Why Was He Sent?

If I could only get my students to follow the leader like these cows!

Sprague River, Oregon

June 2011

Luke 4:43 NIV
“I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

I am the bad guy.  I give spoonfuls of medicine without sugar in it.  I rain on parades. I rock the boat.  I step on cracks without caring about my mother's back. 

It's the season of state writing test preparation, and I am Cassandra of Troy proclaiming truth to my students who in turn mock me.  "What if I don't write the outline? You won't know!"

Twenty-plus years of success as a writing teacher does not win me merit points.  I am a prophet in my hometown; no one believes me.

"Listen," I implore, "if you just do it my way, you will easily meet state standards or exceed them.  The only students I have taught who have failed were too hard-headed to follow my instructions."

Some take this as a personal challenge. I can almost hear their thoughts: Let me be the one not to follow her, and I'll show her I can succeed without her!

I only teach people how to write for success.  Jesus taught people how to live for success! His message leads people to eternal salvation.  And He is so patient!  Today I counted 10, 11, 12 and then threw in the towel, but He doesn't walk away from me when I don't listen--isn't that amazing?

Jesus presented the model of how to live a holy life. Yet so often I do not want to submit to His will.

I would have to humble myself before Him and acknowledge His wisdom above my own.

Otherwise, I could be like my students: reluctant to understand the message, eager to try life my way, and hope for the best in the end.
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Dear Lord, help me humble myself before you.

The Season of Life

A Time to Blossom

 Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,  a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.


It's time to grow again. I have been stagnant in my sorrow for two and a half months, and nothing but misery greeted me there.

Today, as Allison and I rounded our street corner to home, we were stopped short by police cars, the county coroner, and yellow crime scene tape wrapped around our neighbor's house. He died on his front porch apparently trying desperately to enter the house.  As he lost consciousness, he scraped his arm along the tabby exterior of his home.  His dried blood, now a dark brown stain on the house, was a silent testament of the pain he endured at the end.

Life turns on a dime.

My neighbor's sudden death shows me I must continue to write through my pain. I may yet have something to contribute to the world with God's wisdom guiding me. 

It has been difficult to consider returning to this blog, yet I remain confident I am Encircled by the Rainbow of God's loving promises of glories.

The Season of Life is now.
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Lord, help me rise to your vision for my life.  I see through the glass darkly. Give me perception to see your truths.