Relationships

It’s the last day of school in our school district.  Tomorrow, graduates will receive their diplomas and begin their lives as adults.  Though we do not have any graduating from our house this year, we know a number of young people who are moving forward with their hopes and dreams into unknown futures.  They are speculating about what their first careers will be and preparing to move into the next phase of their education.  In reality, we are always learning.  Education continues as we experience life.  Most learning does not come from textbooks, though they certainly help, but from navigating relationships. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for relationships and all they teach us about ourselves, one another and you.  Be with us as we experience the breadth and depth of relationships, learning that each one, no matter how long, impacts who we are and who we will become.  Guide our words and actions and help us to find relationships that will help us understand the breadth and depth of our relationship with you.  Amen.

Generosity

A couple months ago we sent out about 280 letters asking for help to fund our daughter’s trip to Costa Rica to study leaf cutter ants.  She needed to raise $3300 for the trip.  I was expecting that the letters would result in about $2000 of help.  The generosity of people is amazing!  She has exceeded the amount she needed with the help of a couple other fundraisers.  The excess monies will go toward the marching band trip she will be taking to Orlando in over winter break, where they will be working with people who do the score for a film as well as (hopefully) marching at some of the parks. 

I learned a long time ago that if you don’t ask, the answer is automatically “No.”  Sending these letters out was a risk for us.  What we learned is that we are loved.  That people want to give money for significant, educational experiences.  That people want to support unique learning opportunities.  That giving of ourselves and our resources comes back to us.  That the act of taking risks can be more rewarding than expected.  That our daughter is respected for her choices and her desire to learn.

Oh God of all that is good, thank you for the affirmation we receive through the many gifts and talents of others.  When we ask we will receive, just as we were taught in scriptures.  We ask for your presence with these young scientists as they prepare to travel abroad to learn more about the value of one of the smallest creatures in creation.  Guide the students as they will work to find ways for the crops and people to co-exist with the leaf-cutter ants.  Keep them safe as they experience life between volcanoes.  But mostly, thank you for the generosity of our friends and family who have helped us financially with this trip and who are holding all these students and their chaperones in their prayers.  Amen. 

Jumping In

I've been waiting for my summer intensive class to begin.  Today was the day!  It’s a class about Episcopal Worship, where we will become more familiar with the theology of our liturgy.  I had a different expectation for the class.  I was expecting more training towards how to do liturgical ‘things’ at the altar, so I was surprised a bit when I found out it is more about the theology and history of the liturgy.  It’s fascinating stuff.

Because it is a class that only meets four days a week for three weeks, it’s intense.  The daily homework is significant.  I was only partially prepared for this part.  Now, I navigate.  How do I get it all done?  With the help of the people I live with, for one.  They will take on some of my responsibilities so I can focus on school for these few weeks.  They will give me space and quiet so I can read and write as I need.  They will let me bow out of other activities when I need.  But I won’t want to give up everything to stay focused on this class.  I need to be a participant in the life of my family and my friends.  Graduation parties and shopping for our daughter’s upcoming trip to Costa Rica are priorities.  So while I have the support to focus, I have to live life and BE.

Heavenly Father, life can sometime be intense.  Choosing an intense schedule is very different from having life become overwhelming without notice.  It is important to understand the impact of choice in these moments in life.  Teach us to balance…to choose moments of Sabbath within chaos, to choose family within studies and work, to choose prayer and worship within daily tasks and chores.  Grant us the ability to find peace in intensity, lingering quietly within your arms.  Amen.