As I wrote in my last post, that first Christmas program at the detention center was truly remarkable. The following Monday the students were still immersed in the afterglow of their wonderful performance. Our school morning began by rehashing the great event. I, too, was still feeling the euphoria, and I was eager to let them know how proud I was of them. “I thought the whole program was perfect!” I told them. “At first I thought maybe I was…
When I think back on the years I taught at detention, I’m always a bit surprised to realize how big a role music played. I never really planned it that way—it just sort of happened. In the later years, we relied on CDs, a keyboard, YouTube and the whole internet to accompany us. During my first Christmas season at detention, however, we had only cassettes, vinyl records, and good old “a cappella.” Despite the limited technology available, we started singing…
Because it’s November, the month of Thanksgiving, we’re all a bit more tuned in to gratitude. Important reminders of keeping gratitude journals resurface. Some people send Thanksgiving cards to let others know how dear they are. At holiday dinners, everyone at the table names one thing they’re grateful for. Churches come together for community Thanksgiving celebrations. And it’s the kick-off for generous charitable giving opportunities. All these things are very good! But I just can’t leave it at that. Because…
In celebration of a milestone birthday this week, I’ve spent a little time reflecting on the experiences I’ve had throughout my life. What stands out most in my mind is how much I’ve evolved from the incredibly shy little girl who began this journey. This became more apparent following a recent experience on the road. My 91-year-old father has dementia. Although he thinks he never has visitors, my siblings and I take turns visiting him every weekend. A couple weekends…
I learned over and over again that I didn’t have to have all the answers to teach detention center kids. I learned I wasn’t there to fix a single one of them. And I learned sometimes what seemed like my most meager efforts uplifted these kids’ souls. Our states and capital lessons started this way. At detention, I looked for activities appropriate for the varying ages and academic levels of my students. I wanted lessons to draw them together despite…
Wisdom—I like to believe I’ve gained a lot of it over the course of my life. I can certainly talk the talk, confident about how I should respond to the challenges I’m bound to face from time to time. “Remember to stay in the moment.” “Focus on breathing deeply.” “Say a prayer and then release it to God.” “Relax!” “Don’t waste your energy on worrying.” “Just walk through the experience.” Oh yes, I know all the right things to tell…
Because of the constant turnover at juvenile detention, new students arrived often. One morning it was a tall, slender 16-year-old named Anthony. He swaggered into the classroom with a “don’t-you-dare-mess-with-me” arrogance. When I’d meet students like Anthony, I would try to cajole them into a better mood. I wanted them to let go of their defensive facades and to become one with the group. My efforts, however, weren’t always successful. I certainly made no progress that day with Anthony. Maybe…
“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” -Scott Adams My dear friend Connie has been battling stage 4 breast cancer for about 6-1/2 years. Through it all she has carried on valiantly, a fierce warrior woman refusing to let the diagnosis keep her from doing the things she deems important. More than once she has walked right up to death’s door, then fought her way back to…
Several years ago I heard a song by the Avett Brothers, and I loved it—the message, the melody, and especially the cello. That instrument just speaks to my soul! Recently I started listening to more of their music, and my admiration for their talent continues to grow. I realize I’m a latecomer to jump on the band’s fan wagon, but I’m here now. And I am all in! I have particularly fallen in love with their song “No Hard Feelings.” I…
Today is my dad’s 91st birthday. My wish for him—what all of us would desperately love to give him, is the gift of peace and comfort. I think he knows he is loved by his family and friends, but it still falls short of what he really needs. In this case, love just isn’t enough. This weekend marks the third anniversary of my mother’s death. She’d had dementia, and in her final years she slept a lot and showed little…