Up at night

Remember those all-nighters you pulled as a college student? I've never been much into that! And our kids did most of their homework in school, just like we did. After we understood things, we'd just get to work: we all hated bringing schoolwork home.

But once in a while - like last night - there's too much work to cram into the hours of the day. When I sat down with my grammar textbook yesterday, I wasn't in the mood for workbook exercises. The assignment was due last week, but I'd been away all weekend on a ministry retreat. (The prof had extended grace in advance.)

Restaurant Zoe

Yesterday after class, we'd scheduled our goodbye-for-the-summer dinner with friends at Restaurant Zoe in Capitol Hill. It's well worth a celebratory visit!

Then we hurried home. I got to work before 8pm. On top of this week's reading and writing, I needed to get that grammar text off my shelf. I decided to bite the bullet and get the work done in one gulp.

When I looked up, it was 1 a.m. Yeah, I was exhausted and my handwriting had devolved into a scribble, but the pages were full. I slapped shut the book, read about Elijah (2 Kings 4-8), and fell soundly asleep by 1:30.

These few marathon efforts make me appreciate everything we have. A warm bed. A quiet neighborhood. The dark of the forest outside the window. The kids grown and gone. The privilege of books. Our love of learning. An alarm clock.

Bright and early this morning, I woke to sunshine streaming in. By 7 a.m. I was on my way to school. I'm in the last of four weeks of TESOL classes. W and I have obligations each evening this week. In between, we're packing for Springfield: 2 weeks of Pre-Field Orientation lie ahead, starting Saturday. Before we leave, we have to pack for a month of teaching in Singapore, too: we'll just come in overnight to fly out again.

What keeps you up at night?

Read more:

*Listen to my words, Lord, consider my sighing. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:1-3 NIV

*The Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. Isaiah 52:12 (NLT)

*Paul and Barnabas related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. Acts 14:27 (NLT)

Moravian Prayer: All-powerful, all-knowing God, at times it is easy for us to forget all that you have done for us, and all that you continue to do. In the busyness and stress of everyday living, help us find your strength in us. Amen.

A grammar grandma

It takes me longer to synthesize information and write stuff now. I used to whip out assignments, but now I want to think about what they mean. Silly me!

This week we're relearning English grammar in our TESOL class. Today we went through clauses, phrases, kinds of verbs (12!), adverbials, and more.

If I zone out for an instant, I feel like I've lost track of where we are. My head was spinning: it reminded me of algebra where everything makes sense until you open the book at home. Then it's blah blah blah - and "didn't this make sense 5 hours ago?"

I've just wrapped up an assignment ... and found there is nowhere to post it. Maybe it was deleted from our requirements and I blinked at that time ... and didn't hear we didn't have to do it. Oh well, it's late and time for bed. I learned something from reading it and writing my paper, so that's a bonus.

This is all part of what I'm learning in prep for Indonesia. I don't know how God will use this information. At the very least, it's reminding me of how complicated English is.

It should be helpful for the Research Methodology class I teach this summer in Singapore.  That classroom is usually filled with students whose second or third language is English... and I have to teach them to write a coherent paper in 2 weeks. Good luck to us all!

What have you had to learn that doesn't seem to have a purpose? Found out anything lately that seemed so random or out-of-the-ordinary that you just shook your head?

We might not know why God brings things to our attention. But "paying attention" is important, day after day. We read scripture, pray for guidance, and then do what is at hand. Grammar wasn't high on my list, but here we are. What's on your list today?

Read more: 
*But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Psalm 19:12 NLT

*Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary. Isaiah 40:30-31 NLT

*When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy. Titus 3:4-5 NLT

*It is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 NLT

Moravian Prayer: Father God, we praise you as our Creator. Lord Jesus, we thank you for your sacrificial death. Holy Spirit, we are grateful for your constant advocacy. Triune God, fill us with your love and power that we may worship in wonder, work without growing weary, and wait patiently to know your will.

Almighty God, you know us completely. We all sin and fall short of your glory, but Christ’s death saves us from the punishment we deserve. Keep us strong and sure in a world of sin and strife. We ask this trusting in your divine mercy. Amen.

Do you love learning?

#1. The eager learner

We're in the second of four weeks of TESOL classes. My ears ring from morning to night with information and music. We have Pandora radio on during working breaks. I can focus on the exercises during those breaks ... with headphones blocking the music. Yeah, I'm one of those who has to focus if I care to remember something.

My mind roves between reading, hearing the information, and distractions. Any sound, sight, smell, taste, texture can derail my attention. A conversation or song lyric will weave itself into my notes and later I'll think, "What's this!? Where did that come from?"

I've learned to go with what's in my head. By now, I know what works for me. When info intake is systematic, I can access data later, creatively pulling together entire new ideas and options. When intake is chaotic or random, I probably can't retrieve the information without checking my notes. Regardless, I love learning.

#5. The resistant learner

What kind of a learner are you? Here are some possibilities:

1. Eager learner - no matter what comes your way, you want to know more about it. Where and how it fits in is less important than the excitement of learning something new. C'est moi.
2. Analytical learner - you sort and categorize things as you ingest them.
3. Reflective learner - you mull over what you're learning and connect the new to what you already know.
4. Intuitive learner - you instinctively can imagine why, where, and how the material could fit into the big picture. You grasp a good approximation of the material, either for later retrieval or further study.
5. Resistant learner - you're comfortable and don't want to change your mind (or your life) so you don't want to learn anything new.

Most of us identify with each of the above, depending on the information and our time of life.

• What is God calling you to learn this week? This month? This year? 
• What opportunities do you have to absorb new things and change how you think? how you behave? how you serve or work?
• Are you embracing or resisting learning? Why?

From Real Simple

Read more:

*Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? Job 38:36 NLT

*You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1 NLT

*Jesus said to Peter, “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” Luke 22:32 NLT

*Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:26-28 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Jesus, Savior, hear our prayers. You know our earnest desires, our deepest needs, and our unspoken cares. Keep our hearts and minds fixed on you so our faith remains strong. Amen.

Was meint das? (What does that mean?)

I'm back in school. This time, I'm working toward a TESOL certification, learning to teach English to speakers of other languages. We're whistling through four semesters in the next four weeks of summer school.

My kids raved about Prof Suzan Kobashigawa, who teaches in the university's Arts and Humanities department. She taught Japanese to our daughter and other course to our sons. Our children enjoyed her interactive, hands-on style that stretched beyond the classroom into fun activities in the community. They tasted international food, watched international movies, and learned about culture. I'm doing the same - and what joy it is to have a good teacher.

Language reflects the values and thought processes of its people group. For example, I didn't realize how regimented German was until I taught it to our children. I drew alphabet cards with animals to match the phonics and wrote a song for each. Then I found out that "a" (ah) sounded the same in nearly every combination: if you learned the "note" each letter made, you could combine the notes  to make words, much like singing a tune. Our kids easily picked up German reading and transferred it to English, which was much more flexible and complicated.

We don't always know the meaning for what we're called to do. Sometimes we move ahead and just do what's in front of us because we know we should. The reason why I'd spent five years on a doctorate became apparent this spring. And this class? I've already learned new several ways to teach, which I'll apply to a class in Singapore this summer.

I'm grateful. Every piece God puts together feeds into the work we are assigned. Sitting in Suzan's classroom reminds me how gifted teachers provide opportunities for students. Looking around at the students, I can't wait to hear how they change the world.

Read more:

*“In this place I will give peace,” says the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:9 (NKJV)

*Through Christ God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:2 NLT

*And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 2 John 5-6 NIV

Moravian Prayer: Our lives, our nation, and our world are racked with sin and unrighteousness. We long for peace, Father God. Help us to turn away from evil. We pray that the peace that passes all understanding may fill our minds and hearts and keep us safe in Christ Jesus. Shalom and Amen.

Lent Day 36: What excites you?

Jodi Detrick is one of three master coaches teaching us principles of coaching. She exclaimed, "When I took coach training, I found what I was made for." (R paraphrase)

I'm with Jodi. I would be honored to copycat her any day of the week, but this instance would actually be a good fit. At the end of the day, the coaching practise (on fellow class members) felt relaxing AND energizing. As I listened to the stories and watched the process of coaching, I experienced God's delight at the various journeys of His children. For me, coaching and observing the coaching process resonated as an act of worship.

Many came to the class already gifted in helping others find their way. These learners are filling their toolbox with new tools.

For some, the coaching ideas were new and a stretch: "I didn't know what questions to ask." "I didn't know what to say as the coach." "I found myself giving advice from my experience instead of listening to what the person I was coaching wanted to talk about." Luckily, we have a few more days to clarify expectations and methodology.

Have you ever had someone say, "Find and follow your passion!" That's a stale-sounding buzz-phrase. What's passion, after all?

Whatever God has wired us to do will resonate from the tip of our head to the soles of our feet. We will find joy and completeness - or "our passion" - when we function in our design. It's worth taking the risk to fulfill the niche for which you and I are here, in this place, at this time, with our education (or lack of it), our personality, and our experience.

Whether or not you are an emotionally "passionate" person, embracing God's calling in YOUR work - whether that is at an assembly-line job or a creative flinging about the world - will produce harmony, peace, and wholeness. Jesus showed us how a human could live in perfect alignment to the Father, moving with joy and expectation through each wonderful and terrible day.

Our spiritual act of worship includes offering our bodies to God. We use our bodies to work. To play. To create. To restore. To produce. To rest.

Does the way you use your body each day glorify God and bring you healthy and holistic pleasure?

Read more:
*The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage. Psalm 16:6 NLT

*God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3 NIV

*Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

Moravian Prayer: In you, O Christ, all boundaries have fallen away. You taught us to see each other as siblings and friends, and invited us to see you in the faces of those in need. This day, may it be so. Amen.