A Fellow Traveller

The crowds are thick around me and there's all kinds of noise.  I have a fear of getting lost among the legs in the crowd. In a panic I reach out to hold my dad's hand, relieved to find him within reach. When I want to go my way and feel him pulling back, I yield and follow because I don't want to get lost. There's safety in hanging on tight and walking with him but my legs seem to get tired,  trying to keep up. Maybe there's a better way. If I were to jump into his arms and have him hoist me up on his shoulders, I would be above the crowds. It would be scary getting up there and I'd have to hang on extra tight (especially at first) but I could see what he sees.  I wouldn't have to worry about what step to take next because he would be doing all the walking.Who knows where he might  take me next? There's exhilaration in letting go of walking my way and riding on his shoulders.  Now I can whisper in his ear and know that he hears what I wan...

For past number of years, ever since I heard that ALS (Lou Gerig's Disease) was joining a family of six, I've been joining them at their beautiful home for family devotions.  We have read a story from the Bible and talked about who God is and what his rescue plan is. We have realized that the whole Bible is really one story of God's "never-stopping-unending-love." We have grown in our ability to pray out loud.  We have realized that this God we can't clearly see, can be a part of every day with us. My stories have been about how I have become aware of God's spirit with me at  school, where I am a teacher.  The children have connected to my stories, asking for new ones each week.  As we have grown in our awareness, it's gotten easier to talk to him and not just ask for things. From the youngest to the oldest, we have all taken turns praying. This week, Mom has moved into hospice; a different home where the nurses will be able to provide wonderful ca...

You have to watch this video (Romancing the Wind on YouTube) to believe it can be done; three kites simultaneously riding the wind currents to create beauty, all controlled by one man, Ray Bethel. Amazing beauty to the senses of sight and sound.   Oh to be free to fly as a kite in this way. Oh to feel the wind beneath me and feel in sync with those around me. I don't want to keep bumping into others or get tangled up with negative emotions. Oh to feel like I'm fulfilling my purpose as part of routine daily flights. I'm afraid my kite is often down on the ground or in need of repairs. But if I can allow the master kite flyer, the one who created me and knows me best, to do the needed repairs, then I can see these 'down' times as just a season of time.  If I can rest in the fact that he made me as I am and he loves me, then I don't have to stress over outcomes or circumstances. It's not my job to control things but to allow myself to trust the k...

Here in Canada, we are celebrating Thanksgiving. I love this early October celebration as the trees start to change and show their true colours. It's like we are finally getting a real glimpse of the inner beauty hidden inside some the trees. It takes the harshness of the weather conditions and the lack of nourishment to bring out that colour. In the same way, it often takes the hard times of life and it's challenges to bring what's inside me. Sometimes it's ugly and sometimes it's beautiful but it makes me more aware of me. I am good at pretending; of smiling and thinking all is well. When the hurtful words come out, I'd like to blame my circumstances or other people, because then it's not my fault. It's taken time, but I'm learning to accept myself with my unique colours and allow God to work on the stuff than needs removing. I'm so thankful today for the bits of love, joy and peace that I have experienced in this past year. I see that n...

The night was black and I was struggling to steer my car. I had spent three hours visiting my cousin with ALS and was heading towards home. As I pulled over to the side of the road, there was not a house in sight. The tire was flat and I wondered, "What do I do now?"   Not having a cell phone was suddenly a problem. Not even seeing a house nearby to walk towards made that idea seem foolish as well. As I struggled to find the hazard lights, a pick up truck slowed down and a young man asked what was wrong.  "I have a flat tire and I don't have a cell phone." "No problem," he said and promptly pulled up behind me to help.  I watched in amazement as he worked to solve problem after problem. Because the wheels were bigger than the originals, nothing I had fit. Without his own tools, the wheel could not have been removed.   When he put on the spare tire, he noticed that it didn't have enough air to get me home. He decided to take it to his...

On this Labour Day holiday, my mind is celebrating all our summer labours. We got a daughter settled in her room in Ottawa, realizing that God has placed her where she needs to be to work at her co op job. We have to trust in his perfect timing for finding the place and release her to live in her new surroundings. Only God knows how she and Susan are joing to connect during these four months. We have to trust that God is already working in this situation and is allowing Stephanie to join in his work.   Joining with God in his work is what has changed my work from backbreaking to bearable and even light. The load is lighter when I can share it with the God of creation. When I join with him in creating change, it suddenly seems less overwhelming. As I talk to him each day in my classroom, I am more able to focus on small jobs and not be overwhelmed by the mountain ahead. I am able to get fresh ideas in organizing my space that I trust will help promote student independance in th...

Yesterday, as I was wiping out book bins, setting up my classroom library, doing bulletin boards and generally arranging things, my mind went back to three years ago. I remembered two friends who gave up a Saturday to combine all the work into one day. I remember how encouraging that was to work with others and not feel overwhelmed. I realized how we teachers work so much in isolation as an island unto ourselves. I thought of everyone who was probably thinking the same kind of thoughts....."what should I do first?" and " I still need to get my class list so I can get started on a whole bunch of other jobs." etc. etc.   As teachers, we don't often talk about our insecurities before the students walk in the door. We prepare and yet until we see the white of their eyes, hear their voices and interact with their personalities, we can only imagine what things will be like. We can plan things, but until we meet the students, the teaching process is just a pla...