3 years is such a short blip on the radar of eternity

Once upon a time, Paul challenged us to forget what was behind and strain toward what is ahead. “Press on,” he said, “toward the goal to which God has called us.” (Philippians 3: 13-14). . . the Lord had spoken these words through Isaiah, “Those who hope in the Lord, will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40: 31). . . Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest . . . for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11: 28-29) These words are a source of strength, indeed.

What will it be like, to begin a school day at 7:55 . . . to run a normal schedule . . . to have school bells punctuate the daily routine . . . to have a permanent shelter from the elements . . . for students to have their own parking place near the building . . . their own lockers, instead of big ol’ backpacks or chunky purses? What will it be like, to have our own place; one that is not scattered, rickety, or shared?

Three years can be quite a long time . . . and tomorrow, it will have been three years since our community was devastated and our high school destroyed by powerful winds of nature. In those three years, we have traveled through . . . a tunnel . . . and with its share of dark days . . . but there have been some bright rays, too. Encouraging friends, a patient local populace, and untiring co-workers have certainly provided much-needed light. But, the true heroes, the ones who have shone the brightest, have been our students. They are the ones, who have continued to build, anyway . . . to dream, anyway . . . to believe, anyway . . . to love, anyway . . . to sing, anyway . . . and I want to be like them.To borrow a few words, “God is great, but sometimes life ain’t good, and when I pray, it doesn’t always turn out like I think it should, but I do it, anyway . . . I sing because I’m happy, and I sing because I’m free, His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

………..Thank You, Lord, for our student leaders, during these difficult days.


* Photo #1 - my classroom
* Photo #2 - same
* Photo #3 - where I was found after it has been cleaned