This post was inspired by Pastor Josh's Sermon in response to Mark 13: 1-8
Life can be stressful. It can also be amazing, crazy, heavenly, terrifying, and everything in between. This past week was tough for me but it lead to a conversation and a realization I wouldn't have had if I hadn't experienced such polarized encounters with life.
Monday through Thursday of last week was full of stressors-long days in the classroom, heavy meetings which lead to my colleagues scrutinizing my preparation for the meetings, and major behaviors from students that were not on my caseload but I was the one in charge of deescalating the situation. I felt burnt out and I still had a full day of school left in the week. That's when God "woke me up" via Betty the WWII veteran.
Thursday night, I was on my way to Saint Charles to play music with my brother John at a Veterans' Art Gallery Dinner. I was at my peak of anxiety and frustration from the week and simply had no more emotions to give towards this event. We sat down, got our instruments out and began playing music while veterans from World War II to present day came in, had drinks, food, and enjoyed one another's company. I naturally started feeling better due to playing music and being around happy and courageous people. But then a 97 year old, WWII veteran named Betty sat down right next to me...then got up and started dancing. For the rest of the night, Betty was on cloud nine as she danced to our music and we sang songs like "Amazing Grace" and "You Are My Sunshine" together. All of a sudden life was calm, playful, reflective, and peaceful again.
When the event was over and all of the veterans had left, John and I sat down and I explained what an extreme change in experiences I had just had within a couple of hours. John offered his thoughts to me after listening and said, "Yeah man, we're really just leaves in the wind and while we're flying in all different directions, we still think we're in control of where we end up". He-as usual-couldn't have been more accurate. We really never know what tomorrow will bring. Sometimes life feels like we are leaves gently floating to solid ground, only to be abruptly lifted, swung around, and crash-landed into a place you never intended to be.
Speaking from my own experiences, I think life can feel at times more like we are feathers in a hurricane-being tossed around with a million things flying past us until we set down in the eye of the storm with only enough time to think, "Where the heck am I?". Our expectations can artificially lead us to believe that we are in control of this life and all of the paradoxical events that come our way. Without struggle, there is no success, without fear, there is no bravery, without stress, there is no peace. But my experience with Betty reminded me that God never gives us more than what we can handle. He gives us moments of clear peace and fulfillment that I believe are moments for us to reflect and be grateful for ALL of our experiences. I guess I'm still working on being grateful DURING the challenging parts of life.
If you've had an experience like the one I had-high stress turning quickly to surprising peace-I'd love to hear about it. We're all in this hurricane together!
-Phil
Life can be stressful. It can also be amazing, crazy, heavenly, terrifying, and everything in between. This past week was tough for me but it lead to a conversation and a realization I wouldn't have had if I hadn't experienced such polarized encounters with life.
Monday through Thursday of last week was full of stressors-long days in the classroom, heavy meetings which lead to my colleagues scrutinizing my preparation for the meetings, and major behaviors from students that were not on my caseload but I was the one in charge of deescalating the situation. I felt burnt out and I still had a full day of school left in the week. That's when God "woke me up" via Betty the WWII veteran.
Thursday night, I was on my way to Saint Charles to play music with my brother John at a Veterans' Art Gallery Dinner. I was at my peak of anxiety and frustration from the week and simply had no more emotions to give towards this event. We sat down, got our instruments out and began playing music while veterans from World War II to present day came in, had drinks, food, and enjoyed one another's company. I naturally started feeling better due to playing music and being around happy and courageous people. But then a 97 year old, WWII veteran named Betty sat down right next to me...then got up and started dancing. For the rest of the night, Betty was on cloud nine as she danced to our music and we sang songs like "Amazing Grace" and "You Are My Sunshine" together. All of a sudden life was calm, playful, reflective, and peaceful again.
When the event was over and all of the veterans had left, John and I sat down and I explained what an extreme change in experiences I had just had within a couple of hours. John offered his thoughts to me after listening and said, "Yeah man, we're really just leaves in the wind and while we're flying in all different directions, we still think we're in control of where we end up". He-as usual-couldn't have been more accurate. We really never know what tomorrow will bring. Sometimes life feels like we are leaves gently floating to solid ground, only to be abruptly lifted, swung around, and crash-landed into a place you never intended to be.
Speaking from my own experiences, I think life can feel at times more like we are feathers in a hurricane-being tossed around with a million things flying past us until we set down in the eye of the storm with only enough time to think, "Where the heck am I?". Our expectations can artificially lead us to believe that we are in control of this life and all of the paradoxical events that come our way. Without struggle, there is no success, without fear, there is no bravery, without stress, there is no peace. But my experience with Betty reminded me that God never gives us more than what we can handle. He gives us moments of clear peace and fulfillment that I believe are moments for us to reflect and be grateful for ALL of our experiences. I guess I'm still working on being grateful DURING the challenging parts of life.
If you've had an experience like the one I had-high stress turning quickly to surprising peace-I'd love to hear about it. We're all in this hurricane together!
-Phil