Lessons from Madeline

Recently I have been reading and listening to several different sources that talk about the ideas of presence, mindfulness and wonder.  In our fast-paced busy world, full of screens loaded with distractions, these concepts are not prevalent in our thinking most of the time.  I have long dealt with trying to discipline my mind to pay attention, especially in church, but it is still prone to wander and think about a thousand other things than the things that are going on right in front of me.  Phil would tell you I'm at my worst when I'm supposed to be listening to something he's saying.  I am also trying to be more mindful of my surroundings when I take walks for exercise.  I find myself looking down at the ground too much, and sometimes my distraction is due to the fact that I use this time to pray, which is a good thing.  I often stop now to look around, to listen, and to really see what is going on around me.

All that being said, I am learning to practice mindfulness and being present as I am watching Madeline.  At nearly 16 months old, Madeline is totally present in every moment.  Her mind is never wandering to her future plans or problems she might face.  She looks intently at everything around her, seeing it with her young eyes and letting me see it with new eyes because of her.

Madeline loves being outside and would stay out all day long if we would let her.  During this fall season I have watched her experience some things for the first time.  Today we played in a pile of leaves, and she was totally enthralled with the sounds of the crunching leaves as we stomped on them and sat in the midst of them.

Last week we were outside on the driveway, and Madeline was running around on the pavement.  As she ran, a strong gust of wind came up and blew a bunch of leaves across the driveway.  As she stood there, feeling the force of the wind against her little frame, she became a little freaked out because she didn't know what was happening.  I think she thought that the leaves were some sort of little animals running past her feet.  This was a totally new experience for her, and it was fun to watch her process what was happening to her at that moment.

As I drove her back to her mom in the afternoon, she laughed and squealed the whole way to school.  About halfway there it dawned on me why she was so tickled.  I had given her a sippy cup with a straw that opens and closes when I put her in her seat.  She had opened the spout and was shaking it up and water was flying all over the place.  When we arrived she was totally soaked from head to toe (I'm so glad it was just water).  No wonder she was having such fun!

Madeline is helping me rediscover the childlike wonder in everyday things.  Our children and grandchildren do this for all of us, and it is a huge gift.  If we embrace it, it will relight the flame of wonder in each of us.

Daring Detectives

One of the books I'm reading now is The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, thanks to the recommendation of my friend Bea.  This book has been around for a while, and Rubin has some more current books out about happiness.  But this book is an easy read with lots of really practical ideas for growing and cultivating happiness in your life.  As I've stepped into retirement, I've learned that one of the guiding questions you can ask yourself often about how you are going to spend your time is, "Will this make me happy?"

One of the things I knew would make me happy was to go back and do some of the things I used to do when I taught drama at Griffith Elementary.  Those activities I used to do with the kids were some of the most enjoyable things I've ever done.  There's just something special about doing things that so many kids find delightful.  There's nothing like the reception I used to get when I walked into a roomful of students full of anticipation for the fun we were going to have.

At the beginning of the school year I contacted one of the teachers I knew at Griffith and asked if he'd be willing to let me come do some things with his kids once a week.  He was agreeable to the idea, and so I've been going for several weeks.  We are doing my very favorite unit, Daring Detectives.  In this unit I enlist the students to be detectives in my detective agency.  I have the students apply for the job and practice some observation skills before we start our case.

I play Detective Shirley Holmes with these third graders.

Today we began the case which involves a lady who has lost her dog.  I told the kids this lady is coming to talk to them about her case, but I have another case I'm working on so they'll have to get her information without me.  At this point, I went out of the room and dressed as the lady with the lost dog and reentered the room.  The kids were perfectly willing to go along with the ruse, so they began asking me questions about my dog and took notes in their detective notebooks.

Here I am playing the lady who lost her dog.

When I finished my dog story I told the students that I had to leave.  I exited the classroom and changed back into my detective gear.  When I came back into the classroom I asked if they had talked to the lady, and they excitedly began to tell me all about what she said.  Never once did any child ever say, "That was you.  You know all about the lady and her dog."  They spoke to me as if I were not actually in the room.  

It always amazes and delights me to watch this all play out.  There's just something so special about watching children use their imaginations and pretend to be something they are not.

In the coming weeks we will be investigating this "case," and we will have to use some spy gear and some disguises.  It will be lots of fun...for me and for them.  And it will definitely make me happy.  I'm sitting here smiling about it as I write this post.

To My EBC Family

Dear Friends,

As most of you know, Phil and I are beginning a new chapter of our lives at Dunlap United Methodist Church.  I have been given a staff position working with their youth.  I had been feeling called to a leadership position for a few years now, and I am happy to find an open door there.

When I first began to feel God's calling in a new way on my life, I spent a long time praying and contemplating what I should do.  Then I heard a man talk about Peter walking on the water to Jesus.  Peter says to Jesus, "If it's you, Lord, tell me to come to you." Then the man added, "If it's you, Lord, tell me to get out of the boat."  And that became my prayer.  "If this calling is from you, Lord, tell me to get out of the boat."

Obviously, I have felt that God has moved me to get out of the boat.  And part of what that looks like is leaving you.

But I can't leave without saying "Thank you" to all of you at Ewtonville.  It is because of your long-time presence in my life that I have become who I am today.  You gave me a safe place to learn and grow in my faith.  Many of you were important in the life of my own children.  You also gave me the great blessing of a place to practice teaching in so many different settings over the years.  You let be creative in developing programs, and you let me express myself in dramas and in singing.  Most of all, you let me love your kids.

One of my favorite memories at church is taking communion together.  After I had stepped up to receive the bread and juice I would sit down and watch you all file by to receive your portions.  I would look at you and remember how we were connected, history we shared.  I would always feel the swell of the great love and affection I had for you.

Of course, I am not gone from your lives.  I still live just down the road.  I will see you at Wal-Mart, the gas station, El Metate, all around town.  I will keep up with you on Facebook.  So, though our relationship has changed, never doubt my love for you and my gratitude for all you mean to me.

                                                                                 Your sister in Christ,
                                                                                     Pam

                                                                               

My New Job

I am excited to announce that I am taking on a new job.  I have been asked to work as the youth leader at Dunlap United Methodist Church.  We have been attending there for the past few weeks, and as a result, my name was put into consideration for this job.  After thoughtful prayer and consideration I decided take this position.

Now believe me when I say that the irony of this is not lost on me.  I am a 57-year-old taking on working with youth.  I know I don't look like your typical youth leader...

Reverend Tim Tom from ABC's "The Middle"

My personal favorite, Jason Dildine

This being said, I can go back to one of my favorite Bible verses, Ephesians 2:10.  It says, "We are [God's] workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works that God has prepared in advance for us to do."  I feel that God has prepared me for this ministry at this time in my life and at this time in the lives of the youth that I will come in contact with.  I am thankful for the opportunity to share what God has been pouring into me recently.  And I am equally excited about what I will learn from the kids and parents who will be a part of my life for this next chapter of my story.

This is a leap of faith for me.  I find it scary and exhilarating.  A few weeks ago I heard Andy Stanley say, "It is the job of the leader to stir and disturb the imaginations of those they lead."  I am praying that I can do that stirring and disturbing.  Who knows what God has in store for all of us!