Asking "what do you know?" is a question that goes far beyond the math classroom. If you're willing to share, what is one true thing you know about your life right now, even if the rest of the page feels uncertain?
The Reverend Cecil B. Williams once said. "Your life is critical at this time." He said it to the most disparate room full of people I had ever seen. I share this sentence with you now because it is true. Your life is critical at this time. You are and we all are the Lights of the World.
A beautiful sharing of your life. Why is it I always must reread your words, sometimes two or three times. I don’t want to miss any of the love you want to share with me. Each reading finds a different lesson, a new understanding of what Gods grace is. Your preaching was the same. I would read your sermon, listen to you share your sermon and many times read again. The best sharing of our Lord’s teachings were delivered by you! You are a wonderful teacher, in so many ways, for so many different reasons and for so many different people. James taught you well and probably knew you better than you know you. Love you
Your words make me weep and I feel so seen. Thank you!
My favorite bits:
“…the strange ache of no longer being who I was, while also not yet knowing who I am becoming.”
“Sometimes joy takes a second to find language, especially when it has spent years being cautious.”
“To delight in creation.
To let ourselves be delighted in.
To bear witness to the light in one another before the darkness gets the last word.
I like that word, delight.”
“To delight is to be pleased, charmed, allured, drawn out of yourself by beauty. It is what happens when the soul stops clenching for half a second and notices that the world is still shimmering.”
“…and I am learning to stop demanding that my soul pick only one feeling at a time.”
I must say… this post brought tears to my eyes. Teaching is such an incredible calling. A teacher does best when they can look at what a student knows, help them realize what they know and then add to the knowledge. I did not teach geometry. Mostly First Grade yet I would look at what a child knows and help them, the best I could, to add to the knowledge and improve. I have been helping our grandson learn to ride a bike. It has training wheels on it. On the third day he was able to go faster and was getting the hang of it. I told him each day he had gotten better had riding his bike, great job. He replied: “I trusted myself and went faster.” He is 7 yet, this seems like excellent advice for all.
Wow! “And what pray tell, Mother, would you have me write about this picture?,” you asked when I suggested you do just that. Perhaps exactly this incredible message on being the light of the world. Garrett, you have a God given gift for writing that reaches the hearts of many. You also have a gift for teaching, whether it’s in a church or a classroom. Those students are very fortunate to have you. Let your light shine! I love you!
The credential program is like studying for the drivers license test. You can’t drive without knowing the rules but it doesn’t teach you how to drive. But, you already know the most important step. What do you know here? Here with this one.
In the immortal words of Delight: "Groove Is In The Heart" and in the equally immortal words of Mr. Andrew/Pastor Garrett: Truth Is a Loved Heart Can Be Re-Grooved, even Presence in the worst wrapping. AG: "It is a strange thing to receive a gift that came wrapped in grief...But I am beginning to wonder if holiness has a way of making mosaics without asking the broken pieces to stop being broken. Maybe grace does not erase the rubble. Maybe it teaches some of it how to become foundation... becoming rubble bearing weight." I look forward to your posts, this is why. Thank you!
Asking "what do you know?" is a question that goes far beyond the math classroom. If you're willing to share, what is one true thing you know about your life right now, even if the rest of the page feels uncertain?
The Reverend Cecil B. Williams once said. "Your life is critical at this time." He said it to the most disparate room full of people I had ever seen. I share this sentence with you now because it is true. Your life is critical at this time. You are and we all are the Lights of the World.
And it is true, we are all here for a time such as this.
So glad you are writing again! Your words always make my heart sing!
And thank you for sharing that and making my heart sing too!
A beautiful sharing of your life. Why is it I always must reread your words, sometimes two or three times. I don’t want to miss any of the love you want to share with me. Each reading finds a different lesson, a new understanding of what Gods grace is. Your preaching was the same. I would read your sermon, listen to you share your sermon and many times read again. The best sharing of our Lord’s teachings were delivered by you! You are a wonderful teacher, in so many ways, for so many different reasons and for so many different people. James taught you well and probably knew you better than you know you. Love you
I’m grateful for all of this, and love you too!
Your words make me weep and I feel so seen. Thank you!
My favorite bits:
“…the strange ache of no longer being who I was, while also not yet knowing who I am becoming.”
“Sometimes joy takes a second to find language, especially when it has spent years being cautious.”
“To delight in creation.
To let ourselves be delighted in.
To bear witness to the light in one another before the darkness gets the last word.
I like that word, delight.”
“To delight is to be pleased, charmed, allured, drawn out of yourself by beauty. It is what happens when the soul stops clenching for half a second and notices that the world is still shimmering.”
“…and I am learning to stop demanding that my soul pick only one feeling at a time.”
It’s my gift, words woven together that create a shared world
I must say… this post brought tears to my eyes. Teaching is such an incredible calling. A teacher does best when they can look at what a student knows, help them realize what they know and then add to the knowledge. I did not teach geometry. Mostly First Grade yet I would look at what a child knows and help them, the best I could, to add to the knowledge and improve. I have been helping our grandson learn to ride a bike. It has training wheels on it. On the third day he was able to go faster and was getting the hang of it. I told him each day he had gotten better had riding his bike, great job. He replied: “I trusted myself and went faster.” He is 7 yet, this seems like excellent advice for all.
The riding the bike metaphor speaks to me too for all of this teaching stuff, and perhaps life too.
Wow! “And what pray tell, Mother, would you have me write about this picture?,” you asked when I suggested you do just that. Perhaps exactly this incredible message on being the light of the world. Garrett, you have a God given gift for writing that reaches the hearts of many. You also have a gift for teaching, whether it’s in a church or a classroom. Those students are very fortunate to have you. Let your light shine! I love you!
And let your light shine, and I love you too!
The credential program is like studying for the drivers license test. You can’t drive without knowing the rules but it doesn’t teach you how to drive. But, you already know the most important step. What do you know here? Here with this one.
Amen to all of this.
In the immortal words of Delight: "Groove Is In The Heart" and in the equally immortal words of Mr. Andrew/Pastor Garrett: Truth Is a Loved Heart Can Be Re-Grooved, even Presence in the worst wrapping. AG: "It is a strange thing to receive a gift that came wrapped in grief...But I am beginning to wonder if holiness has a way of making mosaics without asking the broken pieces to stop being broken. Maybe grace does not erase the rubble. Maybe it teaches some of it how to become foundation... becoming rubble bearing weight." I look forward to your posts, this is why. Thank you!
Love you friend.