this week, I realized just how many students remembered what we did last year. I’ve had at least one student from every 1st grade class ask if we could do that fast and slow activity. Students in other grades have asked about activities that we did last year, too. It makes me feel good that my students are remembering.

One day last year, I accidentally left a banana on my desk beside the computer where one of my autistic 3rd grade students, J, sits for music class. As I was teaching, I began to smell a banana. J had decided to eat my banana! The next week, I intentionally left a banana to see what he’d do. He ate it. The next week I left a cutie orange. He ate it. For the rest of the year, I delivered fresh fruit to J…so I guess it only seemed to natural for him to expect fresh fruit in music class this year—only, I forgot! I taught J’s 4th grade class on Tuesday. He sat down at the computer, looked at me, and said, “Where’s my banana?” 😊 I will be going to the grocery store to buy J a banana before class next week!

Each month, I put up a bulletin board of composers and musicians who were born in that month. Louis Armstrong was born in August. To set up my unit on the International Day of Peace, I decided to teach my 5th graders a little about Louis Armstrong and his song “What A Wonderful World.” One of my students who is good with history and numbers evidently made a connection about the time period in which Louis Armstrong lived. Completely out of the blue, he raised his hand and asked, “How did the Great Depression affect Louis Armstrong and his family?” Dumbfounded, I responded, “Well, I don’t know. But between the two of us, let’s find out.” I’ve been reading books and articles about Louis Armstrong ever since. I even downloaded a book in Spanish by accident!

Today’s calendar reading told me to make a list of everything I’ve accomplished today—that I might be surprised at how much I’ve done. Instead, as I’ve written this post, I’ve been surprised at just how full my life has been this week. Every moment. Every day. There is life to be lived—moments to be celebrated—sometimes we just need to slow down and think about them to let them sink in…

What is something that has made you feel good this week? Something that has made you laugh? What is something that has dumbfounded or surprised you? A silly mistake you’ve made that could have been avoided had you paid attention? Have you been studying something new—learning about a life you never knew about before? Are you an expert on how the Great Depression affected Louis Armstrong and his family? I’d love to hear, friend. And now. Go eat a banana! 😊

What's In A Name

Earlier this afternoon, a friend asked me the highlight of my day. I jokingly (but maybe not so jokingly 😊) said the chicken and cheese wrap that I had for lunch. I also said that I knew some names and that knowing names made me happy. And it did.

If you were with me at this time last year, then you know that I was feeling completely defeated. I knew no names. I was not very graceful toward myself for my rightful ignorance. And I felt completely out of place.

Today, though, I only felt rusty—not defeated—and I think it’s because I knew more names than not—even in the car rider line!

Friends: There is power in names.

At the beginning of the year, I began a list of names for God. I’ve been compiling this list from the prayers in my Moravian devotion book. Just reading the names, or descriptions, of God has expanded my view of God and reminded me just how big God is.

I know the list is long, but I encourage you to read it, see which names jump out to you (in a positive or negative way), and then allow yourself to wonder why. What exactly is speaking to you at this point in your life? What is stretching you? Who is God to you? And if you feel comfortable, I’d love for you to share.

Friends: There is power in names…

Of students, parents, and teachers.

And of God.

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All knowing God
Almighty God
Beautiful Savior
Blessed Redeemer
Christ
Christ Jesus
Christ our mediator and redeemer
Comforter and Sustainer
Compassionate Lord
Creative God
Creator God
Creator Lord
Dear Lord
Divine Comforter
Eternal God
Eternal Lord
Everlasting Lord
Father
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Forgiving God
Giver of life
Giving Lord
God
God of compassion
God of courage
God of Creation
God of Grace
God of history, God of eternity
God of hope
God of humility and God of true power
God of forgiveness
God of mercy and love
God of our salvation
God of peace
God of provision
God our provider
God of redemption
God of steadfast love
God of wholeness
God who has always been and will be for us
Gracious God
Gracious Lord
Gracious Shepherd
Great Voice of Truth and Wisdom
Guardian of our very being
Heavenly, almighty God
Heavenly Father
Heavenly God
Heavenly Guide
Heavenly One
Holy Comforter
Holy Compassionate One, who restores our souls
Holy God
Holy One
Holy Savior
Holy Spirit
Jesus
Kindly Lord
Lord
Lord Jesus
Lord of All
Loving God
Loving Teacher
Magnificent Lord
Maker of all things life-giving and timeless
Master of all, judge of people and nations
Merciful Lord
Mighty Advocate
Mighty God
Nurturing Lord
O Commander of our souls
O God
O God of Wisdom
O Holy Spirit
O Lord
Omnipotent God
Omnipresent God
Omniscient God
O Spirit, our sustainer
Our Father who dwells in heaven
Our Redeemer
Patient Lord
Protector of Peace
Redeemer
Redeeming Lord
Righteous Lord
Ruler of Nations
Shepherd of the sheep
Son of our Creator
Sweet Jesus
Teacher
Triumphant Lord
Truest Neighbor
Understanding Jesus
Vivacious Creator

Bullet

As I write this post tonight, Bullet the Dog is making his nightly rounds. He asks me to let him out. He runs around the house and marks his territory, comes back inside, drinks some water, begs for a bone, and repeats this cycle until he is satisfied. When he is satisfied, he finds my dad, prepares his place, and goes to sleep. If my dad moves to another room, Bullet moves with him. For the rest of the night, wherever my dad is, there Bullet will be. Once his basic needs are met, Bullet’s only concern is being with the person he loves most in the world…because, ultimately, he knows that that person loves and will take care of him. And my dad does love Bullet…

I’ve said this before, but I can’t help but say it again. I wonder what would happen if we lived more like Bullet—in total love and adoration of our Master who is not only our Provider but our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. I wonder what would happen if we lived more like the dog in this picture—in total contentment just to be—not missing the beauty or sacredness of the moment due to worries—but breathing through the movement or stillness and taking it all in…

Prayer of the Year

Each year at the beginning of the school year, I write a prayer to place on my desk for the year. As I was setting up my room today, I saw last year’s prayer still on my desk. For the first time, I decided to leave my prayer the same two years in a row. It may be simple, but I think it says all that I need to say. Maybe it says what you need to say, too, dear friend:

Dear God,
Help.
Help me be who you want me to be and to do what you want me to do.
And help me remember that I am exactly where I need to be because it is where I am.
I love you.
So much.
Amen.

Show Up For Your People

In joy and sorrow;
heartache and grief;
celebration and transition;
beginnings and endings;
life and death—
Sometimes the only thing we can do is show up.
Show up for your people, friends.
And let them show up for you.
Watch and wait.
Pray.
Place your feet firmly on the ground and
Breathe deep.
For being together on this journey is what Love is all about.

And So I Keep Writing

8.12.19—And So I Keep Writing

I have the privilege of being friends with quite a few of my former students. I love seeing how they’ve grown and what they’re doing with their lives. I have students in the military, students who are teachers, students who are parents, students who are artists. One of the latter posted a picture last week that really spoke to me. It said: “Artists are people driven by the tension between the desire to communicate and the desire to hide.”

I get that. There are times when I feel like I have so much to say—and I want to say it. But there are other times when I feel as if I’ve got nothing to say (or maybe I’ve got too much to say)—and I want to hide. Lately, I’ve been in a place of hiding, and writing has been hard.

Evenso, I know that I need to write. I know that I need to keep up this discipline even though it is hard.

Romans 5 says: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

And so I keep writing…hoping that somehow I will find and offer hope…because hope does not put us to shame…even when the world seems dark and there don’t seem to be enough words to say.

Litany of Thanksgiving

It’s easy to be discouraged these days. Turn on the news. Read the newspaper or glance at the headlines online. There is a lot of darkness. A lot of anger and pain. A lot of division and hurt. A lot of doubt and uncertainty. A lot of wondering where God is and what God is doing. And yet. There is much for which to be grateful.

I spent last week in the mountains leading worship for a children’s camp. In preparation for worship, God laid upon my heart to lead a service of thankfulness. I updated the following litany from a book of worship from the 1950s. Thankfulness and praise are timeless and necessary…especially in times like these. Will you join me in this praying this litany tonight?

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For the rains of spring, the sunshine summer, the falling leaves of autumn, and the quiet snows of winter,
We lift up thankful hearts.
For all the workers in mines and fields, factories and offices, hospitals and schools, churches and battle fields, houses and shops, whose work has given us all that we truly need,
We lift up thankful hearts.
For all the dreamers in every land and age, whose creativity has given us music, poetry, and art to connect us to one another and this world,
We lift up thankful hearts.
For the love of our friends and family members, whose presence brings peace and assures us that our lives have value for others,
We lift up thankful hearts.
For the privilege of school, where we have the opportunity learn and grow,
We lift up thankful hearts.
For the gift of life in this world, where we have the honor of loving You more and more each day,
We lift up thankful hearts.
Amen.