Proper Distinctions

Is sanctification Law or Gospel? This has been a topic of discussion in the Smith household for a few days now...

Four years ago today.

Distraction

I was ready for school to start. It's exciting to be working with older students. Even though it's more difficult, I find that reading about the political intrigues of the Italian Renaissance is much more enjoyable than figuring out how to teach 7-year-olds what sounds "th" makes.

But there is a different way in which I was looking forward to school. It provides me with a built-in distraction from so many burdens. I don't mean to complain because, yes, things could be a lot worse and, yes, despite my cares I am still immensely blessed. Yet to acknowledge that doesn't flip a magical switch and remove the sadness that I carry.

The story is that when Martin Luther was depressed, he threw himself into his work. I definitely think it's more desirable to do that than to sit around and wallow in self-pity. If I'm focusing on something worthwhile, something immediate, and something emotionally neutral, then I'm NOT focusing on sorrow, and pain, and loss. How can that be a bad thing?

A couple of nights ago as I was falling asleep, I was thinking about what happens when I stop and step back from my work. Where has my distraction led me? I take my head out of the sand and the crosses I bear are as real as ever. What's worse is that in using my job as a set of blinders to take my eyes off of the hurt I risk blinding myself to the good things in life. A long walk in cool twilight. New songs on the radio. Enjoying a drink and cigar on the deck with my husband. The pleasure of rambling about whatever strikes my fancy at my computer. Picking garden ripe tomatoes. The joy of decorating my house. A thoughtful gift from a good friend.

Yes, I was looking forward to school for its value as a distraction. I'm sure it will remain a temptation for me to treat it as one. But I need to remind myself that it's not worth taking my eyes off of what is important.

Calculators are Magic!

School has been in session for one week today. This time last year I was in a daze, a fog of insensibility brought on by the overwhelming realization that I don't know anything! It's one thing to go to school and earn a degree, but try teaching children - of any age - something...anything. Maybe it's just me, but the more I teach, the more I have to come to terms with my own ignorance. It's quite humbling, actually.

But today was a little different. Today I actually taught my algebra 1 students something: scientific calculators do fractions. I had taken for granted that they knew how to use their calculators. "I wish we could do fractions on this thing," one girl said. "You can," I said, half thinking she was making a very weird joke. I guess I thought people were born knowing how to use a calculator.

I know it's just a little thing, but the light bulbs that went on for those kids when they realized how to enter "five-ninths" into their calculators without having to make it a decimal was oddly rewarding for me. "This thing was SO worth six bucks!" according to one boy. Yes, that was my triumph of the day. Now if only I could get that to happen with an actual lesson...

Carnivorous Foliage

This is incredible. It's like something out of a bad science fiction movie. Seriously, though, God's creation is amazing, isn't it? Hey, Adriane, you'd better watch your sunglasses around this one...

Better than "Cash for Clunkers"

This is too good. Just listen to the concessions the news anchor makes when debating this guy.

Latin is Cool

Did you know that the Latin word "liber" means both "free" and "book"? They are pronounced slightly differently ("lih-bear" for book; "lee-bear" for free). Despite the pronunciation difference, I can't get past the idea that the identical spelling is no coincidence.

In ancient times, free men were educated men. They received a classical, or "liberal" education. Being educated meant, among other things, that you could read a book. There is a freedom, a liber-ty, in being able to pick up a book and learn.

Today I hear about people reading in order to escape troubled circumstances in life. Libraries (see the "liber" there?) invite children to step into new worlds through reading. Poor, underprivileged students can "hit the books," work hard, and better their lives. These are all types of freedom.

In order to maintain freedom, a people must not neglect education. Books are portals to new realms, and education unlocks the doors. If children don't learn to read, they will inevitably be uneducated as adults, burdened with quite a handicap. But what about kids who learn to read, but don't learn to love to read? It's disturbing when people admit they never take time to read books. Freedom is linked to education.

Consider, also, the 1,000+ pages long bills rushed through the legislature which many members of Congress don't read entirely before voting on. The bills aren't read, and our freedom is chipped away.

The Romans were no dummies. The Latin words for "free" and "book" are intimately related, and we should take note of that today. Turn off the TV for a while, and pick up a book.