The Sailing Soul

Yesterday was awful, today is better. 

Not long ago, I had two days in a row which were great. . . 

Today, even though it's better, is a space where I can't imagine 
feeling great-- even though I did not so long ago . . . 

This process is so weird.   Floating in our private arks. . . 

On seas which are never calm... no control of the helm. 

No rudder, even, here in mine. 

Amazing we can be so challenged by stormy seas 

in our own hearts. 

The paradox of the soul: at once both finite within our 
bodies, and infinite, 

because nothing exists to us except through that infinity. 
It traverses time and space. It seeks rest, yet it can never rest in the 
seeking... 

God solves that paradox. 

God provides the resting place:

 an island,  

an anchor, 

a dock, 

a harbor. 

He's the only rest. 

No wonder so many people are desperate; 

how can they feel otherwise in this crazy sea with nowhere to rest??  
Why is it we humans depend on ourselves until the last moment?? 

Only when our resources are completely depleted do 
we scream out for help, and find that there has always been rest there just waiting... 

Unless we discipline ourselves in the practice of seeking Christ, 

we never remember He's there! 

Doesn't take long until we are totally wrapped up in trying to solve our 
own problems. Tossed around sea sick in our little boats, 

frantically bailing, 
           instead of praying. 

" Turn your eyes upon jesus, look up in his wonderful face, 
and the things of this world, will grow 

 strangely dim, in the light at His 
glory and grace."

Please, Consider the Lament of American Teachers Before it is Too Late!!

The problem with education is this: The world is run by business men and those trained in business only see the bottom line and streamlined means to get there.  Because of "No Child Left Behind," which too many have not understood since its inception, as well as a greed-embracing country run more and more with an eye on only that bottom line, all aspects of American education are being scrutinized through the uncompromising, fact-based, inappropriate eye of either saving or actually making money. This myopic, heartless view negates the necessity for virtue, the element in education that truly defines it.  

School is not a business but rather a living, breathing creature of nature, an animal made up of many thousands of beating hearts, pumping limbs, thinking brains and giggling souls.    This American treasure thrives and grows, learns and succeeds due to nurturing, not dollars.     Whatever the discussion about education, make no mistake, if we forget this fact we are doomed.  Filling our schools with money mongers, mapping a plan to create an infrastructure of profit,  we are blindly paving a road of gold towards nowhere.   

Nowhere will you find a story of a teacher who reached students because she was paid more money. Nowhere will you find a story where a student prospered because he took a test.  The success is when a young lady realizes her inspired words in a poem are worthy of praise. Children remember teachers who encouraged and inspired them. Students take risks, become leaders in communities and give back to the common good because someone has taught them the value of human virtue, the maturity in putting others first, the strength in helping the poor and weak.    Without this, we are raising selfish terrors who will someday consume us.