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| CAMEO |
| 01.26.06 (10:31 am) [edit] |
CAMEO
In the immortal words of William Shakespeare, "All the world is a stage and the people in it are merely players". I am paraphrasing. There is so much truth in those words. Think about the people in your life day in and day out. What roles do they play? Would you characterize them as main characters? Do they have leading roles or supporting ones? Or do they not even register on your radar screen at all? It's really sad that we don't take the time to get to sincerely know people. It is equally sad when we don't take the time to get to know someone that we are attracted to and instantly jump in head first into a physical relationship,allowing our hormones to take control. We often jump in with our hearts, and have to jump out with our heads. Hopefully, coming out of these dead end relationships with our dignity firmly intact.
Have you ever been guilty of using someone? Have you ever used someone as an emotional crutch? Maybe you clinged to someone because that person had a strong faith or seemed to have a positive outlook on life, or seemed to have it all together and you wanted that for yourself. Have you ever been guilty of using someone for his or her body? You liked the package, but you didn't take the time to find out what was inside. Have you ever been guilty of using someone for his or her material possessions? Have you ever been interested in someone because they looked good on paper? Have you ever been guilty of taking advantage of someone's weakness?
Often times, we miss knowing great people because in our narrow mindedness, we dismiss them based on shallow notions or sterotypical views or because of misguided agendas. We are all guilty including myself of this; we miss out on the potential for real friendships and even relationships because a person doesn't fit our mold or our ridiculous ideals or even our lifestyle.
Why are our priorities so dishelved? Shouldn't our standards be higher? Our expectations should not be so high that it is virtually impossible for anyone to meet them. Sure we should all have standards and attributes that we look for in any type of relationship;however, for our own protection the bar should be raised when we are thinking of investing ourselves emotionally especially if old wounds from the past that people have inflicted on us are still healing.
We are so quick to judge other people, but so slow to forgive their transgressions. We are never wrong. If we do wrong someone, we always have some excuse for hurting his or her feelings, claiming that the person caught us at a bad time or the wrong time when we were being less of ourselves. "We are just human" has become a rationalization for treating people horribly, playing games, being careless and reckless with other people's hearts,letting our urges get the best of us, or worse yet letting our emotions take us for a ride.
Now think about the people who are the closest to you. The ones that have stuck by you even when you have been a lesser version of yourself. Think of those people that support you and our constantly admonishing you to be the person they know you can be. Think about those people who have made a lasting impact in your life. Can you imagine what your life would be without them? The people that you are thinking of are probably your spouse, family, a significant other, and friends. These people who if you are honest, on a daily basis you take for granted. These are the same people who you cannot imagine your life without. You are surrounded by this intimate circle of compassion,fellowship,and love.
Now think about those other people in which you interact: coworkers, managers, friends of friends, extended family,those people who you love to hate. In your mind, your precious time is a wasted commodity on them. What a selfish and self centered attitude! Don't think that this same mind set is not in other people's minds about you.
Maybe you have been introduced recently to a person who you are scared of getting to know or afraid for he or she to get to know you because you would have to reveal your true self behind the masquerade or the facade, or break down the wall that you have so carefully built around yourself. When someone takes a geniune interest in getting to know you, there is a good chance that that is because there is something there worth knowing. Who knows what could happen if you gave this person half a chance? This person could just be included into that circle.
Don't we have room to include other people into our personal circles? You can't ever have two many friends or people that you can trust and rely on.
And even if you did screw up and put the cart before the horse it is never too late to reach out to someone who you could potentially and truly care about and who could potentially and truly care about you. Respect,trust, and love go hand in hand and hand. If you have these three things in a person then you have a rare find. Don't ever let it go. Don't ever be less than who and what you are. And even if you are not a part of a couple it doesn't mean that you are incomplete. Believe that you deserve the best. Don't ever sell out.
A good friend mine gave me some advice the other day about a situation in which I have been struggling. He said "It's about investment". He is right. He is also on my link list. "Hypolimnetic Thoughts". So check out his blog. When meeting new people, there must be a decision whether or not to invest your time and energy into that person. "What you reap is what you sow". What you invest is what, you make out of an opportunity. "When opportunity knocks",you have the choice to open it or slam the door on it. Opportunities don't come along every day. When you meet someone, it is an opportunity.
In the immortal words of William Shakespeare, "All the world is a stage, and the people in it our merely players". Again, I think I am paraphrasing. Sometimes we have no control of people who come in and out of our lives and sometimes we do. The people in our lives and even the people who are now out of our lives have made their appearances for a reason. Every person you have encountered along your journey has had a purpose. Don't be afraid to get to know someone or show him or her your true colors because that person may very well end up being your best friend or the love of your life. As you have been reading this post, I am sure there is a person or more than one person who came to mind that you are considering.You can only consider the people that you have already met and keep this post in mind when meeting new people. Will this person play a major role? Will this person play a supporting role? Or will this person be "out of sight and out of mind",having only made a cameo?
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| HAUNTED BY GHOSTS |
| 12.28.05 (2:34 pm) [edit] |
HAUNTED BY THE GHOSTS
It has been said that "ghosts" exist because they have left something unfinished. I believe that this is true, but not in the sense of scary ghosts and goblins on Halloween night. I do not believe that such ghosts as these exist. In my opinion, these ghosts exist only in the minds of people who have nothing better to do with their time than to mass produce horror flicks. However, I do believe in the "ghosts" that haunt our minds and our hearts. We all have emotional scars to prove it. When we have been hurt by someone, it takes awhile for those wounds to heal.
There are some people who go in and out of our lives. Some we hate to see go more than others and then inevitably emotional upheaval follows. We are left behind without answers to our internal questions. We are left with empty spaces in our lives where these people used to be. We can all think of at least one person who is no longer in our lives for one reason or another. No doubt, you are sitting there thinking of an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend who did you wrong on whom you swore revenge. On the other hand, you might have been the one to break his or her heart. Whether he or she broke up with you or you were the one to break a heart either way it hurts just the same. You might be a child of divorce like me or there are other wounds that are too painful to talk about. These "ghosts of the past" haunt you in different ways,and you can't get rid of them. They are still there. They are never very far from your thoughts and sometimes they might appear in your dreams. These "ghosts" are unseen and untouchable, yet very real and relentless. If you are not careful, then you will become a "ghost" of your formal self because you will be consumed in revenge, regret, remorse, anger, hatred, and bitterness. You won't even recognize yourself anymore because after awhile you will have become too comfortable with this pain, this ache inside that won't go away no matter what you do.
Have you ever considered that this person or persons may not entirely exist anymore? Is it possible that this person regrets hurting you? Maybe these people have changed because of their encounter with you. Maybe these people live with the guilt of inflicting pain on you. Maybe they too are "ghosts" of their formal selves, striving to be better people. In the book, "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge,one of the common themes is forgiveness, they remind us that "Those that hurt us were also deeply wounded themselves". "They were shattered souls".
Where are the "Ghostbusters" when you need them? There is no magic exilir to get rid of the pain and emptiness that we all feel inside when we have been deceived or rejected by someone that we care about and who we thought really cared about us. It is such a burden to carry around this emotional baggage of past mistakes and hurts. Sometimes this burden, feels so heavy we feel like it is going to break us into. This baggage is stressful and it can take it's toil- emotionally, mentally, and even physically. So what is the cure?
The only remedy for these emotional scars and the only way to lift the burden and unload the baggage is to forgive the ones who hurt us. It is alot easier said than done; however we will never feel any peace until we learn to forgive. John and Stasi Eldredge cite quotes from different sources including the Bible. For instance, one of the citings was written by Neil Anderson. "Forgiveness is a choice. It is not a feeling-don't try and feel like forgiving. It is an act of will. Don't wait to forgive until you feel forgiving. You will never get there. Feelings take time to heal after the choice to forgive is made. If your forgiveness doesn't visit the emotional core of your life, it will be incomplete".
In other words, give it over to God because he is more than capable of bearing the burden, carrying the emotional baggage, ridding your mind of tiny voices, and filling the void of your heart with unspeakable joy. "We have to let it go". Colossians 3:13 says "Forgive as the Lord forgave you" Ephesians 4:31-32 says "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another,forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you". Romans 5:17 says "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ". Ephesians 2:8 says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast". Phillippians 1:7 says "It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me". 2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom".
God's grace covers us all. In freedom, the power of the Spirit can over take the "ghosts" in our lives if we let it. He can extinguish them. Some of us have been so wrapped up in past hurts that we have alienated others which has left us all alone in our anguish and bitterness. If we are still being haunted by our ghosts chances are we have not chosen to forgive. We all have choices. We all including myself, need to make a decision. We can choose to hold on to our grudges for as long as we can or we can choose to let go and let God heal the wounds of our heart and we can choose to forgive whether or not the person or persons who hurt us ask for forgiveness or whether or not those people are in our lives. Forgiveness equals freedom. Are you going to forgive others as Christ forgave you of your sins? Are you going to embrace the blessings that God longs to bestow on you? Isaiah 30:18 says "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion". The only other alternative is to not forgive therefore choosing to live a very desolate existence and unfulfilling life in your own personal "ghost town" haunted by "the ghosts".
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| THE PRESENT |
| 11.15.05 (9:25 am) [edit] |
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THE PRESENT
Have you ever wondered about the passage of time? Have you ever wondered what you would do differently if you could go back and relive the past? Have you ever wondered what's going to happen in the future? How often are we satisfied enough to live in the here and now?
We all have regrets and wish we could change something if not many somethings about our past. We all wish that we hadn't wasted so much time. What do you wish you could change? Could it be that you wish you could change a situation such as a heated argument with a loved one? Could it be that you wish you hadn't held that grudge against someone for so long? Could it be you wish that you hadn't spent so much time looking at a closed door? Could it be that you wish that you told someone you loved him or her? Could it be you wish that you could have found the strength and courage to move on a lot faster than you did after a broken relationship? Or might it be that you wish you hadn't wasted so much time dwelling on the past? Life is full of regrets and missed opportunities.
Unfortunately, time doesn't stand still for anyone. We can't rewind time. We can't fast-forward it. We can't push the pause button. When it's gone, it's gone. In the song "Breathe" by Anna Nalick she says that "life is an hour glass glued to the table" "no one can find the rewind button". In the song "Time" by Chantal Kreviazuk she says "I'll take what you give me. Please know that I'm learning. So wait for me this time. I should've know better. I shouldn't have wasted those days. And afternoons and mornings. I threw them all away". "This is my time and I'm going to make this moment mine". In other words,seize every opportunity because every day, every hour, every minute of your life only comes around once.
Stephen King wrote that "Time takes it all. Whether you want it to or not. Time takes it all. Time bears it away. And in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness. And sometimes we lose them there again. Yet another author, Marc Levy who wrote "Just Like Heaven" which has now found it's way to cinema, had a very unique way of describing time and its value. One character in his book said to the other, "Imagine you won a contest. The prize is that every morning, a bank would open an account in your name containing 86,400 dollars. There are only two rules: The first rule is that everything you fail to spend is taken from you that night. You can't cheat, you can't switch the unspent money to another account; you can only spend it. But when you wake the next morning, and every morning after that, the bank opens a new account for you, always 86,400 dollars, for the day. Rule number two is that the bank can break off the game without warning. It can tell you at any time that it's over, that it's closing the account and there won't be another one. Now, what would you do?" He answered her. She went on to say "We all have that magic bank account: it's time! A big account filled with fleeting seconds. Every morning when we wake up, our account for the day is credited with 86,400 seconds, and when we go to sleep every night, there's no carryover into the next day. What hasn't been lived during the day is lost: yesterday has vanished. Every morning the magic begins again, with a new line of credit of 86,400 seocnds. And don't forget rule number two: the bank can close our account at any time and without any warning. At any moment, life can end. So what do we do with our daily ration of 86,400 seconds? Aren't seconds of life more important than dollars?"
As I have thought about the passage of time and writing this post these song lyrics and quotes came to my mind. My favorite is Marc Levy's description of how to best spend our time. We are to cherish every single second of our time because we never know when it's going to run out. Stephen King painted a very bleak picture. Although, I agree that time takes it all. We don't have to live in darkness. If anyone lives in darkness it's by choice. Although each song writer and author has contributed his or her insight into the concept of time with kernels of truth,there is no better source than the "Creator of time" and the "Father of light". For we find no greater answer to life's questions than in the Word of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down, and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace".
2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Acts 1:7 "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority".
Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Isaiah 43:18 "Forget the former things: do not dwell on the past".
James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows".
1Peter 4:10 "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."
How are we spending our time? How are all 86,400 seconds being used? It's human nature to anticipate the future. No one anticipates the future more than a child on Christmas Eve. It's also human to occasionally dwell in the past, but our lives are in the here and now. That's what counts as the clock ticks away. For all of you Soap Opera lovers, the beloved MacDonald Carey who played "Tom Horton" on "Days of our Lives" said, "Like sands through the hourglass so are the days of our lives". It's so true.
Life is comprised of moments. Some moments are better than others. Some we wish we could fast forward. Some we wish we could rewind and live again. Some we wish we could freeze frame. Time stands still for no one and eventually time will run out. Life is precious. How are we living it?
Time is one of God's most precious gifts. The time that we have been given is a gift. As we approach the holiday season, let's remember the gifts that truly matter and savour every moment of everyday. The best gifts in life are not the kind you can wrap up and tie a pretty bow around them. The saying goes "The past is history. The future is a mystery, and the present is a gift-that's why we call it the present".
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| Fly Away Home |
| 10.21.05 (8:05 am) [edit] |
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FLY AWAY HOME
I have seen blogs that focus mainly on political issues, nonsense, and some that in my opinion are too preachy. I do not want to step on any of your toes, but it is my duty as a Christian to reach others for Christ. My blog does not have one sole purpose. It is just a collection of my thoughts and viewpoints. I am grateful for a faithful friend who encouraged me to reach others for our Lord. I am going to share a revelation with all of you that I had last night because I feel led by the Holy Spirit. This particular subject I cannot take credit for because it is revelation that was revealed to me by God Himself. 2 Peter 1:21 "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit". Previously, I wrote a blog about butterflies. I am fascinated with the symbolism of the butterfly.
The Lord shared with me a beautiful analogy as I was mourning the loss of a beloved aunt. Death is not a subject that we like to discuss frequently, but it is a part of life. A necessary part of life sense the "Fall of Adam". Death does not have to mean the end of life. In fact, death should be just a "crossing over" from this finite world into a world without end. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes Him shall not perish, but have eternal life".
We are just supposed to be able to look at nature and know there is a higher and greater power behind the universe. To quote Keates "Beauty is truth, Truth beauty". God showed me through the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly His unfailing love for me and all of His children. Psalms 147:11 " The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love".
Some people believe there is no after life. That this life is all we get and what we do with it is up to us. They believe that when we die we become dust. Some believe there is no God which means essentially no hope. Colossians 1:27 " To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory". People think that if it can't be explained scientifically then it doesn't exist. On the other hand, no one has been able to disprove that God exists. I know he does. He created the butterfly as proof of this fact. Romans 8:19 "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed". Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight".
There is a circle to life. We are born, we live, and then we die. It doesn't end there for those who believe that God sent His Son to die for the sins of the world. We are born sinners, helpless caterpillars if you will, desperate for a change within us, longing to be eternally beautiful. Some of us try to fill that void with material things, earthly fascinations, wealth, power, fame, sex, drugs, and alcohol;however, none of these things no matter how many doses can heal the wounds or fill the void. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to fill the void. Ephesians 5:18 "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit". We go through life as caterpillars some of us more in tune with the truth and beauty than others.
I grew up in a family of believers in which I am beyond blessed. We are Baptists and attend a Baptist church here in the Bible belt of the South. It doesn't matter what denomination you are or what religion you practice as long as you accept that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and believe that He died for your sins, rose the third day and was resurrected. He is a true miracle worker. Romans 10:9-10 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is the Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved".
Our stay on the Earth is just a gestation period. God uses this time while we are on Earth to mold, shape, and transform our hearts and our minds to His likeness. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" In a sense we are in a cocoon being transformed. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit". God has given His children wings. We are on Earth to learn how to use them.
When He is ready, he will set us free from our cocoons to try out our wings. As we emerge from our cocoons we will be transformed from caterpillars into beautiful butterflies. Christians believe that Heaven is our eternal home. Philippians 3:20 "But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body".
So the next time you see a butterfly fluttering around, think about this illustration of God's butterfly and how you too can be transformed. For those who are believers, we will all one day fly away home.
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| The Butterfly Effect |
| 10.18.05 (7:31 am) [edit] |
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THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
Have you ever dreamed you could fly? I hadn't ever dreamed I could fly until the other night. It was not like the running dream, where you are trying hard to escape, but can't run fast enough. This dream was liberating and exhilarating! I believed that I could fly and I kept soaring higher and higher and higher.
I love butterflies. After my flying dream I began to think about them. They are such lovely and delicate creatures, fluttering their wings. However they don't start out being able to fly. In fact they start out as awkward caterpillars, but then amazingly they emerge from their cacoons as graceful butterflies who instinctively know how to fly.
Butterflies are used to describe falling in love. There are not many people in the world who have the ability to give us "butterflies". It is a sensation that we get in the pit of our stomachs as if tiny butterfies have taken up residence and begin fluttering their wings beckoning us as slowly our feelings rise to the surface and the power of love is awakened within us. The greatest human ability is the capacity to love. Falling in love is the closest we will ever come to flying at least on this earth.
In order to fall in love we must first love ourselves. We must trust and have faith in ourselves and in each other. Granted, it is easier said than done, but believing in ourselves is half the battle. We all go through transformations like the butterfly:for me it was about gaining self-esteem, believing in myself, and finding my voice. Don't close yourself off because someone has wounded your wings and you touched the ground. Open yourself up to the possibilities. Reach out to others. Spread your wings. Let your heart embrace the butterfly effect.
Butterflies
Butterflies soaring high in the sky, not unlike you and me
With the desire of being free
Unafraid to die
Unafraid to live
Expecting God's promises to give
Unafraid to believe
Awaiting God's blessings to receive
Fluttering around
Never touching the ground
Spreading their wings
Exploring beautiful things
Taking flight
Oh what a magical sight to see
the miraculous transformation
from an ordinar y caterpillar into
an extraordinary butterfly.
-TB
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| THOSE WHO CAN TEACH |
| 09.25.05 (10:57 am) [edit] |
THOSE WHO CAN TEACH
Have you ever had a teacher to impact and influence your life in some way? Do you have memories of your teachers? I do. In fact I have had many teachers who have impacted and influenced my life. For instance, my kindergarten teacher Mrs. Yelverton did a cartwheel in the middle of the classroom. I remember thinking "That was so cool!" I thought all my teachers should be as cool as Mrs. Yelverton. She set the bar pretty high, although she did paddle me for acting up during nap time. I am glad that she disciplined me. She showed me that my actions have consequences and that was nothing compared to when I got home. I went on to be a well behaved student. I even received the "Good Citizenship" award. My fourth grade teacher was a truly caring person. She was so patient with me. I had problems with hand to eye coordination so she read test questions aloud for me and allowed me to give my responses orally because she realized that one system didn't work for everybody.
The life of a teenager is just one wild emotional roller coaster, but despite my raging hormones it was in eighth grade that I made a consious decision to stop being a mediocre student and really started to apply myself. During eighth grade, on one of my report cards I even made straight "A's"! I was very fortunate to have some very enthusiastic teachers who were dedicated to their students For example, my nineth grade Algebra teacher stayed after school to tutor a small group of students who were having trouble including myself. I passed Algebra because of Mrs. Jones! I even made an "A" on my report card which believe me was no small feat because numbers and me have never gotten along. My eleventh grade Spanish teacher encouraged me to love the language and Latino culture. I was even an aid my Senior year for those who had trouble with Spanish. I also took an interest in English and Literature because my high school English teachers were so enthusiastic especially my nineth grade English teacher Mrs. Williams who introduced me into the world of William Shakespeare and "Romeo and Juliet". "Oh Romeo Romeo". "Where for art thou, Romeo?" "Deny thy father and refuse thy name". "Or if thou wilt not be but sworn my love and I will no longer be a Capulet". I even enjoyed Julius Cesar in tenth grade with Mrs. Bradford. "Et tu Brute?" All of these teachers were expanding my mind and shaping me into an educated person with hopes and aspirations for the future. I still to this day have a love for languages and literature.
Perhaps the most influential of all these teachers is my college professor, Dr. Ryan. I have never met anyone more enthusiastic about his or her chosen profession. He is so energetic, charismatic, inspiring, and passionate. He persuaded me to enter into the field of English as a Second Language in which I obtained my college degree. He was so encouraging and believed strongly in this cause of helping different nationalities assimilate to a new culture and the expecatations and standards it held.
After I graduated, I ventured out into the world excitedly yet anxiously and started my professional career in a very criticized field. My first year of teaching was incredibly challenging yet equally rewarding. I absolutely fell in love with my students. Looking at these students I realized that I not only had the responsibility of teaching them academics, but the awesome responsibility of imparting wisdom and giving them the benefit of my own experiences. I began to see myself at their age, an awkward and insecure teenager often times;however, filled with promise, potential, and possibility. All of my students were so smart and carried with them such baggage caused by circumstances beyond their control. I would not have given anything for that time of getting to know these amazing kids and hopefully making an impression and a difference in their young lives. I began to see a spark of interest in one young man, Luis. He had an interest in writing. He loves to write. Writing also happens to be one of my passions so I encouraged this new interest and shared with Luis my love for writing. I would not be surprised if I see Luis' name in print one day as an author. All of these students hold a very near and dear place in my heart.
After three years, I decided to move on. My life is taking a new direction. I don't understand that old cliche "Those who can't teach". The person who first said that obviously never stood before a classroom looking directly at the next generation and felt the awesome responsibility of being a role model, disciplinarian, and counselor. That person obviously never took on the challenges of middle school! A teacher wears many hats and juggles many balls. It is a great balancing act.
After Hurricane Katrina with its massive devastation came the outpouring of truly caring individuals who sought to soften the blow and help the survivors get back on their feet. These caring individuals included teachers who gave their time and energy to these kids who sought shelter at the Astrodome in Texas and who desperately needed a constant after the storm. These teachers should not be ridiculed for their chosen profession, but commended for their efforts and determination to educate.
Teachers should provide structure and consistency because that is what children need. I know there are some mediocre teachers out there at best, but there are also those teachers who are truly dedicated and whose heart's desire is to see their students succeed. I truly admire and respect teachers and the commitment they have made to mold and shape young minds. I know what a hard job it is. I have been there. I am totally opposed to the idea of "Those who can't teach" because as far as I am concerned "Those who teach certainly can". |
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| KALEIDOSCOPE, PROMISE AND HOPE |
| 09.03.05 (3:28 pm) [edit] |
KALEIDOSCOPE, PROMISE, AND HOPE
Wouldn't be wonderful to see the world through the eyes of a child? Children see the world with wonder and excitement. They expect the world to be filled with sunshine, blue skies, smiley faces, kites, balloons, magic wands, fairy dust, and even a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Their world is a gigantic playground on which their imaginations can run wild, and dreams can come true. They see the world full of unlimited promise, undiscovered potential, and unexplored possibilites.
What was our hurry to be all grown up? "Jenna Rink" ( Jennifer Garner in 13 Going On 30) and "Josh Baskin"( Tom Hanks in Big) learned the value of their childhoods the hard way when both Jenna and Josh wished to be all grown up automatically therefore losing the experience and the valuable lessons that comes from "gradually" growing up. Through the magic of Hollywood cinema, Josh and Jenna's wishes came true and "presto" their physical bodies were both catapulted into their thirties. Their minds and hearts however stayed behind at the impressionable ages of eleven and thirteen respectively. As they took on more and more responsibilities and their lives became more and more complicated, their minds and hearts began to catch up to their bodies. Both Josh and Jenna realized they had cheated themselves of their childhoods and made another desperate wish to return to them. They learned two very valuable lessons "Be careful what you wish for" and "Being a grown up isn't all its cracked up to be'. If kids only knew the struggles that lie ahead of them, they would have one wish to stay young forever.
Now that we are adults how should we view the world? We know the world is not black and white. In fact the world is many shades of gray; however, we have seemed to have forgotten that the world is full of bright and brillant colors such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet among others. Don't limit yourself within the perimeters of a four- cornered box; think outside of it. It is my humble opinion, that when we can if our perceptions have not been too clouded, our minds have not been too polluted, and our hearts have not been too jaded that we look at the world through the kaleidoscope and reclaim the promise and the hope that sadly we all have left behind. |
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