So far, by God's grace

Monday, November 26, 2018

Lead me to the Rock



"From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint;  lead me to the rock that is higher than I." - Psalm 61:2

As a kid, every time I went away on a school picnic or excursion, my mother would warn me, "Don't be over-confident around water!" or, "You may be tempted to "accidentally" fall into water. Just don't!".
She knew me well. She knew I was always drawn to water. I had a deep urge to get wet and splash water about since the day I was born!

Every Summer through my childhood, we visited my maternal grandparents in Kerala. My parents would take me swimming in the river nearby almost every day of the two weeks we would spend there.  And yet, although my parents, both good swimmers tried teaching me how to swim, I refused to practice, preferring to splash about and play games in the river.

Psalm 61:2, reminds me of myself. When I'm overwhelmed by circumstances that are quite often a result of my own unwillingness to learn, I feel like I'm drowning, far away from shore. I cry out, "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I" and I feel myself being lifted up and placed at a spot where I can see the way home. Oh, the number of times I've prayed this prayer!

Thank God for his ever loving, ever patient, graciousness

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

“It wasn’t on the lesson plan”

I posted this on instagram late last night. I guess it qualifies for my writing challenge -day 2 with a few edits in place. 

If you did not know this, I am a teacher. This means that I am still perfecting the art of fitting my base into furniture meant for growing humans. I don't think it's a skill I will ever master, but I'm getting better. My classroom is a flexible seating classroom. This means that students don't have assigned spots and that they have a variety of furniture options to choose from - floor cushions on low tables, poufs, standing tables and swivel chairs with desks. 

Yesterday, I was sitting on one of those wobbly stools that are great for fidgety kids, engrossed in a math lesson, when I leaned across to reach the other end of the easel. Before I knew it, I had toppled over, almost somersaulting across the carpet, my slippers flying across the room. 

There was a collective gasp from my students, followed by stunned silence. You should have seen the looks on their faces! Eighteen worried pairs of eyes all staring at me, their mouths wide open. That's when I burst out laughing, picking myself and my slippers up. 

And then it began... waves upon waves of laughter. All of us rolling on the carpet laughing and bonding over a shared experience that I hope will never be repeated!

The opportunistic teacher in me seized the moment to remind kids of our "responsible use of furniture" agreements. But as a friend reminded me, I hope they learned through this that it is good to laugh at yourself too! 
The high points of my teaching career have mostly been these kind  - unplanned, unscripted moments that should be embarrassing but instead lead to enriching experiences!