Just another manic Monday, are the lyrics to a pop song that was popular back in the 1980's or early 1990's. Mondays are hard for many people. It's the first day of the work week. I heard a report on a news radio station that more people have a heart attack on Monday more than any other day of week.
I have to admit that the Monday morning commute here in the Washington DC metro area is a monster and yesterday was no exception. As I drove to work, there was very heavy traffic on every street and road I traveled on. People do dangerous things while driving and often I pray so I get where I am going safely. 495 is one of the Beltways in the area and when I first moved here I drove on it daily and witnessed accidents (or at least the result of them) at least 3 times a week and was constantly stuck in back up traffic due to those accidents.
I travel mostly back roads now and do not see as many accidents, but yesterday there was a pretty bad one on the west bound lanes of Route 32 in Howard County. I knew something was wrong due to the number of motorist on the road and at the accident site drivers not involved in the accident almost created more accidents by jumping out of their lanes in to the left lanes cutting off their fellow drivers so they did not have to slow down or stop do to the accident. If you do not believe in miracles, if you witnessed some of the near misses I have, you would.
The drive in, like many mornings, was stressful, and due to the accident I was running a few minutes behind schedule for work. As I turned onto one of the last streets headed for my place of work, I passed by a construction site. Those of you in the Maryland/DC area know all to well about the ICC. The ICC is a huge project of creating this road that connects two or three counties and it is supposed to relief traffic volume in the area. The ICC is very controversial and the whole project has been in and our of court for over 30 years. Thousands of residents have lost property, and now everyone is dealing with construction sites all over the place, which, yes, creates even more traffic jams.
I pass a few of these construction sites to and from work, and yesterday as I passed the one on Layhill Road between Norbeck and Bel Pre roads I saw something that touched my heart and made me smile. I saw the construction workers, with their gear on, complete with yellow vests and yellow hard hats all in a circle. There were about 25 of them and it looked like they were praying. Some mornings if I am running behind schedule, I see them in this circle stretching, but yesterday, they looked like they were praying. If I was a painter I would paint this scene. It's about 7:00 am, the day is just getting started, and these men and women, who have a very dangerous job start their day off in a circle of prayer. It was a beautiful sight and it blessed me so much.
How do you start your day? If you think Mondays are hard, if you do not know how you will do all the things you have to do in an excellent way, then I recommend that you take at least 10-15 minutes and just pray. If you do not know how to pray, get your Bible turn to the book of Psalms and just read a Psalm aloud. I wish every organization started off their day like the men and women I see each morning. Many mornings I see them getting out of their cars as they arrive at their job site, but on my most difficult commuting mornings, I see them in their circle and seeing them reminds me that I am surrounded by the presence of my mighty Abba Father and so are you, you just may not be aware if it. Take the time and be aware of his presence, love, mercy, grace, protection, and love.
As you reflect on today's posting think about these verses and quotas below:
"Trust in Him at all times, you people: Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:8
"Faith that is sure of itself is not faith. Faith that is sure of God is the only faith there is." Oswald Chambers
"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." I Corinthians 16:3
"People do not so much lose their faith as cease to use their faith." Os Guinness
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
May 5th - A Day of Miracles
Today is May 5th and for many like me, it is extra special because it is my birthday. This year my birthday falls on the day I was born. I feel so blessed and I have enjoyed my day. What did I do? Well, I went to work and I saw one of my students, Susie. She found out it was my birthday yesterday and presented me with a card today. It was a lovely card, but it was what she wrote inside it that was extra special. She thanked me for always encouraging her and called me an angel.
Susie did something that in our society today we often do not take the time to do and that is sit and write down our feelings and thoughts of thanks to others. You see yesterday Susie was late to school, had received an unexcused tardy and was down right depressed. When I saw her in the hallway looking a bit lost, I called her name and we went into my office. She immediately opened her note book and showed me an acceptance letter and a scholarship letter from a private university in Washington DC. I saw the letters and was very excited, but when I saw Susie's I knew something was wrong. Instead of beaming with joy and pride, she looked sad and beaten.
I asked Susie what was going on and she told me her father was extremely upset that she had been accepted to the university. She told me that he said that she thought that she was better than everybody else, and that he wasn't going to pay for her to go to school in Washington DC, when she could go to the county community college. Now, I have to say, I have a degree from a community college and proud of it. My father was the vice president at the one I attended and I got to go for free, so it was to my advantage to go, my brother on the other hand went straight to a four year university after high school. We both have graduate degrees and successful careers. We each have our own journey, and Susie's is to attend the university where she has a scholarship.
Susie told me she was not like her father and other family members, that she wanted more out of life. She asked me what was wrong with her. Her mother lived in another country and could not take care of her, her father lives here in the United States, but resents how hard he as to work for a living, and it seems like neither parent ever wanted her and that she was just a big mistake. She then broke down and cried. Now I am a public school educator, what on Earth was I supposed to do? I told Susie the truth. I told her she was not a mistake, she was right for wanting a better life, and that she was going to accept enrollment and the scholarship, live on campus, work hard, get good grades, graduate and have a successful career. I told her the details will work out along the way, and that she is a child of God and was born for a purpose.
It is amazing, all the complaining about public education, unless you work at a public school keep your mouth shut, you have no idea what our students face today and the pressure and accountability we teachers and administrators are under. Did I think about the separation of church and state? Of course I did. Did I care? Of course I did. But I cared about Susie more, and she is 18. In a few weeks she will be out of high school, and from what I can tell totally on her own. I do not know if I will ever see her after she graduates, so I told her the truth.
Today, on my birthday I received so many well wishes from co-workers, family and friends, but it was Susie's card that meant so much. She was doing much better today, and one of the administrators at my high school is working with her and the university to ensure she can afford to attend school full time and on campus. I came home, rested, cooked dinner for my parents, who spent a long time in the hospital due to mom's upcoming hip replacement surgery, cleaned the kitchen, and then cleaned my parents upstairs bathroom. No fanfare. We will do something special on the weekend and I will have the share the spot light with Mother's Day, but I decided a few years ago, I celebrate my birthday the entire month of May.
May 5th is also Cinco De Mayo, and this year is the 50th anniversary of the birth control pill. The miracle is that I am here at all. My mother was told when she was 16 she would never have children, but here I am. It was a miracle. The Bible specializes in miracle births. The greatest birth of all was Jesus Christ, but there's his cousin John, the baptizer, then there is Samuel, and Issac, and others. The truth is all births are miracles and each new life is special to God and hopefully to the parents, but too many times this is not true. Those who do not have loving parents, need to know their Abba Father so they can know that they are cherished and that they are blessed and have a purpose in this life that will bless them and the world. Many people do not walk in their purpose. My purpose for this season in my life is to encourage young people making the transition from childhood to adulthood, assisting my parents, and making sure I have time for me.
What is your purpose? How have you been blessed and been a blessing? If you have no answer to these questions then I will encourage you as I encouraged Susie and I will tell you to read your Bible like I told her to read the one I gave her. When you read the Bible you will learn who God is, and who you are and you will know what your purpose is.
These are a few scriptures to help you get started:
Jeremiah 1: 1 - 9
The Call of Jeremiah
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew [a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
6 "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
Ecclesiastes 11
Bread Upon the Waters
1 Cast your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you will find it again.
2 Give portions to seven, yes to eight,
for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
3 If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain upon the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there will it lie.
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed [a] in a mother's womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.
6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let not your hands be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.
Remember Your Creator While Young
7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
8 However many years a man may live,
let him enjoy them all.
But let him remember the days of darkness,
for they will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless.
9 Be happy, young man, while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you to judgment.
10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.
I wish all of you that have a birthday today and this month a Happy Birthday, and those celebrating an anniversary, I wish you even more years, and of course Happy Mother's Day eveyrone.
Susie did something that in our society today we often do not take the time to do and that is sit and write down our feelings and thoughts of thanks to others. You see yesterday Susie was late to school, had received an unexcused tardy and was down right depressed. When I saw her in the hallway looking a bit lost, I called her name and we went into my office. She immediately opened her note book and showed me an acceptance letter and a scholarship letter from a private university in Washington DC. I saw the letters and was very excited, but when I saw Susie's I knew something was wrong. Instead of beaming with joy and pride, she looked sad and beaten.
I asked Susie what was going on and she told me her father was extremely upset that she had been accepted to the university. She told me that he said that she thought that she was better than everybody else, and that he wasn't going to pay for her to go to school in Washington DC, when she could go to the county community college. Now, I have to say, I have a degree from a community college and proud of it. My father was the vice president at the one I attended and I got to go for free, so it was to my advantage to go, my brother on the other hand went straight to a four year university after high school. We both have graduate degrees and successful careers. We each have our own journey, and Susie's is to attend the university where she has a scholarship.
Susie told me she was not like her father and other family members, that she wanted more out of life. She asked me what was wrong with her. Her mother lived in another country and could not take care of her, her father lives here in the United States, but resents how hard he as to work for a living, and it seems like neither parent ever wanted her and that she was just a big mistake. She then broke down and cried. Now I am a public school educator, what on Earth was I supposed to do? I told Susie the truth. I told her she was not a mistake, she was right for wanting a better life, and that she was going to accept enrollment and the scholarship, live on campus, work hard, get good grades, graduate and have a successful career. I told her the details will work out along the way, and that she is a child of God and was born for a purpose.
It is amazing, all the complaining about public education, unless you work at a public school keep your mouth shut, you have no idea what our students face today and the pressure and accountability we teachers and administrators are under. Did I think about the separation of church and state? Of course I did. Did I care? Of course I did. But I cared about Susie more, and she is 18. In a few weeks she will be out of high school, and from what I can tell totally on her own. I do not know if I will ever see her after she graduates, so I told her the truth.
Today, on my birthday I received so many well wishes from co-workers, family and friends, but it was Susie's card that meant so much. She was doing much better today, and one of the administrators at my high school is working with her and the university to ensure she can afford to attend school full time and on campus. I came home, rested, cooked dinner for my parents, who spent a long time in the hospital due to mom's upcoming hip replacement surgery, cleaned the kitchen, and then cleaned my parents upstairs bathroom. No fanfare. We will do something special on the weekend and I will have the share the spot light with Mother's Day, but I decided a few years ago, I celebrate my birthday the entire month of May.
May 5th is also Cinco De Mayo, and this year is the 50th anniversary of the birth control pill. The miracle is that I am here at all. My mother was told when she was 16 she would never have children, but here I am. It was a miracle. The Bible specializes in miracle births. The greatest birth of all was Jesus Christ, but there's his cousin John, the baptizer, then there is Samuel, and Issac, and others. The truth is all births are miracles and each new life is special to God and hopefully to the parents, but too many times this is not true. Those who do not have loving parents, need to know their Abba Father so they can know that they are cherished and that they are blessed and have a purpose in this life that will bless them and the world. Many people do not walk in their purpose. My purpose for this season in my life is to encourage young people making the transition from childhood to adulthood, assisting my parents, and making sure I have time for me.
What is your purpose? How have you been blessed and been a blessing? If you have no answer to these questions then I will encourage you as I encouraged Susie and I will tell you to read your Bible like I told her to read the one I gave her. When you read the Bible you will learn who God is, and who you are and you will know what your purpose is.
These are a few scriptures to help you get started:
Jeremiah 1: 1 - 9
The Call of Jeremiah
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew [a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
6 "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
Ecclesiastes 11
Bread Upon the Waters
1 Cast your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you will find it again.
2 Give portions to seven, yes to eight,
for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
3 If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain upon the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there will it lie.
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed [a] in a mother's womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.
6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let not your hands be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.
Remember Your Creator While Young
7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
8 However many years a man may live,
let him enjoy them all.
But let him remember the days of darkness,
for they will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless.
9 Be happy, young man, while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you to judgment.
10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.
I wish all of you that have a birthday today and this month a Happy Birthday, and those celebrating an anniversary, I wish you even more years, and of course Happy Mother's Day eveyrone.
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