Lost & Found

What2Say2Day? Sometimes I get the feeling as though I'm just not connected to the people or situations around me. For instance, yesterday I felt as though I was in a cloudy daze. I had problems thinking of words to finish my sentences, I couldn't remember names, I even forgot to attach an important file to a mass email, prompting over 10 reply emails letting me know I'd forgotten. And you know what, that's just how it is some days. What bothered me most, though, was the spiritual disconnect I was feeling. I know my God is always near, and I know all I need to do is open my heart to let him in; it just was a lot more difficult to do than usual for some reason. Those are the days I wish would never happen. In Matthew 9:36 we read that Jesus “had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” That’s exactly what I felt like, a lost sheep. In the rest of this story from Matthew we also see that Jesus sent out his 12 disciples with power to heal the sick. Later, when the school day was done and my tutoring time began, I was privileged to help a young man who was having difficulty writing a thesis paper (I miss high school; his paper only had to be 2 pages, double spaced – sigh). In the time I spent with him I began to feel a connection; not just to the student, but to my purpose. I had forgotten the reasons my Creator placed me where I am, and this young man’s reaching out for assistance allowed me to remember. God sent me one of his chosen to be with me in my time of need; even if this angel was a person 3 times younger than me. I am thankful to have a God who cares enough for me that when I begin to feel lost he sends a shepherd to bring me back into the fold.

Follow The Rules

What2Say2Day?

Rules are meant to be broken. Well, not all rules, but you know what I mean. In recent conversations with some of my co-workers the topic of how to “best” educate our youth seems to be coming up. “Why is it so difficult to take notes while I lecture?” “How come the simple homework I ask for never get’s done?” “What’s wrong with worksheets followed up by written questions?” Now, these teachers have been in their career for a long time; 20, 25, 30 years for some. The ways they teach are proven to have great results and eventually work, but not without some resistance and conformity from the students. On the other side of this conversation are the teachers who have been doing this for 3, 5 or maybe 7 years. They engage students in conversation, use multi-media, force them to think by giving just enough information to tease, and not enough to write a research paper without them having to look up more information on their own. The teachers in the latter group don’t give out too much homework but do expect a lot of their students while in the class. This style of teaching isn’t as proven but still results in the student learning. So, which way is the right way? I say both. When Jesus began his ministry his teaching style was very similar to how it was done in the many centuries before him. He used the scriptures and interpreted them and invited conversation. What Jesus got into trouble for was how he didn’t conform to the “rules” of that day. He healed on the Sabbath, ate with sinners, touched the sick and even talked to Samaritans. What a rebel! In today’s society we focus too much on “how” we do things instead of “what” we’re doing. In the examples of how the teachers do their job I want to point out that they taught and their students learned. Let’s try to look beyond the things we consider “different” or “outdated” and see that in the end it’s all about the message; and that message needs to be one of hope, peace, joy and love.

I Got Nothin'

What2Say2Day? Some days I feel like I should just crawl back into bed and start over. How many of you feel the same way? (Looking around the world I see about 6 billion hands go up.) OK, wait, I just saw a news story about some towns/cities wanting to change Halloween to the last Saturday of October instead of always being on the 31st. What?!?!? have we forgotten the reason Halloween even exists. It's not a commercial holiday for bars and beer companies to make money. No! It's foundations go deep into the many cultures around this world. Mostly it's a set day when harvests from many countries are celebrated. It's also a day when many cultures celebrate the ancestors who have passed. Yes, the day has pagan beginnings, but Christians also celebrated this day in similar ways. November 1 is All saints day, the day when the Church celebrates all of those who have gone before us. In the early days of the church followers of certain disciples of Christ or "saints" who were martyred in the name of Christ would sit at their burial sights and await the morning. This night became known as All Hallows Eve. In the years that followed the church tried many times and many ways to stop the pagan celebrations, but were not able to because of how deeply set the beliefs of what this night would bring were; good harvests, safety from evil spirits, the moving on into a better world of families and friends who needed to move on. So, the church did what they're so good at and joined their night of vigil with that of the cultures around them and today that night is known as Halloween. I invite you to look up the history of Halloween. It's very interesting and not, as is commonly believed, a night of demons and witches and under-dressed people. this Halloween lets remember to find some time to give freely of ourselves (giving candy to children is the best part of this night to me - the way their faces light up as well as the thankfulness of their parents always makes my heart warm) to make at least a few hours on a single night a happy one for those around us.

The Rule of Non-Interference

What2Say2Day? I'm reading Dancing With a Ghost by Rupert Ross. It tells of the differences in ethics between indigenous and western cultures in the Americas and how these differences are often, if not always, misunderstood by the western's legal organizations. So far the most interesting thing I've learned is the idea of non-interference. In indigenous cultures (and my indigenous friends will already know this) one person does not interfere with the decisions of another, no matter what. The belief is that one needs to grow and become the person they are. The adults and elders in that person's community (in other words, their friends and families) are expected to model the correct behavior of how to contribute to that community. It doesn't matter who or what that person is, as long as her/his personal actions do not endanger the community as a whole. What that person ends up becoming in their personal lives holds no bearing whatsoever, as long as they contribute in a positive way to the survival of the community. An example from the book is a story of an indigenous man who visited the dentist on a regular basis. When the dentist mentioned that he's never seen the man's 10 year old son and asked the man to bring him in for a visit the man simply said, "I'll ask him if he wants to." To us, westerners, this seems like the parent hasn't a care about his son's well being. Nothing could be further from the truth in the indigenous culture. This man was showing ultimate respect for his son by allowing him to make his own decisions. Of course, along with making your own decisions comes living with the natural consequences. It is my opinion (just an opinion) that this may be what is missing from today's western cultures. We don't allow our young people to live through natural consequences. As adults we make many, if not all, decisions for our children. We choose their school, sports, extra curricular activities, how they spend every living minute of each day; we even try to choose their friends.  All of this makes for a society where non-decision making is a norm. Along with that norm is the knowledge that we don't have to worry about making the wrong decision, if we make a decision, because nothing bad will happen anyway. As educators (and teachers, I am one of you, please take this constructively) we give our children chance after chance after chance to do their homework or finish their projects without outright failing them. Non-interference does not equal no punishment. Our children need to be able to make their own decisions and understand their will be consequences, and rewards, to the decisions they make. And, more importantly, we, as the adults, need to start modeling what a world like that looks like. Be the example to our children and youth and they will become exemplary additions to a successful community.

The Most Difficult Thing To Be Is Yourself

What2Say2Day? If you remember I went to a conference on creating a safety net for youth who are in the LGBT community. One of the comments a panelist made is we can never be comfortable with the idea of people being LGBT until we become comfortable with the person we are. How true, right. I mean, if you've read any of my previous entries I've said this many times. You have to - have to - love yourself before you can fully love others. but this "self love" doesn't come easily. The most difficult thing in this world to love is ourselves because a lot of times we don't even know who that self is. We spend the first 11 or so years just being a kid with no real clue as to who we are or want to be. Then for the next, oh let's say, 20 years we try seeking that person out. we're influenced by everything from family and friends to magazines and music. Everyone wants us to be something or someone and in that bombardment of opinions we sort of forget we have a say in the whole matter. Who we are, who we have the potential of being, is up to us - period. The best way to discover this person, the only real advice we should be listening to is from our Creator. Our Creator has given us gifts (check out Isaiah 11:2-3 for a sometimes overlooked list of those gifts or 1 Cor 12 for a better known list). These gifts are then to be nurtured and developed to someday be used to help make this world a better place. We all have these gifts, each and everyone of us. You need to believe that. This is where it all starts - with you. No pressure!

Taking the Day Off

What2Say2Day? Today I'm not saying anything. I've decided to take Sundays off unless there is something so compelling I just need to say something about it. Enjoy your day with family, friends and God.

What A Long Day

What2Say2Day? Okay, seems that today is turning out to be a very long day. Lots to do and running out of time to do it. I woke up at 5 am to go on a 2-Mile walk to bring awareness to hunger in Hawaii followed by trips to the pet store, drug store, big-box store and a haircut. Came home to have a late lunch then went outside to do some much needed yard maintenance. After all that i took a nap until I was awakened by the sound of a vacuum at which time I helped my wife finish cleaning the house and started the laundry. Whew! Now all I have left to do in this day is make a newsletter for the parents of the youth from my church and think of ideas on what we can do for Advent. But, as tired as I am and as sore as my body is I feel absolutely, positively, amazingly wonderful. I feel as though I can stand on the roof of my house and yell, "I got something accomplished today!" Days like these make me wonder if Jesus felt the same way whenever he had a very busy day. I would think for the most part the answer would be yes. The New Testament is filled with stories of a busy Jesus who, at the end of the day, finds some way to remind those around him that God is still working in their lives. I bet there were many a time when, after a hard day's work, he stood on the roof of a house (or maybe a mountain top) and yelled, "God loves you, therefore there is nothing you cannot do!" Let's all take a pledge to get busy and do something for others, or for yourself, or maybe we can find something to do for God.