A Fellow Traveller

In preparing for storytelling, I'm putting to memory the following definition. Cooperation is working with others to do more than you can do alone. On the surface, I think I am a cooperative person, but am I really? What about my self-reliance and attitude of independance? I want to do things by myself so I can take credit for my accomplishments. I want to figure things out in my own way and my own time. I see elements of this not only in my workplace but also in my relationships and marriage. Where do the good ideas, that help me solve problems, come from? I'm beginning to see the benefit of connecting with others. Not only do good ideas come from a wide variety of sources, but the fresh perspective of a friend is invaluable. Truth comes in many bits and bites as I ask good questions and wait for answers. Sometimes it's a song, or a story or even a random phrase that sticks in my mind. And then there's the wisdom in God's Word that continues to surprise me with...

What a week for change! I'm still a part of one school community, yet am being transplanted into a new one for half the day. I'm a stable plant with deep roots within one school and a wobbly fresh sapling in the other. Earlier in September, I felt myself ready for learning. Now that I'm uprooted from one situation and transplanted into another, I'm amazed to see how I'm surviving. Physically I'm exhausted and depleted, needing my bed extra early in order to feel rested in the mornings. Emotionally I'm overwhelmed by so much change yet ready to embrace the new. Mentally I'm thinking of too many things all at once, yet finding the ability to focus as I make lists. I'm asking myself what is really important for the moment, letting myself release other things for later. Spiritually I'm discovering no change, as God loves me and continues to walk with me. My new surroundings and relationships are simply new ground to practise old truth.

Saturday night the sky was clear and the air was cool. I enjoyed my first, and probably last, bonfire of the summer. Being out in a remote corner of Wainfleet, far removed from city lights, allowed for an amazing clarity to view the lights of the night. As the sky darkened, the intensity of the sky lights brightened until they were a dazzling display of beauty. What an awesome experience; to put your head back and disappear into the sky. I felt so small. My anxieties and worries disappeared as my thoughts went to the creator of the universe. I felt enveloped in the beauty of the moment and loved as a part of that creation. As I prepare this week to step into another Kindergarten in another city, full of unknowns, I know that while some things change, others will never change. The things that truly count will last forever. Sometimes, like the stars, what truly counts cannot be counted.

Getting ready for school this summer involved painting most of the bulletin boards in my classroom. I hope that I won't have to worry about preping them again. I'm told the colours will stay fresh year after year. By using primer first, I discovered that the paint adhered better. I only needed one coat of colour. In preparing for learning, I usually focus on what I'll be teaching. This summer I realized anew how much of a learner I need to be. If I am going to truly learn lessons that stick, I need to be primed for learning as well. In being thrown into a whole new area of Library, I have to be willing to ask for help. I must bring myself down to the Kindergarten level of learning. I also must prime in my character and my attitudes. Emotionally, I need to be honest with my feelings and speak truthfully yet without complaint or resentment. Intellectually, I need to be open to new ideas and ways of doing things, even if I've done it successfully for years. Physically,...

My red geraniums that have blossomed so beautifully have stopped blooming and any nutrients are going only into the leaves. I have neglected to fertilize this season and yet am still expecting the blossoms to grow anyways. How can the flower develop without the punch of nutrition that comes from fertilizer? This summer I'm finding myself renewed by very simple things. A manicure, a pedicure and even a facial have helped to make me feel beautiful again in very simple ways. Time to read and talk with my husband has nourished my spirit, helping to make me feel loved just for being me. And time spent with girlfriends has encouraged me greatly through having coffee together, going out for lunch and just taking the time to chat about things close to my heart. With these weeks to fertilize and pump nutrients back into me, I'm hoping I'll be ready to bloom once more where I am planted.

A house in our neighbourhood that was becoming neglected and run down, gained new owners about ten years ago. These people have consistently made improvements, starting with an in-ground pool that replaced a sandy beach volleyball site in the back yard. Flowerbeds and lawns have become more impressive, and the roof, front door and windows have recently been replaced. This last month, a new surface of brown stucco replaced weathered wood siding, enhancing the brick around it. This morning I had a chance to talk to one of the owners as she left for work. "You must feel good, now that you have things looking so nice," was how I greeted her. Her response of, " Now we have to work on the inside ," made me start thinking. Is there no time to enjoy what has already been accomplished? They had painted inside as soon as they arrived and I thought things still looked good. Renovating seems to be a cycle that continues as we get more resources and our needs change. As I made c...

It was the fourth of July twenty-two years ago when our morning wedding was followed by an early afternoon reception. After celebrating with family and friends, we headed off to Toronto to begin our honeymoon. We recall being hungry and finding a Red Lobster Restaurant across the street. Last night we gathered once again at a Red Lobster, only this time with four teenagers and two sets of parents. It was nice to celebrate in this way, since it is a rare event for all our kids to be home at the same time. We were also celebrating the realization that when you marry an individual, you can't really separate them from their family of origin. You leave your parents to marry, cleaving to someone else and forming a new family unit. Yet that person you marry comes with a whole set of expectations and needs arising from how they were raised. It seems that parental influence continues under the surface, whether we are aware of it or not. We've moved past romantic love as being the basis ...