Dear Friends,
Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men!
This message from the angels characterizes the “spirit of Christmas.” It’s everywhere and it’s wonderful, as if the angels are still singing.
I don’t remember a lot of Christmas decorations in my household growing up; but I do remember three ceramic blocks that were put on the mantle each season. Three blocks, three words, “Peace, Joy, Love.” I remember moving them around, changing the order, stacking them, and watching my older sisters patiently putting them back in place. These three words have universal acceptance around the world – even when there is no mention of Jesus; Peace, Joy, Love.
These three words that capture the world at Christmastime are, interestingly, the first three “fruits of the Spirit” identified in Galatians 5:22! In a sense, God gives them twice, once at the birth of Jesus as sung by the angels, and again though the power of the Holy Spirit.
Here is the point. Christ didn’t bring these gifts at his birth just to brighten our Decembers; but to transform lives – so that peace, joy, and love are systemic, not just seasonal. God’s greatest gift, the Christ child, demands a response, “What can we give back?” We have an answer in Matthew 25:40, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.”
My challenge to you is to embrace the wonderful spirit of Christmas – and extend it all year long. Feel the peace that passes understanding, celebrate the joy, and bask in the love of God. Be transformed! Then, prompted by the Spirit, be an instrument of peace, spread the joy, and love.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Count Your Blessings
Dear Friends,
It’s is interesting how things come around. When I was a child, I sang this song:
Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count your blessings, see what God has done
Over the last few years, I have started to consciously look for God’s blessings. I’ve written about it and prayed that my eyes would be open. I can’t count what I can’t see… A trip to Santa Cruz beaches and a porpoise sighting; Blessing! A student testimony at chapel; Blessing! A job interview; Blessing! A first grader greets me, “Hi Mr. President!” Blessing!
I’m seeing more and more blessings and have come to realize that they have been there all along. I just haven’t been looking. I think that I finally understand what it means to count my blessings and see what God has done.
It has changed my life.
Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings. I strongly recommend it; you will be blessed!
It’s is interesting how things come around. When I was a child, I sang this song:
Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count your blessings, see what God has done
Over the last few years, I have started to consciously look for God’s blessings. I’ve written about it and prayed that my eyes would be open. I can’t count what I can’t see… A trip to Santa Cruz beaches and a porpoise sighting; Blessing! A student testimony at chapel; Blessing! A job interview; Blessing! A first grader greets me, “Hi Mr. President!” Blessing!
I’m seeing more and more blessings and have come to realize that they have been there all along. I just haven’t been looking. I think that I finally understand what it means to count my blessings and see what God has done.
It has changed my life.
Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings. I strongly recommend it; you will be blessed!
Friday, November 4, 2011
Another Yosemite Story
Dear Friends,
My blogs have been a bit too serious lately. I think it is time to tell another Yosemite story.
Pat and I made three trips to Yosemite over the summer. On the second trip, daughter Emily came along and the three of us hiked up the Yosemite Falls trail. The key word here is UP. Halfway up the trail is an overlook with breathtaking views of the valley and Half Dome. A half mile further and there is an overlook of the upper fall. Be careful because the drop is thousands of feet DOWN. This is not a hike for the squeamish. But this is not the story….
Pat and Emily continued UP the trail to the top of the falls and I - - wimped out. I decided that this was not the day for brutalizing my body and so I headed down the trail, found a seat in the shade near the newly renovated building by the shuttle station (okay, a bathroom), and opened up a good book. As I sat and tried to read, I began to see the strangest things …
An “item” near the bench that I occupied seemed to create an unusual amount of interest. Many people stopped, stared, and commented to others in the group. A tour bus full of people walked slowly past. One family of five took a picture of each individual with the “item.” I don’t speak Japanese, but volunteered to take the family picture. Then the father took my picture next to the curiosity. Wierd. Have you guessed?
Another family stopped and the teenage son picked up the handset, listened, and exploded in Italian mixed with laughter. Every family member took a turn. A wizened woman with gray hair watched intently, waited, and, when the opportunity presented itself, shuffled with dignity to the box. Her eyes met mine and she broke out in a gap-tooth smile. Finally a brave middle aged man picked up the handset, deposited a coin, swiped a credit card, and looked bewildered. He tried again, and again, before muttering something under his breath that sounded like “kaput.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket as he stomped away.
What was this strange thing that turned so many heads, rivaled the falls for picture opportunities, and baffled even a bright young man? You’ve guessed it. A PAY PHONE! Now you know the rest of the story…
My, how times have changed!
My blogs have been a bit too serious lately. I think it is time to tell another Yosemite story.
Pat and I made three trips to Yosemite over the summer. On the second trip, daughter Emily came along and the three of us hiked up the Yosemite Falls trail. The key word here is UP. Halfway up the trail is an overlook with breathtaking views of the valley and Half Dome. A half mile further and there is an overlook of the upper fall. Be careful because the drop is thousands of feet DOWN. This is not a hike for the squeamish. But this is not the story….
Pat and Emily continued UP the trail to the top of the falls and I - - wimped out. I decided that this was not the day for brutalizing my body and so I headed down the trail, found a seat in the shade near the newly renovated building by the shuttle station (okay, a bathroom), and opened up a good book. As I sat and tried to read, I began to see the strangest things …
An “item” near the bench that I occupied seemed to create an unusual amount of interest. Many people stopped, stared, and commented to others in the group. A tour bus full of people walked slowly past. One family of five took a picture of each individual with the “item.” I don’t speak Japanese, but volunteered to take the family picture. Then the father took my picture next to the curiosity. Wierd. Have you guessed?
Another family stopped and the teenage son picked up the handset, listened, and exploded in Italian mixed with laughter. Every family member took a turn. A wizened woman with gray hair watched intently, waited, and, when the opportunity presented itself, shuffled with dignity to the box. Her eyes met mine and she broke out in a gap-tooth smile. Finally a brave middle aged man picked up the handset, deposited a coin, swiped a credit card, and looked bewildered. He tried again, and again, before muttering something under his breath that sounded like “kaput.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket as he stomped away.
What was this strange thing that turned so many heads, rivaled the falls for picture opportunities, and baffled even a bright young man? You’ve guessed it. A PAY PHONE! Now you know the rest of the story…
My, how times have changed!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Statement of Faith
Dear Friends,
What do you believe? What drives you? When you apply for jobs at a Christian institution, you are asked to provide a Statement of Faith. I recommend you write yours. Here's mine:
I have recited the Apostles Creed since I could first use words. John 3:16 was written on the wall above my crib. I first memorized Questions and Answers 1 and 2 of the Heidelberg Catechism in the sixth grade. My parents believed; I believed. Throughout my life, this belief has taken hold, and sometimes taken over, through the challenges and fires that come with life. Belief has become faith…
I know that God is the creator of heaven and earth. Creation points to the creator and I am in awe! I am learning what it means to be created in God’s image and that He created me. I know that humankind fell into sin and that sin has corrupted both man and creation. I am sinful and in need of salvation. I know that Jesus, through His death, resurrection, and ascension has provided salvation for those that He loves. I am so overwhelmed by the love of God for me that every fiber of my being wants to praise Him. I am committed, now and always, to live for Him, in gratitude and celebration! As I seek God’s heart, aware that He delights in justice, mercy, and righteousness, I pray that I will demonstrate these attributes in my life.
My faith is personal but I haven’t forgotten that the seeds of my faith were nurtured by my parents, my Sunday school teachers, my Christian school teachers, and other “saints.” God works through people, His people. I want Him, by His Spirit, to work through me so that my faith is dynamic as I join with others to build His Kingdom at home, at school, in our community, and in the world.
B.J. Huizenga
What do you believe? What drives you? When you apply for jobs at a Christian institution, you are asked to provide a Statement of Faith. I recommend you write yours. Here's mine:
I have recited the Apostles Creed since I could first use words. John 3:16 was written on the wall above my crib. I first memorized Questions and Answers 1 and 2 of the Heidelberg Catechism in the sixth grade. My parents believed; I believed. Throughout my life, this belief has taken hold, and sometimes taken over, through the challenges and fires that come with life. Belief has become faith…
I know that God is the creator of heaven and earth. Creation points to the creator and I am in awe! I am learning what it means to be created in God’s image and that He created me. I know that humankind fell into sin and that sin has corrupted both man and creation. I am sinful and in need of salvation. I know that Jesus, through His death, resurrection, and ascension has provided salvation for those that He loves. I am so overwhelmed by the love of God for me that every fiber of my being wants to praise Him. I am committed, now and always, to live for Him, in gratitude and celebration! As I seek God’s heart, aware that He delights in justice, mercy, and righteousness, I pray that I will demonstrate these attributes in my life.
My faith is personal but I haven’t forgotten that the seeds of my faith were nurtured by my parents, my Sunday school teachers, my Christian school teachers, and other “saints.” God works through people, His people. I want Him, by His Spirit, to work through me so that my faith is dynamic as I join with others to build His Kingdom at home, at school, in our community, and in the world.
B.J. Huizenga
Monday, September 26, 2011
Good-bye Bert
Dear Friends,
Bert never was a rich man but if you talked to any of his four children, they would tell you that money couldn’t buy the love that they experienced growing up. WW II interrupted his formal education; he learned in service to his country and through life experience. He went to work in the lumberyard for his career, but he was a wise man and served many times on Church Councils and School Boards. He was strong, athletic, and handsome, but humility covered his strength. He was the trusted neighbor, true friend, loyal husband, valuable employee, and tireless servant.
My wife Pat spent the last week with Bert at a care home in Kalamazoo. At 92, his body is worn out. She said good-bye to her dad, knowing that she would not see him again alive.
It is hard to lose a man like Bert Triemstra, a man after God’s heart. How do I know this? I know because he was kind and merciful; because he understood justice; and because he was a righteous man. Jeremiah 9: 23, 24 says that these are the qualities that God delights in.
These are the qualities that we want to emulate and teach our children; kindness, justice, and righteousness. Good-bye Bert. Thanks for showing us what happens when we Seek God’s Heart.
PS This blurb was published in The Bulletin on September 23. Bert died on September 24, attended by his two sons.
Bert never was a rich man but if you talked to any of his four children, they would tell you that money couldn’t buy the love that they experienced growing up. WW II interrupted his formal education; he learned in service to his country and through life experience. He went to work in the lumberyard for his career, but he was a wise man and served many times on Church Councils and School Boards. He was strong, athletic, and handsome, but humility covered his strength. He was the trusted neighbor, true friend, loyal husband, valuable employee, and tireless servant.
My wife Pat spent the last week with Bert at a care home in Kalamazoo. At 92, his body is worn out. She said good-bye to her dad, knowing that she would not see him again alive.
It is hard to lose a man like Bert Triemstra, a man after God’s heart. How do I know this? I know because he was kind and merciful; because he understood justice; and because he was a righteous man. Jeremiah 9: 23, 24 says that these are the qualities that God delights in.
These are the qualities that we want to emulate and teach our children; kindness, justice, and righteousness. Good-bye Bert. Thanks for showing us what happens when we Seek God’s Heart.
PS This blurb was published in The Bulletin on September 23. Bert died on September 24, attended by his two sons.
Friday, September 16, 2011
9/11
Dear Friends,
9/11 was chaotic. As a principal responsible for 600 elementary students and 32 staff members, I had some decisions to make without clear information. Are we under threat? Do I cancel school? How much information do we share with students? What message does our school community need to hear? Who has answers? Who is in control?
Imagine being a first grader. By the time you got to school, you might have seen the plane(s) smash into the trade towers time and time again on TV news. Did it happen once – or 30 times? Why is mom crying? Is New York close by? What will happen to me?
One parent came to the office with inside information. Our rural location (Ripon) made us vulnerable to airborne toxins spread by crop dusters. Hmm… I regularly watched the planes over the vegetable fields close to my home. Was this a real threat? Chaos.
We didn’t cancel school but we did reschedule the evening Back to School event (who would come?). We regulated the watching of video accounts of the tragedy for our younger students. They didn’t really understand what they were seeing. The older grades received updates as the day progressed. And we had a chapel to close the school day. The message? God is in control! When there is chaos; when one cannot make sense of tragedy; when one is fearful; remember, God is in control.
This is a simple message but also profound; important for first graders and school principals. Friends, do you experience chaos? The message is for you too…
9/11 was chaotic. As a principal responsible for 600 elementary students and 32 staff members, I had some decisions to make without clear information. Are we under threat? Do I cancel school? How much information do we share with students? What message does our school community need to hear? Who has answers? Who is in control?
Imagine being a first grader. By the time you got to school, you might have seen the plane(s) smash into the trade towers time and time again on TV news. Did it happen once – or 30 times? Why is mom crying? Is New York close by? What will happen to me?
One parent came to the office with inside information. Our rural location (Ripon) made us vulnerable to airborne toxins spread by crop dusters. Hmm… I regularly watched the planes over the vegetable fields close to my home. Was this a real threat? Chaos.
We didn’t cancel school but we did reschedule the evening Back to School event (who would come?). We regulated the watching of video accounts of the tragedy for our younger students. They didn’t really understand what they were seeing. The older grades received updates as the day progressed. And we had a chapel to close the school day. The message? God is in control! When there is chaos; when one cannot make sense of tragedy; when one is fearful; remember, God is in control.
This is a simple message but also profound; important for first graders and school principals. Friends, do you experience chaos? The message is for you too…
Friday, September 2, 2011
Glitter and Gold
Dear Friends,
The prophet Jeremiah had it right thousands of years ago. It seems that it is human nature to value wisdom and learning as indicated by degrees and diplomas; to esteem strength of stature or power; and to value wealth. We pursue these things and then BOAST about them! But God doesn’t delight in these things. There is a bit of irony here. Imagine how foolish it must sound to hear men boast of education, power, and wealth to Him who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and not only owns the “cattle on a thousand hills,” but owns the hills!!
Jeremiah 9:23-24 warns us not to boast about education, power, and wealth. This is the GLITTER of life. Rather we are encouraged to boast about this, “that they (we) have the understanding to KNOW God who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth.” This is the GOLD. These are the things that God delights in.
Most of you know that I am the Superintendent of Contra Costa Christian School. Our school theme this year is SEEKING GOD’S HEART. Of course we value education, we’re a school! But we don’t want to be satisfied with the glitter; we’re going for the gold! We’ll find it when we seek God’s heart.
The prophet Jeremiah had it right thousands of years ago. It seems that it is human nature to value wisdom and learning as indicated by degrees and diplomas; to esteem strength of stature or power; and to value wealth. We pursue these things and then BOAST about them! But God doesn’t delight in these things. There is a bit of irony here. Imagine how foolish it must sound to hear men boast of education, power, and wealth to Him who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and not only owns the “cattle on a thousand hills,” but owns the hills!!
Jeremiah 9:23-24 warns us not to boast about education, power, and wealth. This is the GLITTER of life. Rather we are encouraged to boast about this, “that they (we) have the understanding to KNOW God who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth.” This is the GOLD. These are the things that God delights in.
Most of you know that I am the Superintendent of Contra Costa Christian School. Our school theme this year is SEEKING GOD’S HEART. Of course we value education, we’re a school! But we don’t want to be satisfied with the glitter; we’re going for the gold! We’ll find it when we seek God’s heart.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Spring Break
Dear Friends, We had ten college seniors in our house lastweek! Ryan’s friends drove from Michigan to find sun and adventure for Spring Break. Well, they found adventure. Driving from Michigan was smooth sailing with clear skies and roads – until the Sierras. They had to purchase and install cables, then snailed over Donner Pass. Many of these young adults have grown up in snow country - but have never heard of chains or cables! Then again, they call our foothills “mountains.” They adjusted to liquid sunshine spending Monday in San Francisco, Tuesday in Santa Cruz, and Wednesday in Sonoma; all the while having the time of their life! And each evening they came home for supper at our house with lots of cooking, feasting, and great fun mixed with expensive shopping, endless dishes, and little privacy. Are Pat and I complaining? No way! We also had the time of our life. Ryan is a senior and will soon enter the work world. We probably will never have this experience again – until Emily brings her group next year! It warms the heart to see our child make good friends and enjoy life. It is a joy to watch him grow and mature. It is a comfort to see that he, and his friends, love God and know how to serve Him. Parents, there are different stages as our children grow up. I recommend that you find a way to enjoy each stage as it comes. Embrace the joys of parenting – because soon your child will be a college senior and on the cusp of adulthood.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Can We Talk?
Dear Friends,
Can we talk?
Nobody said our job was easy. There is no step by step manual, actually there are thousands, and none of them give the perfect blue print for your child. Plenty will give advice, some might even help. But if you are like me, there are times when you feel inadequate and alone – and times when you fail miserably.
What am I talking about? Parenthood!
Our culture doesn’t help. Families are often isolated from extended family. Cultural messages include “anything goes.” Both parents work. Often one parent is both mom AND dad. We live in fear of safety, or the lack of it. Some children have learning problems, ADHD, autism, and other challenges. It’s hard…
It makes for a lively debate to compare the challenge of parenting to 20, 200, or 2000 years ago but the bottom line is – Parenting is HARD! It is also perhaps the most important responsibility we will ever have. And there are joys, oh yes, there are rewards! I pray that you can experience them!
I don’t pretend to have answers but please accept these words of advice:
LOVE – Love covers a host of sins. Your children need your love more than anything in the world, sacrificial love, unconditional love, love that is willing to do hard things, love that knows when to back off or even let go. Are you struggling here? Go to Jesus; he is the source.
PRIORITIZE – Make faith and character development the most important priority for your children. Any accomplishment is life is hollow without faith and character. Make education the next priority. Education is the vehicle for your child to accomplish what God has in store for him or her.
GET HELP – You can’t go alone. Find a CHURCH to help you. Then find a SCHOOL that will be a partner – a school like CCCS. God’s Kingdom is not a place for rugged individualists. Get help.
Parents, we have a difficult job, an important responsibility, but we don’t have to do it alone. God gives us the tools to do the job; his love, his Word, and his family, the family of God. Take a big breath. Pray. Smile. And do your job.
Can we talk?
Nobody said our job was easy. There is no step by step manual, actually there are thousands, and none of them give the perfect blue print for your child. Plenty will give advice, some might even help. But if you are like me, there are times when you feel inadequate and alone – and times when you fail miserably.
What am I talking about? Parenthood!
Our culture doesn’t help. Families are often isolated from extended family. Cultural messages include “anything goes.” Both parents work. Often one parent is both mom AND dad. We live in fear of safety, or the lack of it. Some children have learning problems, ADHD, autism, and other challenges. It’s hard…
It makes for a lively debate to compare the challenge of parenting to 20, 200, or 2000 years ago but the bottom line is – Parenting is HARD! It is also perhaps the most important responsibility we will ever have. And there are joys, oh yes, there are rewards! I pray that you can experience them!
I don’t pretend to have answers but please accept these words of advice:
LOVE – Love covers a host of sins. Your children need your love more than anything in the world, sacrificial love, unconditional love, love that is willing to do hard things, love that knows when to back off or even let go. Are you struggling here? Go to Jesus; he is the source.
PRIORITIZE – Make faith and character development the most important priority for your children. Any accomplishment is life is hollow without faith and character. Make education the next priority. Education is the vehicle for your child to accomplish what God has in store for him or her.
GET HELP – You can’t go alone. Find a CHURCH to help you. Then find a SCHOOL that will be a partner – a school like CCCS. God’s Kingdom is not a place for rugged individualists. Get help.
Parents, we have a difficult job, an important responsibility, but we don’t have to do it alone. God gives us the tools to do the job; his love, his Word, and his family, the family of God. Take a big breath. Pray. Smile. And do your job.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Snow Day
Dear Friends,
I talked to Ryan and Emily on Tuesday night and both were as giddy and excited as I have seen in a while. Why the sudden elation? SNOW DAY! Calvin College cancelled classes for Wednesday, the first cancellation since the famous 1976 ice storm. Wednesday provided white out conditions and two feet of snow – and no classes!
The irony of the situation is that I was there for the notorious ice storm in 1976. I wasn’t aware that classes were cancelled so I backed the old Plymouth on the street and wondered, “where is the traffic?” You would think the tree limbs in the road would be a clue. I drove around them. The car kept sliding so I drove in the center and glided to a stop two blocks from home. Slowly, the old Plymouth slid to the right and bumped into the curb. That was enough for me! I got out and walked home, skated really, through trees coated with ice, prisms of light, and only three falls. No school!
Snow and ice were not the issues in my days as principal and transportation director at Hanford Christian in the Big Valley; FOG was the problem. It wasn’t fun for me. I started getting calls by 5:00 a.m. from “spotters” that lived along various bus routes. By 6:00, before the buses left, I had to make a call. Postpone or not? Families tuned to Public Television and watched the strip on the screen that announced cancellations. Before 9:00, I had to decide whether or not to cancel the buses for the day. I think we averaged about two “fog days” per year. What excitement!
In my many years at Contra Costa Christian Schools, I’ve never called a snow day, an ice day, or a fog day. Thankfully, I’ve never called a “flood day” or “earthquake day.” We should be grateful for the wonderful weather and conditions that we take for granted here in the East Bay. But seriously, wouldn’t it be fun to have a snow day?
I talked to Ryan and Emily on Tuesday night and both were as giddy and excited as I have seen in a while. Why the sudden elation? SNOW DAY! Calvin College cancelled classes for Wednesday, the first cancellation since the famous 1976 ice storm. Wednesday provided white out conditions and two feet of snow – and no classes!
The irony of the situation is that I was there for the notorious ice storm in 1976. I wasn’t aware that classes were cancelled so I backed the old Plymouth on the street and wondered, “where is the traffic?” You would think the tree limbs in the road would be a clue. I drove around them. The car kept sliding so I drove in the center and glided to a stop two blocks from home. Slowly, the old Plymouth slid to the right and bumped into the curb. That was enough for me! I got out and walked home, skated really, through trees coated with ice, prisms of light, and only three falls. No school!
Snow and ice were not the issues in my days as principal and transportation director at Hanford Christian in the Big Valley; FOG was the problem. It wasn’t fun for me. I started getting calls by 5:00 a.m. from “spotters” that lived along various bus routes. By 6:00, before the buses left, I had to make a call. Postpone or not? Families tuned to Public Television and watched the strip on the screen that announced cancellations. Before 9:00, I had to decide whether or not to cancel the buses for the day. I think we averaged about two “fog days” per year. What excitement!
In my many years at Contra Costa Christian Schools, I’ve never called a snow day, an ice day, or a fog day. Thankfully, I’ve never called a “flood day” or “earthquake day.” We should be grateful for the wonderful weather and conditions that we take for granted here in the East Bay. But seriously, wouldn’t it be fun to have a snow day?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Family Salute!
Dear Friends,
President Obama said something in his State of the Union Address that caused me to stand and applause (along with the legislators). To paraphrase, he told parents to take responsibility for children, hold education in high regard, and set high expectations.
I have learned both professionally as an educator, and personally as parent, that the most important influence toward a successful education is the attitudes and nurture at home. Other influences are also important, like work habits, ability, and quality of instruction. But nothing is as important as the love and nurture of parents.
So, I salute the families of Contra Costa Christian Schools!
Thanks for providing a home full of love and faith.
Thanks for partnering with teachers to provide the right environment for students to thrive!
Without your support, we the staff could not do our job. You are the key. Let me encourage you to strengthen your homes, grab hold of your faith, and make education a priority!
President Obama said something in his State of the Union Address that caused me to stand and applause (along with the legislators). To paraphrase, he told parents to take responsibility for children, hold education in high regard, and set high expectations.
I have learned both professionally as an educator, and personally as parent, that the most important influence toward a successful education is the attitudes and nurture at home. Other influences are also important, like work habits, ability, and quality of instruction. But nothing is as important as the love and nurture of parents.
So, I salute the families of Contra Costa Christian Schools!
Thanks for providing a home full of love and faith.
Thanks for partnering with teachers to provide the right environment for students to thrive!
Without your support, we the staff could not do our job. You are the key. Let me encourage you to strengthen your homes, grab hold of your faith, and make education a priority!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
His Image
Dear Parents,
I sold him short. The high school English class had a strong speech component. In the first weeks of school, each of us had to get up in front of class and make a short speech. He bombed. In fact, he seemed afraid. I wrote him off. Big mistake. By the end of the year, I saw him as a gifted athlete, great singer, above average student, and good friend. When we were together, I did the talking, but he did the planning. In my immature mind, I saw his fear of public speaking as an indication of weakness. I soon learned that he was an impressive individual, one that I looked up to. We have touched bases a few times over the years. He has learned to cope with his fear – and is a successful businessman.
I was reminded of my old friend after watching THE KINGS SPEECH, this past weekend. After the abdication of his brother, “Bertie” became the King of England at the crucial period of history leading up to World War II. Now King George, Bertie had to overcome a severe stutter that was so debilitating that most had written him off as incompetent. They were wrong. I won’t ruin the movie by divulging more details; I recommend the movie. (The R rating, I assume, is due to the use of swearing words, a part of his unorthodox speech therapy.)
Many of us have a tendency to jump to conclusions about those that have a disability of any sort. I was guilty in my younger days but I’d like to think that I am wiser now. The truth is, we are all flawed in some way, and some flaws are more obvious than others… It is time to see each other as God sees us – created in His image.
I sold him short. The high school English class had a strong speech component. In the first weeks of school, each of us had to get up in front of class and make a short speech. He bombed. In fact, he seemed afraid. I wrote him off. Big mistake. By the end of the year, I saw him as a gifted athlete, great singer, above average student, and good friend. When we were together, I did the talking, but he did the planning. In my immature mind, I saw his fear of public speaking as an indication of weakness. I soon learned that he was an impressive individual, one that I looked up to. We have touched bases a few times over the years. He has learned to cope with his fear – and is a successful businessman.
I was reminded of my old friend after watching THE KINGS SPEECH, this past weekend. After the abdication of his brother, “Bertie” became the King of England at the crucial period of history leading up to World War II. Now King George, Bertie had to overcome a severe stutter that was so debilitating that most had written him off as incompetent. They were wrong. I won’t ruin the movie by divulging more details; I recommend the movie. (The R rating, I assume, is due to the use of swearing words, a part of his unorthodox speech therapy.)
Many of us have a tendency to jump to conclusions about those that have a disability of any sort. I was guilty in my younger days but I’d like to think that I am wiser now. The truth is, we are all flawed in some way, and some flaws are more obvious than others… It is time to see each other as God sees us – created in His image.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Heroes
Dear Friends,
Our chapel speaker this past week identified a few heroes of faith in her life. Every person has a story. She grew up in a home where addiction played a key role. Her father was an alcoholic, her mother had food addictions. They weren’t bad people, just not there, not loving, not healthy. From a young age, our chapel speaker and her brother had a nanny. “Rose” was a Christian and showed love to the children through her attention, discipline, and protection. She was the “hands of Christ” to the two kids. She loved them and prayed for them. Our chapel speaker was able to rise above the circle of addiction and now clearly sees how Rose was her hero.
Who are the heroes of faith in your life story? Our chapel speaker would encourage you, like she did to our students, to identify those people who had a positive effect on your life and say “thank you.” Do it before it is too late.
And what about you? Are you a hero of faith? How is God using you to be his hands and feet? I’ve asked myself these questions and have to admit to a bit of discomfort as I ponder the answers. How about you?
Our chapel speaker this past week identified a few heroes of faith in her life. Every person has a story. She grew up in a home where addiction played a key role. Her father was an alcoholic, her mother had food addictions. They weren’t bad people, just not there, not loving, not healthy. From a young age, our chapel speaker and her brother had a nanny. “Rose” was a Christian and showed love to the children through her attention, discipline, and protection. She was the “hands of Christ” to the two kids. She loved them and prayed for them. Our chapel speaker was able to rise above the circle of addiction and now clearly sees how Rose was her hero.
Who are the heroes of faith in your life story? Our chapel speaker would encourage you, like she did to our students, to identify those people who had a positive effect on your life and say “thank you.” Do it before it is too late.
And what about you? Are you a hero of faith? How is God using you to be his hands and feet? I’ve asked myself these questions and have to admit to a bit of discomfort as I ponder the answers. How about you?
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