It's kind of fun, and it's scary.
The fun part--I've noticed lately, the staff who work with me have started to pick up a love of reading, of learning and gaining from books! Here, the way they grew up...they didn't really have an opportunity to know how good books can be, to know the delight and inspiration and...so much more. No parents reading good night stories--their parents, or at least most of their moms, could barely read themselves. In elementary school, and even through junior high and high school, the only book exposure was school books, and other books bought to help improve school work.
Ah, but when you come to work with me...I'll be forever telling you about good books, ramming them down your throat! Some have been required reading for the staff. They read in the local language, I read English, and then we chat about the ideas therein. It took us a year to get through (read and do) Marcus Buckingham's Go Put Your Strengths to Work, but we gained from the process. In more than a year we only finished about half of Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, before moving on, with all of our students too, to the easier teen version by his son. For our upcoming staff retreat they're reading Eat That Frog and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, and enjoying them. Outside of work reading, they are reading and learning--their lives are opening up and they are growing at their own initiative and by the things they are discovering.
But...they are also learning something else...working long hours, not knowing when to stop. This is not good. This is something I have not figured out, and now staff are following. Several times I have been close to burnout, and now I have to guard staff against it. Actually, I'm more scared of them going there. I have a network of people and friends, I'd be okay if I crashed (believe me, I really don't want to go there myself either!), but they don't have quite the same level of support. Besides, I want them to stay healthy and fresh so we can keep working together for a long time. So...sometimes I just make them drop stuff, and take time off.
And then they look at me. Aren't you supposed to be leading by example? Yeah, that's what I preach all the time. However in this one I haven't yet figure out how to do it.
Things have got to change. I have got to change. They will learn from me, and there are some things I don't want them to learn.
Aching... Yearning...
Don't know where it came from
But it is here tonight
This aching
This yearning
To know You
God
my... Creator, Redeemer
God who led Abraham
And called to Samuel
Jesus
You are distant
Yet promise to be close
Can I know You close?
But it is here tonight
This aching
This yearning
To know You
God
my... Creator, Redeemer
God who led Abraham
And called to Samuel
Jesus
You are distant
Yet promise to be close
Can I know You close?
For this day...
I have known it before in other areas, but now I am realizing it is includes everything. I have known that for each new day I need to come and pray, and receive strength and wisdom and insight from the LORD. I cannot rely on yesterday's insight, or past wisdom. Oh yes, the lessons from the past will be useful still, but they must come of a fresh, living, and daily renewed spring of life.
But only a couple of days ago did it sink in in relation to another lesson I am learning. I also need His love each day. Each day I must come to Him and ask and pray for the love He has for others to fill my heart anew, for I find, I cannot love on my own.
Actually, it is not about each day, it is needed each moment. Moving it to each day thinking and prayer, helps move me more to each moment abiding...
So, LORD, in this day, for this day--I ask You to lead and guide. May may heart, my spirit, be completely open to, filled with, and led by Yours! For those You have given me--thank You. Thank you for [each one named], bless them LORD. And ... love...may I see each one and love each one the way You do. I loved them last week...several times I saw my heart--hardness, criticism, memories of past faults--with the potential to not love, and brought it to You. Last week I loved. Last week I You poured out Your love in my heart by Your Spirit. Today, again, I ask for Your love to fill me. In Jesus' name I ask. Thank You. You hear, You will do what I have asked in Jesus' name.
But only a couple of days ago did it sink in in relation to another lesson I am learning. I also need His love each day. Each day I must come to Him and ask and pray for the love He has for others to fill my heart anew, for I find, I cannot love on my own.
Actually, it is not about each day, it is needed each moment. Moving it to each day thinking and prayer, helps move me more to each moment abiding...
So, LORD, in this day, for this day--I ask You to lead and guide. May may heart, my spirit, be completely open to, filled with, and led by Yours! For those You have given me--thank You. Thank you for [each one named], bless them LORD. And ... love...may I see each one and love each one the way You do. I loved them last week...several times I saw my heart--hardness, criticism, memories of past faults--with the potential to not love, and brought it to You. Last week I loved. Last week I You poured out Your love in my heart by Your Spirit. Today, again, I ask for Your love to fill me. In Jesus' name I ask. Thank You. You hear, You will do what I have asked in Jesus' name.
"An Examined Life of Thoughtfuless and Grace"
"An Examined Life of Thoughtfuless and Grace," that is the phrase behind the name, and the year of the birth and death of a man I had never heard about until today. I've never heard about him before today, but today he inspires me.
A article with comments about how to face death when you are terminally ill at Jesus Creed blog today introduced me to lots of interesting resources, and then information and a blog co-written by this man. William Stuntz (1958-2011): An Examined Life of Thoughtfulness and Grace, tells some of his story, and includes comments from those who know him--something inside me recognizes, now THAT is a life well lived.
I'm looking forward to learning more about this man, and especially digging into his own blog, and reflections on facing death and pain that seem to have touched and inspired many. Ah...I found them--the personal blogs are here.
What would it take, in this life, to have others say of me at the end, "She lived 'an examined life of thoughtfulness and grace'"?
Note: Here's a good post from Stuntz--"Living Weak"
Walking
Lord, may I walk with You
It's about all I can do
Just walk, just look to You
Hard to get my bearings these days
Hard to know what's going wrong
Or what's going right
All I can do is keep looking to You
And asking
And listening
I see so much
This bit in my heart that does NOT want to see others "vibrant"
Ooh. Where does that come from?
God help, change me
All I can do is ask
Potential problems
Not knowing how to face them
All I can do is, again, ask
Lord, lead me this day
Help me to love You
Help me to love them
And...
I also remember to be thankful
Thank you Lord,
For each one of these You have placed in my life
Frustrations
Okay, I'll take this on
I'll help them with the training they need
Hey, wait! This was someone else's responsibility
What happened? This isn't good
I don't even know how to say it
I talk with You, and then the someone else
All I can do is express the frustation
You said how you feel. This is how I feel.
I didn't know...
These conversations are often so misunderstood
But, funny, the end result in this one
is good
At the end of another week
I'm tired. There is rest ahead.
There have been struggles
But it's okay
I have been carried
There has been enough strength for each moment
So many times I wanted to react
Or quit
But another idea came
The presence to pray
Strength to pause
Or wait
Or an idea to pursue
I'm not quite sure what to do
Or how to live
In so many ways
I'm floundering
And struggling
But...
I look to You
I lean on You
Just walking
Everyday ... just live
And walk
And learn to walk
with You
It's about all I can do
Just walk, just look to You
Hard to get my bearings these days
Hard to know what's going wrong
Or what's going right
All I can do is keep looking to You
And asking
And listening
I see so much
This bit in my heart that does NOT want to see others "vibrant"
Ooh. Where does that come from?
God help, change me
All I can do is ask
Potential problems
Not knowing how to face them
All I can do is, again, ask
Lord, lead me this day
Help me to love You
Help me to love them
And...
I also remember to be thankful
Thank you Lord,
For each one of these You have placed in my life
Frustrations
Okay, I'll take this on
I'll help them with the training they need
Hey, wait! This was someone else's responsibility
What happened? This isn't good
I don't even know how to say it
I talk with You, and then the someone else
All I can do is express the frustation
You said how you feel. This is how I feel.
I didn't know...
These conversations are often so misunderstood
But, funny, the end result in this one
is good
At the end of another week
I'm tired. There is rest ahead.
There have been struggles
But it's okay
I have been carried
There has been enough strength for each moment
So many times I wanted to react
Or quit
But another idea came
The presence to pray
Strength to pause
Or wait
Or an idea to pursue
I'm not quite sure what to do
Or how to live
In so many ways
I'm floundering
And struggling
But...
I look to You
I lean on You
Just walking
Everyday ... just live
And walk
And learn to walk
with You
Rain
Rain falls
as an era comes to an end
fitting
heaven and earth in harmony
the end matching the beginning
or, actually, the beginning of the end
I remember, the day it all began
also raining
walking home
through the rain
through the tears
I could never have imagined
only pain
only tears
I thought things would get better
I thought there was hope and joy ahead
When did it turn downhill again
what on earth happened
how am I to understand
how am I to ever trust again
how am I to try again
to hope again
Oh God this hurts!
as an era comes to an end
fitting
heaven and earth in harmony
the end matching the beginning
or, actually, the beginning of the end
I remember, the day it all began
also raining
walking home
through the rain
through the tears
I could never have imagined
only pain
only tears
I thought things would get better
I thought there was hope and joy ahead
When did it turn downhill again
what on earth happened
how am I to understand
how am I to ever trust again
how am I to try again
to hope again
Oh God this hurts!
3 Hours of Joy
A week or so ago I, chagrined, realized that was about all I had in me in a day--just 3 hours of joy. I had started the day on a good note. Time with Father before His throne had me in the right perspective. I was joyful and thankful--about life and about and with those around me. But then something happened. I do not remember now what it was, but I reacted to something, or some event led to discouragement and ending the day on a low note.
It happened again yesterday. The first half of the day went very well, and most of the afternoon too, but there were a couple of interactions that did NOT go well. Twice I quickly became impatient with another person. Once I was impatient because they did not understand what I was trying to communicate. Another time because they did not seem to have the 'heart' for others that I thought they should have by now. I did not the heart, nor the expression of the heart into some ideas and actions that could help us in our work.
Is that it? Is that all I can manage in a day? Just 3 hours of joy?
It is not always that bad. Sometimes it is not even that good.
The upside of this process is that it is starting to really sink in for me--what is really needed, what is really most important is becoming very clear. Getting a lot done by the end of the day feels good. Planning and organizing, seeing some things accomplished, progress on projects, etc--all of this feels good, and is nice. However, if in there there is a conflict, an angry reaction, or just a premature reaction that left someone else crushed rather than built up...at the end of the day there will be regret, much sorrow, less energy. It is simply not worth it.
It is becoming more and more of a priority for me to change. I must grow in these areas. I must develop patience. I must live out grace and peace and love all day every day. These must be formed in me, and the best way I have found to date for these to start happening is so closely related to morning time spent with the LORD--there in the stillness, making my heart be still before Him, bringing before Him the possibilities of the day, listening as He reminds me of the dangers, asking for His guard, being deliberately aware.
And the morning time, is inextricably linked to the night before. Morning will not happen well, if the night before was way past midnight.
Slowly, I think I am learning. Slowly it is sinking in. Slowly change is happening. Lead me, Lord.
(Someday...I just may write a post entitled "Days of Joy" or "Weeks and Weeks of Joy". Yeah!!)
It happened again yesterday. The first half of the day went very well, and most of the afternoon too, but there were a couple of interactions that did NOT go well. Twice I quickly became impatient with another person. Once I was impatient because they did not understand what I was trying to communicate. Another time because they did not seem to have the 'heart' for others that I thought they should have by now. I did not the heart, nor the expression of the heart into some ideas and actions that could help us in our work.
Is that it? Is that all I can manage in a day? Just 3 hours of joy?
It is not always that bad. Sometimes it is not even that good.
The upside of this process is that it is starting to really sink in for me--what is really needed, what is really most important is becoming very clear. Getting a lot done by the end of the day feels good. Planning and organizing, seeing some things accomplished, progress on projects, etc--all of this feels good, and is nice. However, if in there there is a conflict, an angry reaction, or just a premature reaction that left someone else crushed rather than built up...at the end of the day there will be regret, much sorrow, less energy. It is simply not worth it.
It is becoming more and more of a priority for me to change. I must grow in these areas. I must develop patience. I must live out grace and peace and love all day every day. These must be formed in me, and the best way I have found to date for these to start happening is so closely related to morning time spent with the LORD--there in the stillness, making my heart be still before Him, bringing before Him the possibilities of the day, listening as He reminds me of the dangers, asking for His guard, being deliberately aware.
And the morning time, is inextricably linked to the night before. Morning will not happen well, if the night before was way past midnight.
Slowly, I think I am learning. Slowly it is sinking in. Slowly change is happening. Lead me, Lord.
(Someday...I just may write a post entitled "Days of Joy" or "Weeks and Weeks of Joy". Yeah!!)
So Hard to See them Cry...
I find it hard to see teenage guys cry...especially the way these two cried today.
Okay...actually, they didn't cry much, but I've been crying buckets ever since.
Two boys, different circumstances, at different times--within an hour of each other. Each one carries such pain. I see the pain engulfing them, and yet they are running. The pain is too scary, rather then reaching out to engage, they pull back. One loses himself in studies, doesn't even want to come for meals. When he is alone, when he is reading a book, he can be happy, but not with people. But the tears came when he said, "In my family, no one but my mom cares about me. My stepdad doesn't care for me at all." Ever since junior high, when he's needed school fees, dad (stepdad, his own dad died earlier) won't borrow money for him, tells his mom to go do it.
The other...I'm not even sure what is at the root of it, or, what exactly is the nature of the pain for him right now. It's got to be hard--when you go home, you have to take care of your parents--dad has mental problems, mom has hearing problems. Both seem a little crazy. I suspect his heart is just now waking up to the pain of the life he was born into, and the impact for the future. Sounds like uncle, who takes care of him, might be putting on a fair bit of pressure, and guilt too?
Oh God...have mercy. How do we love these guys? And how many others are hurting just as bad? The older brother of one of our students told us the younger brother wanted to commit suicide about a month and a half ago. So many...carry pain that is too painful to face. I want to help them face it, but...I am not strong enough to enable and strengthen...only You are. But you...they don't know You. How can they know You? How can they know? How can they gain the hope their heart needs?
God have mercy
Christ have mercy
Comfort them
Lead them
Strengthen us
Love through us
Okay...actually, they didn't cry much, but I've been crying buckets ever since.
Two boys, different circumstances, at different times--within an hour of each other. Each one carries such pain. I see the pain engulfing them, and yet they are running. The pain is too scary, rather then reaching out to engage, they pull back. One loses himself in studies, doesn't even want to come for meals. When he is alone, when he is reading a book, he can be happy, but not with people. But the tears came when he said, "In my family, no one but my mom cares about me. My stepdad doesn't care for me at all." Ever since junior high, when he's needed school fees, dad (stepdad, his own dad died earlier) won't borrow money for him, tells his mom to go do it.
The other...I'm not even sure what is at the root of it, or, what exactly is the nature of the pain for him right now. It's got to be hard--when you go home, you have to take care of your parents--dad has mental problems, mom has hearing problems. Both seem a little crazy. I suspect his heart is just now waking up to the pain of the life he was born into, and the impact for the future. Sounds like uncle, who takes care of him, might be putting on a fair bit of pressure, and guilt too?
Oh God...have mercy. How do we love these guys? And how many others are hurting just as bad? The older brother of one of our students told us the younger brother wanted to commit suicide about a month and a half ago. So many...carry pain that is too painful to face. I want to help them face it, but...I am not strong enough to enable and strengthen...only You are. But you...they don't know You. How can they know You? How can they know? How can they gain the hope their heart needs?
God have mercy
Christ have mercy
Comfort them
Lead them
Strengthen us
Love through us
How You Redeem...
Lord, please show me, teach me, how you truly redeem, how you truly forgive, how our sin truly gets wiped away.
I know it. I know the facts. I've known them all my life. But I need to somehow know more deeply, if I'm going to be able to athentiically live it out with others.
I know it. I know the facts. I've known them all my life. But I need to somehow know more deeply, if I'm going to be able to athentiically live it out with others.
This kind of rest
This kind of rest, after this kind of week, is not really rest, it's really just a crash. Oh it is definitely needed, and I will certainly feel better and be better able to face the next week, but this is not the best way to live my life.
I'm learning, in stages, what is needed for living a good life--a life that lives out the best version of me. I have learned that I need to set aside days of rest, of sabbath, days of absolutely no work. But I have also been learning that is not enough. I also need to control the work on the days before. When I get to the rest day, and all I can do is crash--where there is not much energy for reading my Bible, or other things that inspire, or to journal or think--I do not gain the soul rest that is most needed. On this kind of weekend, the first day is just...veg, sleep, read only the lightest material. By the end of the day, I almost start to feel alive again. Then, if there is ANOTHER day off, maybe on that day I can really enter in to an even deeper and soul refreshing rest, where I feel like I can and am actually hearing from God.
So today I crash. No guilt in that, I'm thankful for the chance to catch up on sleep. But I also look towards next week, and the following weeks. How can I better prioritize? What do I need to say no to? How can I keep the work hours to just 40-50? Then the rest and the personal time, will be more deeply refreshing, and...not even mentioned yet, will give time for some of the housework and baking that also refreshes in its own unique way.
I'm learning, in stages, what is needed for living a good life--a life that lives out the best version of me. I have learned that I need to set aside days of rest, of sabbath, days of absolutely no work. But I have also been learning that is not enough. I also need to control the work on the days before. When I get to the rest day, and all I can do is crash--where there is not much energy for reading my Bible, or other things that inspire, or to journal or think--I do not gain the soul rest that is most needed. On this kind of weekend, the first day is just...veg, sleep, read only the lightest material. By the end of the day, I almost start to feel alive again. Then, if there is ANOTHER day off, maybe on that day I can really enter in to an even deeper and soul refreshing rest, where I feel like I can and am actually hearing from God.
So today I crash. No guilt in that, I'm thankful for the chance to catch up on sleep. But I also look towards next week, and the following weeks. How can I better prioritize? What do I need to say no to? How can I keep the work hours to just 40-50? Then the rest and the personal time, will be more deeply refreshing, and...not even mentioned yet, will give time for some of the housework and baking that also refreshes in its own unique way.
More Like This One
Today, was a good day at work.
I want more days like this one.
I want every day to be like this one.
It was long...very long. Yesterday was long too, and tomorrow will be. But it was good. There was good cooperation. One of the projects we've been working on, that has been so hard, today went well. We've been trying to find elusive solutions and creating processes that will simplify, but the path is not clear, and the final solution isn't even that straight forward. It can be so frustrating. I feel I've tried to communicate clearly, but somehow we have not been on the same page. And then frustrating for a staff member--work their butt of to produce what they think is needed, only to hear, "okay, now can you take it and do..."
But today was good. There was an awareness of potential pitfalls, and working together through them. There were gentle reminders. "It's lunch time, yeah, take a break. We've still got a long day ahead, with lots of complicated parts that are going to need us to be really alert, and rise above emotional reactions." "Okay, this part--it is going to be complicated. There will be errors, and we don't quite know the best way to work it, but that's part of it."
And today--things that could have been frustrations, and irritations with each other, were light, and amusing instead. It started with my a.m. text message--"I'll be at the office at 9:40-45. I want to have a quick meeting then and plan the day." Just 2 minutes before leaving the house I thought it was strange that a staff member texted back--"so, what about that other meeting?" What? I thought. Just wait a few minutes...I'll be right there and we'll talk about it. At 8:45 I was there, just as I had said..."Come on guys...our meeting." The first person came in, "Your text said 9..." Yeah...I had meant to say 8:40-45...but it was all flex today. We were able to enjoy each other and laugh about our mistakes, and easily point out and laugh (in the best way possible) about those of others too.
I want every day at work to be like this one. I'm going to need to work hard to make it happen. Mostly, I'm going to need to keep coming before my Father each day--submitting all my worries and stresses, asking for grace, being so aware of the pressure I can give to others.
Thank You, Lord. I think I am learning. Most of all I am learning of my incredible need for You, and I am willing that when I pray and ask, You do lead and answer. I prayed yesterday knowing...I'm feeling the time crunch, and frustration at not knowing how things will get done. It will be easy for me to speak out of that, and for others then to think I'm mad at them. Lord, help me be aware, and not do that...
Today, was a good day at work.
I want more days like this one.
I want every day to be like this one.
I want more days like this one.
I want every day to be like this one.
It was long...very long. Yesterday was long too, and tomorrow will be. But it was good. There was good cooperation. One of the projects we've been working on, that has been so hard, today went well. We've been trying to find elusive solutions and creating processes that will simplify, but the path is not clear, and the final solution isn't even that straight forward. It can be so frustrating. I feel I've tried to communicate clearly, but somehow we have not been on the same page. And then frustrating for a staff member--work their butt of to produce what they think is needed, only to hear, "okay, now can you take it and do..."
But today was good. There was an awareness of potential pitfalls, and working together through them. There were gentle reminders. "It's lunch time, yeah, take a break. We've still got a long day ahead, with lots of complicated parts that are going to need us to be really alert, and rise above emotional reactions." "Okay, this part--it is going to be complicated. There will be errors, and we don't quite know the best way to work it, but that's part of it."
And today--things that could have been frustrations, and irritations with each other, were light, and amusing instead. It started with my a.m. text message--"I'll be at the office at 9:40-45. I want to have a quick meeting then and plan the day." Just 2 minutes before leaving the house I thought it was strange that a staff member texted back--"so, what about that other meeting?" What? I thought. Just wait a few minutes...I'll be right there and we'll talk about it. At 8:45 I was there, just as I had said..."Come on guys...our meeting." The first person came in, "Your text said 9..." Yeah...I had meant to say 8:40-45...but it was all flex today. We were able to enjoy each other and laugh about our mistakes, and easily point out and laugh (in the best way possible) about those of others too.
I want every day at work to be like this one. I'm going to need to work hard to make it happen. Mostly, I'm going to need to keep coming before my Father each day--submitting all my worries and stresses, asking for grace, being so aware of the pressure I can give to others.
Thank You, Lord. I think I am learning. Most of all I am learning of my incredible need for You, and I am willing that when I pray and ask, You do lead and answer. I prayed yesterday knowing...I'm feeling the time crunch, and frustration at not knowing how things will get done. It will be easy for me to speak out of that, and for others then to think I'm mad at them. Lord, help me be aware, and not do that...
Today, was a good day at work.
I want more days like this one.
I want every day to be like this one.
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