Reflection

Shabot, Sabado, Sabbath . . . REST!

I love Friday nights. I think I always have. My earliest memories of Friday nights involve family worship, reading a book together, singing songs with my daddy playing his guitar. Years where we lived in Oregon during the colder months a fire would be blazing in the wood stove. Academy life was vespers and afterglow, popcorn and such. College . . . NO HOMEWORK! and fun times with Friends. Picnics, hikes, bible discussions, hanging out with those you don't see much during the week. Sabbath was special. Still is. Friday nights are still great nights, but Sabbath morning can be something I at times dread. And that just frustrates me. Breaks my heart.

Fellowshipping with others is important and needed. Yet when there is fighting amongst church leaders and lies and accusation made against you or those you care about . . . I wonder and am reminded what Christ went through when he came to the temple and there was the money changers, or in His own home town when they meant to do Him harm. And you know, I believe He still goes through it all with us too. It's said that even a fallen sparrow is important to Him, how much more the falling, the hurt, the maligned . . . and how much even more when it is "done in His name"

This evening, my mother received a horrid letter from an individual who's caused a lot of tears and frustration for her and our family. We have all been praying about it, but is one who has been spreading lies about her and even myself. One such thing being said is that my mother is "not a christian". Justification for this is unsubstantiated and false, but you can't prove otherwise, for to do so would break confidentiality with parties involved. Of course another of reason given for justification of that was that she was the cause of someone being fired from their job, when in reality, the incident in question she had no part in, nor knew anything about it until it came up. It was an incident that I was involved with, and I thank God, the school board chairman's wife was there as well to verify the story. But still, damage is done. Other things said are slightly on the absurd side, and an intelligent individual who would take the time to think logically would recognize that what is said does not make much sense, but still it is spread and done so on an emotional level, not a logical one.

This person is a member of the same church which is doubly complicated. How do you deal with situations like this? What do you say? How do you work with them? Especially when you love their kids, and their kids love you and come give hugs and share what they've been doing. What do you do or say to help remedy or fix it? So Sabbath morning . . . I'm not really looking forward to, but we all will be there. No avoidance

You know, how Christ wrote in the sand or dirt or whatever on the ground when confronted with Mary and the accusers. How he wrote and each person saw what they themselves had done and none stayed to stone Mary. I don't believe everyone saw everybody else's faults, but only their own, and well . . . . . . I have my own faults, and things that I have done, but you know we all do. And wouldn't it be nice to be given that ability for a day so that you could turn to that person being accused (in this case, wrongfully) once all have left, and say "neither do I condemn you, go and do your very best for God and let Him lead you" Does that make sense? I don't mean it to be sacrilegious in any way. NO WAY! would I want to know other people's sins and faults, mine are enough for me to handle. Thankfully, God is a forgiving and loving God too to help me with my own. It's just, a whole new way of looking at the story in application for life today.

Lord Give me the patience and love and help me to be able to forgive again and again. I can't do it on my own! And Please! Show us and give us true rest :) We've got a big week next week. :)

Life!

I'm sitting here, on a deep purple wine colored sofa, watching the wind blow through the branches of bushes and a pink blossoming tree contemplating about life and love and . . . I've made wonderful friends over the years. Starting in Elementary school through College and beyond. Each friend touching me in many ways. Frustrating at times how little I get to spend with each of them. Especially those who live in differant states then me. HA! that's all of them practically. I get so busy and caught up with school and my students, that the only time I end up talking with friends, is online if they are online when I am. Whenever I try and call . . . It seems to be cut short. ERG! I wish at times for more financial freedom, to travel and see the world and friends and . . . I wish I was in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND!?! yup, Cleveland. A friend of mine, someone who is a witty guy, intelligent, nice, great at making a frustrating day humorous with a jab of sarcasm, and who is not even half way through his 30's, is having surgury tomorrow. Heart surgury. And I wish with all my heart that I could be there. Give him something to laugh about . . . laughter being the best medicine and all ;) . . . Course his family is there now, and will be there tomorrow, and I do not know them, but my prayers are with him and his family. He posed the question, "am I ready to die?" and it got me thinking again. Are any of us? Are we right with God? Have we got our lives in-line with Christ? What would someone say about us if we were not here tomorrow?

C- is a good guy and friend, and he's got a surgeon with an excellent track record. God's looking over him. I just want to ask all my friends and family out there, please, PLEASE pray for him and his family. Pray for peace of mind, guided surgical team, and quick recovery. :-)

I love you all!!!

Music Festival

It's 4:30 AM and I;m about to head to the school to meet up with the 5-9 graders to load up cars and drive the 7-8 hour drive up to the Academy for Music Festival. I'm soooo disapointed, several parents backed thier kids out of going. :-< Oh well.

In other news, Mom has been given a vote of confidence by the board, and the three individuals that have been causing such frustration . . . lies and rumors are going to be handled by th eboard. There could be some very drastic changes taking place before and after Spring Break. Be praying about it. Most of the Board is QUITE! upset, let alone my mother who's been lied about and maligned by these people. I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of those who were caught in a lie (or more). Yikes, one of those lies is concerning me, though said it was mom. But I've got a witnesss! A very reliable, and trustworthy one, who was there to attest the incident in question was with me, not mom, and no rudeness was involved, and I/or mom, was not the cause of some guy loosing his job. It's like highschool all over again with these people. Guess they are insecure, and I need to keep them in my prayers and forgive them too. Pray for God's strength, wisdom, and to helping have a forgiving heart towards them.

Ok, OFF WE GO!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

It is broken. Poor sad little ring finger. She is healing nicely from the cut, the doctor said, but when the doctor found out she hadn't been X-rayed, and was hurting so much, sent her in for those probing pictures. Alas, a fracture, clear through, yet aligned, THANK GOD! :) So, little ring finger must continue to wear a brace for several weeks. :p

In other news, K is very pleased to know that yes, she is a good teacher. Why did she not hear that before, except from her mother and good friends? It's nice to hear it from a superintendent! He told the Board that it is not fair, nor right for them to expect sacrifices from thier teachers, if they are unwilling to sacrifice. WOW! where has this superintendent been? why aren't more like this? I never really thought about it in those particular terms, but he is so right. it is hard to keep putting yourself out there, over and over, and yet never see those who think it is their right and duty to tell you what to do, rather then be the professional you have been trained and work hard to be, never do more then tell you what you should or shouldn't do.

It's a good lesson to learn. It is the same for all people too. We should praise and thank people for what they do that helps our everyday life. The utility people! Those who keep our public areas safe and clean. The janitors and maids, doctors and nurses, secretaries . . . we should tell them what we appreciate about them, encouage their good work. How much more . . . how much better would relationships be? Wouldn't we all strive to do even better? maybe even go an extra mile?

Jesus always went the extra mile, and yet he didn't get the encouragement here on earth . . . and he is always there for us in encouragement, and advice and . . . I can keep going without the earthly praise and encouragement, but it sure is nice. And it reminds me to look for others who needs it too.

Random thoughts

WANTED: Unarmed and Desprung

This is the offender. It is dangerous to fingers everywhere. It is wanted for attempted decapitation of the third finger of the left hand of the writer of this blog. Beware of this and other such violent crimal doors.

Survival of the Finger!

Wow, Time really flew by the last few weeks. I haven't posted anything, or written emails or . . . and now . . . Let me tell you the story of my finger's adventure yesterday.

It was a fairly average day for the fingers on K's hands. They had some fun though playing the recorder with the 1st - 4th graders. With Kindergarten, they danced and slapped Miss K's new Djembe and guided little fingers on the Ukulele to play the C Chord. They even got to do a little more then direct the upper grades in chimes. Little did they know that one of their members was going to have an unexpected adventure that would mean the end to their fun play for an undetermined amount of days.

Upper Grades PE had begun, and the class was going about their fitness stations, when the principal, Miss K's mother, had stuck her head in the gym door to ask a question. With that distraction, as well as a student asking something as well, Miss K's concentration was not specifically on what was happening with her fingers. She had directed them to open the PE Storage closet door, but alas, she left her left hand fingers on their own to navigate the treacherous and dangerous ground of the spring loaded door handle thing. Braving the bully door opening contraption, thumb, first, second and third fingers lifted the latch and turned.

The door handle contraption had for months been trying to get Miss K's fingers at such a vulnerable moment. Having come close on a number of occasions, but only managing to scratch, and once slicing the skin a little, the door must have realized its moment of power. SNAP! The spring loaded handled wrenched from Miss K's fingers, grabbing the ring finger in its metal jaws.

Instant pain sliced through Miss K's hand. Realizing that her finger had been wounded in battle, and worried that she might have actually just lost the tip of her finger, she wrapped her other hand about the pulsing and profusely bleeding digit and ran to the Kitchen. Thankfully, said principal/mother, was only part way down the hall and hearing her daughter's distress came running. It is always amazing how the squeamish are less so in time of need. She got a cup of ice for the sad little finger and rushed to get bandaging.

While searching for bandaging, the upper grade students continued to do their fitness stations, trickling over to the kitchen window to ask how Miss K's was. "Are you going to be ok?" "What happened." . . . "I'll be fine, just a little damaged. Keep going, I'll be back in there in a little bit." One young man, an eighth grader, and the only witness to the harrowing event for the little ring finger came over, a little less pale then he was when Miss K first ran out of the gym clutching the abused finger, "Miss K, is your finger alright? How bad is it?" "Don't worry, it'll be ok. The nail is cut clear through, and there is some below, but it's all there, it didn't cut my finger tip off." It was a close call though. Looking at the injury, Miss K got a little sick inside. I looked really nasty, and it was hard to really tell how bad it was with all the blood. I hope it is ok, Please Lord, let it be ok.

Roughly bandaging the finger up, Mrs. R., the mother finally let out a little shiver of sqeamy-ness. Now, you would think that K would take the pulse throbbing little finger to get it checked as soon as the kids were gone. That was not to be. NO! There was a guest that had been at the school all day, evaluating the school, and he was planning to meet with all the teachers after school. Having car pooled with mom, K was not able to do so right away. Besides, driving was a little much to handle at the moment. So, for two hours, she sat in a meeting, waited for the principal to finish talking with this guest.

Once in the car, did they make their way over to the clinic? NOPE! "I need to get something to eat before I go anywhere" said mother. Nostrils flaring in response to the pain, Miss K responded, "OK, but lets make it fast".

Home, eat . . . it is now after 7:00 pm by the time they make their way to the urgent care clinic. Getting there, it is a relief to see only a few people. Phew! It shouldn't be a long wait. Sign in, have a seat, wait. And wait. And wait. It is now after 8:30 pm. OW! OW! OW! The ice has mostly melted and there is now a fairly good size wet circle on K's sport wear pants.

"Katherine" Finally, Miss K and her mother head over to the register window. "Oh dear, let me get you a cold pack" the woman at the window says. "Thank you" K looks at her finger and realizes her finger has not finished bleeding. Cold! I want the cold to numb it!

At almost 9, K, her mom, and the poor distressed finger are led back to a room, to wait for the suture room to become available.

Just after 9:00pm, the doctor comes in, an attractive gentleman who is soft spoken, and guides the little troop to the suture room. Carefully, he and K unwrap the little digit that her father had re-wrapped for her at home (a painful, and quiet disgusting experience that is best left unsaid, though T- the lil' bro wanted to get a look, and was quite intrigued). The Doctor gently held the abused hand and examined the bloody, mangled mess. The ring finger was soothed that the doctor was so gentle. It had quivered in fear at the imaginings of a brash doctor at such a late hour.

Proposing what he thought he was going to have to do, "It looks like we will have to remove the severed nail and a few stitches. I would like to have one of our other Doctors check this out as a second opinion before we do though." Shortly two heads, one male, one female are examining, the mess. "You might have to remove the whole nail, says the second doctor". K gulps, and the finger quakes. "Well, it doesn't looked damaged below . . . (medical terms of the skin below the nail)" "Oh yes, I see, let me dab some of this off so . . .(blotting the oozing red liquid) . . . I see what you mean it looks like only the (more medical jargon for the tender tissue that lies beneath the finger nail) is sliced. It will need a couple of stitches. But you will have to remove this detached nail, hopefully it what we can't see yet isn't to badly damaged and can be sutured."

K & her finger were assured when K questioned, that the nail should grow back normally. It will probably have a bump for awhile, a year or so, but it should be ok. There is a possibility that it could grow in a little deformed and it will take years to get back to normal, but . . . (at this point, K is praying that the nail grows back nicely. A bump is ok Lord, but please . . .)

K watched in fascination, once her finger was numbed and put to sleep, while the doctor attempted to suture her mangled finger. (She couldn't watch the removal of the nail, it looked to . . .). Alas, only one suture was successful. The rest of the tissue was so crushed, that it couldn't hold a stitch and thus had to be dressed. Little ring finger now sports the latest fashion of finger protective gear. Pointer has been getting quite the work out just typing this story. No pictures will be posted of the mangled nail. The thought of having before and after shots didn't occur until after it was all bandaged up. No worries, but here is a picture of her newest fashionable wear. All the other fingers are jealous . . . or that's what they tell ring finger so it doesn't feel so bad.

So, any "moral to the story"? Don't leave your fingers own their own when it comes to violent, spring loaded PE door handles.