It's been amazing this week working with the kids and seeing how much they have matured and learned. They are all so different from one another, and yet the growth in them is amazing.
I am talking about my son and my godchildren. They all call themselves best friends and the two boys often act like brothers, complete with extended periods of bickering followed by highly imaginative cooperative play schemes. The girl can behave like a little Mom. It's very sweet.
We have been working this week on creative writing. They did well on their pieces, but it was the other stuff that made me take notice. They worked as a response group for each other and had great thoughts that they presented in supportive ways. At points, I asked them to organize themselves for activities, and they managed it, each assuming leadership at different times. Oh, there was a bit of subbornness on one part or another now and then, but they almost always sorted it out themselves. Not mmuch adult intervention was needed.
They are growing up. It was so good -- if a little bittersweet, in a way -- to see.
I thank God for these beautiful children and their gifts.
Have a good day.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Learning is never wasted
College students are being steered away from majors like philosophy that are perceived as having no practical application (or future job prospects).
There are women being discouraged from being (or remaining) stay at home moms because that would mean their college educations would be wasted. Culturally, this is probably even stronger for men who want to rear the children as their primary occupation.
And people are concerned about switching careers because they have invested time and money in learning their first career. I know that argument has been used to try to turn me aside from a change in profession.
I am not buying it.
First of all, philosophy is practical. It teaches you to think, analyze, deduce, debate. And on and on. It can be the foundation for many careers from law to education to research to spiritual leadership to business.
I can not think of a single area of knowledge or training that will not be useful in parenting and/or running a home at some point. Throw homeschooling into the mix and that becomes an understatement.
An investment in knowledge and training can not be wasted. At the very least, learning something trains our brains to learn new things. I have never used much of the algebra I learned in high school and have forgotten most of it. Still, the process of learning it was valuable.
But beyond all that, I think there is a Guiding Hand who calls us to different things at different times. He may well call us out of one vocation into another. Or perhaps we went our own way for a while and need to change to get more in line with His will. Either way, He can weave our experience into the tapestry of our lives so that it all comes out for our good and His glory.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
God's calling incorporates our gifts and our real desires. So go ahead and follow your heart, take a risk, make a change. Not one moment or one penny of what we spent on education will be wasted. God will see to that.
Have a good day!
There are women being discouraged from being (or remaining) stay at home moms because that would mean their college educations would be wasted. Culturally, this is probably even stronger for men who want to rear the children as their primary occupation.
And people are concerned about switching careers because they have invested time and money in learning their first career. I know that argument has been used to try to turn me aside from a change in profession.
I am not buying it.
First of all, philosophy is practical. It teaches you to think, analyze, deduce, debate. And on and on. It can be the foundation for many careers from law to education to research to spiritual leadership to business.
I can not think of a single area of knowledge or training that will not be useful in parenting and/or running a home at some point. Throw homeschooling into the mix and that becomes an understatement.
An investment in knowledge and training can not be wasted. At the very least, learning something trains our brains to learn new things. I have never used much of the algebra I learned in high school and have forgotten most of it. Still, the process of learning it was valuable.
But beyond all that, I think there is a Guiding Hand who calls us to different things at different times. He may well call us out of one vocation into another. Or perhaps we went our own way for a while and need to change to get more in line with His will. Either way, He can weave our experience into the tapestry of our lives so that it all comes out for our good and His glory.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
God's calling incorporates our gifts and our real desires. So go ahead and follow your heart, take a risk, make a change. Not one moment or one penny of what we spent on education will be wasted. God will see to that.
Have a good day!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Peace Day
A friend of mine invited me to a facebook event called "A Day of Peace". It is meant to be worldwide. Here is a quote from the page:
"Just one day in the year where we all held our tongues. A day where we ignored others' shortcomings and made a valiant effort to be kind and understanding. A day where we all got along."
Sounds great and I accepted the invitation. Not that I think it will work all that well, but still, it's a good thought.
It reminds me of The Four Absolutes that Rev. Bob Baggs used to urge on us up in OP. Absolute love, absolute honesty, absolute unselfishness and absolute purity. At one point, he would tell us, there was a leader (I forget the name) who would get the whole conference to give it a try for 24 hours. He said it would be like heaven for the day. People would fail of course, but then they would begin anew, all reinforcing each others' attempts. After I learned about that old tradition, I had my cabins try. I think I had a camper who made it to 40 minutes once. That's how it is, isn't it? When we go for perfect behavior we fail. That's why we need grace. From each other and, more importantly from Jesus who thankfully is more thatn willing to offer it.
Oh -- when I was in Nagaland I met a woman who worked for a worldwide youth oganization that bases its work on the Four Absolutes and I have just learned that they were the early cornerstones or "yardsticks" of AA and are still used in recovery programs. That's just a side note, because I can be random like that.
Another friend of mine recently quoted to me the the verse "See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone." (1 Thessalonians 5:15). The theme of not repaying evil for evil has been brought to my mind repeatedly, especially in my Bible reading over the last couple of days. Based on the description, I think that this is what it at the heart of the "day of peace", even if a biblical basis isn't being claimed for it.
Anyway, as I said, I do not think this will have amazing results. Human effort is not enough to bring about peace in either our individual or corporate lives. We need to rely on God to work through us for that, and I am not sure any of us are perfect enough at that either. I know I am not. Still these exercises are useful. They help us to see what needs to be done and how to work toward it. They help to fit us for Heaven, which is where peace will finally reign.
So maybe you'll join me for this day of peace. (It's March 4th. Here's the link http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=189170184442695). And we can include some prayers that the Kingdom of Heaven will prevail. Soon.
Blessings!
"Just one day in the year where we all held our tongues. A day where we ignored others' shortcomings and made a valiant effort to be kind and understanding. A day where we all got along."
Sounds great and I accepted the invitation. Not that I think it will work all that well, but still, it's a good thought.
It reminds me of The Four Absolutes that Rev. Bob Baggs used to urge on us up in OP. Absolute love, absolute honesty, absolute unselfishness and absolute purity. At one point, he would tell us, there was a leader (I forget the name) who would get the whole conference to give it a try for 24 hours. He said it would be like heaven for the day. People would fail of course, but then they would begin anew, all reinforcing each others' attempts. After I learned about that old tradition, I had my cabins try. I think I had a camper who made it to 40 minutes once. That's how it is, isn't it? When we go for perfect behavior we fail. That's why we need grace. From each other and, more importantly from Jesus who thankfully is more thatn willing to offer it.
Oh -- when I was in Nagaland I met a woman who worked for a worldwide youth oganization that bases its work on the Four Absolutes and I have just learned that they were the early cornerstones or "yardsticks" of AA and are still used in recovery programs. That's just a side note, because I can be random like that.
Another friend of mine recently quoted to me the the verse "See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone." (1 Thessalonians 5:15). The theme of not repaying evil for evil has been brought to my mind repeatedly, especially in my Bible reading over the last couple of days. Based on the description, I think that this is what it at the heart of the "day of peace", even if a biblical basis isn't being claimed for it.
Anyway, as I said, I do not think this will have amazing results. Human effort is not enough to bring about peace in either our individual or corporate lives. We need to rely on God to work through us for that, and I am not sure any of us are perfect enough at that either. I know I am not. Still these exercises are useful. They help us to see what needs to be done and how to work toward it. They help to fit us for Heaven, which is where peace will finally reign.
So maybe you'll join me for this day of peace. (It's March 4th. Here's the link http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=189170184442695). And we can include some prayers that the Kingdom of Heaven will prevail. Soon.
Blessings!
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