Monday, April 20, 2009

unlikely surroundings.

i realized about a week ago that my first case in the mornings is just a short jaunt off the LA river bike trail. and so I head out for about 10mi each way on my morning commute. It was a glorious ride today. I saw bunnies, lizards, native flowers, terns, cranes, horses, egrets, glistening waters....all off of the LA river bed. who knew? this is one corner of my world that keeps me sane lately...the beauty of the earth.

grace and peace be with you friends.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

it's been a while...

So i've obviously been busy lately...leaving little time to the interwebs. and i love it. if you're still reading out there, i'm amazed. :)
life is really good. i have much to be grateful for...as always. Tim and I are on day 16 of a 21 day daniel fast. i want coffee...he wants beer. but it's been good to practice discipline and sacrifice these past 2 weeks. my character feels stronger. :) I've also been getting more hours with aces, which has given me a lot to think about/experience...and then try to integrate into my real life. It's funny how we do this...i've always been perplexed at the varying levels of sharing we all do regarding work. In fact I was asking a friend a little about work last night and the more i probed into details the more closed up he got...not because it was confidential or rude, but just out of the ordinary for anyone to car about the mundane details. On the flip side...when I desire to share about my work day I often censor or summarize myself into a trite little statement about whether it was generally a good or bad day. I think I've been taught that this is polite...when people ask about your day, they may or may not want a real answer, and so the art of conversation (i've gathered) is to decide how much they really meant to ask that question. I usually opt for an easy out for them so they don't feel weird. But the problem with this is, my work is intense and it gets inside of me and messes me up a little. on good days it gets inside of me and makes me rejoice for these kids who are learning how to make contact with their world. But I can't communicate that, 1)because my story telling is too detailed and lenghtly to ever stay on the safe side of social politeness, and 2) it's illegal for me to say too much...confidentiality and all....wa wa waaa.
anyhow, as i reconcile this my prayer is to really care about these kids and their lives. to figure out how to be a professional teacher to them, but also a loving person in their lives who longs to see them talk and laugh and play freely from the restraints of thier disability as they would in a new creation.
that's about it for me these days. this song was sung at church on easter and I have loved it for a very long time. it makes my soul groan with the groanings of the earth to be restored.

I see the King of Glory, coming on the clouds with fire;
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes.
People of every nation kneeling to confess your name;
The people sing, the people sing.

Hosanna, hosanna,
Hosanna int he highest!
Hosanna, hosanna,
Hosanna in the highest!

Until you come in glory we are called to spread your name
By bringing truth, by bringing hope,
Bringing your restoration, bringing life where death prevails.
And all will say, and all will say;

You will finish all you have begun
When Christ returns in glory and your kingdom comes,
So help me live a life that points the way to your throne.
BREAK MY HEART FOR WHAT BREAKS YOURS,
EVERYTHING I AM FOR YOUR KINGDOM'S CAUSE,
Living for the day when you restore the world.


take care and live well friends.