viral color status, decoder rings, and t.m.i.

viral color status, decoder rings, and t.m.i.

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Goodbye and welcome

I am going to switch my blogging efforts from blogspot over to my new page. Eventually, it should pull up from blog.innovideocreative.com but for now go to the primary site, www.innovideocreative.com and click on "blog this." We'll see how hosting with MobileMe and building solely with iWeb works in the long run. See you soon.

Basin and towel

I was going to call this "Supposed To, Part ___" (whatever it would be now), but that's getting old. Suffice it to recognize that at precisely the moment I assume I know how things are going to go, I am reminded that I am not the one writing the script. A week ago, even just over two days ago, I assumed that come today I would be sitting on the long bus ride bringing our group of 47 students and adults home from Duluth MN. Instead, I crawled into bed at dawn Thursday morning after riding the "sick bus" home all night, and have spent a day and a half "laying low" so as not to make anyone (including Rene) sick with H1N1, a.k.a. swine flu. What?

It's still a bit bizarre to think about. And it's way up there on the list of unusual things that have happened on CCC mission trips... although a completely uneventful trip might be unusual now. I think back to many powerful, emotional memories over these trips. My first trip (to St. Louis) was before the YouthWorks days, and that first night of no power, no A/C, no ventilation, and 80 degree heat throughout the night forever stained that pillowcase with sweat. The first trip Rene and I went on together involved a phone interview for a teaching job in Florida that I accepted, only to return to KS two weeks later. My first Green Bay trip was a whirlwind of driving an empty van after waiting for parents to pick up a student before we even got to Green Bay, getting lost while jogging, scraping up the side of the van, accidentally leaving two students at a ministry site, having my head shaved (on purpose!), and literally carrying a student into a restroom because he was so sick he couldn't walk. What student will ever forget being first on the scene of the motorcycle-vs.-SUV accident on the way to Mt. Rushmore, and I believe the last night of that trip solidified friendship into brotherhood among a group of guys in the class of 2011 that endures to this day. Last year was our first trip with the CCC-CFBC sister church partnership, and I believe Christ's bride becomes more beautiful each time we join our church families.

So, who would expect the latest trip, my first without Rene since we got married and my first to Duluth, would be any different? The trip started well. I loved spending time with "my" 7th grade guys that I had worked with the past year, plus had two of the CFBC guys in my room at, get this, the Embassy Suites! The host church in Duluth had real character. It was right by the Canal area, and from the boys' sleeping room we had a spectacular view of Lake Superior. My team was all 7th graders from CCC, and I felt like they were really willing to work hard.

Then came the sickies. A handful of students stayed back from roller skating on Monday, and 11 ended up staying back from ministry sites on Tuesday. We tried to manage and reconfigure teams to allow sick kids to rest, and recovering ones to contribute without exposing Duluthians at high risk (for example at nursing homes). But it wasn't until we had a student test positive for H1N1 that everything changed in an instant. Instead of heading back out to ministry sites that afternoon, we were hurriedly packing for an early trip home that would last long into the night. While all of us had been exposed, those students who had been symptomatic rode a separate bus home.

My initial reflection is how blessed we were to have such an amazing team of leadership that handled an incredibly difficult situation with grace and calm. Alan has blogged briefly along our trip home, and I agree with his thoughts 100%, especially in honoring the people who made such an impact on getting us home quickly and safely. He also brings up the bigger question of "Why?" Why did God allow this illness to cut our trip short after the kids and leaders had worked so hard to get there? I don't have any answers, and what follows is only my opinion, from my limited perspective. In the weeks to come, I trust Alan and Emily will lead our group in processing this disappointing truncation (ooo big word).

Having experienced numerous CCC(-CFBC)/YouthWorks trips, I think back to what is valuable about these short-term, stateside missions experiences for middle school students. I think what comes up over and over is that by loving and serving a community other than your own, you learn to better recognize the needs in your own. But even more significantly, the powerful shared experiences in the context of a faith community draws the group together to a degree unlikely in any other arena. I believe that both of these goals, for lack of a better word, were accomplished, although not in the way that we might have expected.

Focusing on my own experience, I feel like God's hand of protection was powerfully upon the adult leadership. While about half the students had some symptoms (not necessarily that they had swine flu), not one adult experienced symptoms that would sideline them when needed most. Both during the ministry days as student after student began to feel ill, and on the ride home, I felt empowered to lay my concerns for my own health aside to do what I could to care for. The CCC mission statement begins, "We desire to be a caring family..." What do families do better than care for each other when they are sick? Perhaps having so many among us become sick will cause us to learn to show care, concern, and love for each other regardless of the surroundings or circumstances.

The moment that I have come to cherish the most is during the final night of the trip during evening "Club." Reflecting on Jesus' startling act of service in John 13, the YouthWorks staff wash the feet of the adult leaders from each group, and those leaders in turn wash the feet of the students with whom they have served during the week. I still remember a 12-year-old's tears of repentance and brokenness joining the soapy water as I washed his feet that very first YW trip. More than anything else, I mourn the loss of that moment with my guys. But then I remember that what was before a symbolic act of service became true and real this week. Each of us as leaders were given an extraordinary opportunity to pick up the "basin and towel" and serve kids in a scary and uncertain situation. I had the chance to reconnect with some of my now 8th grade guys that I probably would not have except for this unusual week. Better, I rejoiced to hear them reflect on how they learned to trust God like never before, and had worked through some difficult questions and doubts before God in those hours spent stuck in the church.

So, the bar has been set high again. What could possibly make next year's trip more memorable than this? I continue to pray for the recovery of those who fell ill, whether they do in fact have swine flu. And I eagerly await the end of the recommended "lay low" quarantine. So far I have no symptoms, so I should be in the clear and able to have Rene come back home from her parents'! Blessings, and thanks for your continued prayers.

Back soon

Just a quick note to say I'll be blogging again... I hope. A long overdue post will address "Moving Forward." Keep an eye out.

Supposed to, Part II

It's been almost a year since my last post, and it is certainly time for an update. At last check, if all you know is my blog at least, I was hurtling headlong into the school year as a 4th grade teacher. Quick recap.... I committed during the fall semester to stay the length of the school year if needed. In November, the teacher formalized her leave for the whole school year, and the kids were notified that I would be there all year. On New Year's Day (shortly before school resumed from winter break), the teacher passed away from various health complications. Most of the kids were not shaken too badly, as they had not even really known her other than a brief moment the week before school had started. The other teachers were impacted quite a bit, especially those that had taught with her for as long as 14 years. In fact, one of the other teachers on the 4th grade team had been her cooperating teacher. Two of these teachers had the task of going through years of materials in her filing cabinets and closets, and had to give away or throw away mountains of books, workbooks, borders, posters, toys, craft supplies, and various other knickknacks.

Fast forward to about April. I found out that the gifted ed position at this school that I had hoped I could fill upon the past teacher's retirement was in fact going to be filled internally by reallocating an existing teacher's assignment. Just like that, my bubble popped. Let me explain that - I had this idea in my head, for some fairly good reasons, that I would transition into full-time/ contracted teaching after doing an all-year long-term assignment like that. Two things prevented it from happening. 1. I still had not completed the coursework required to renew my teaching license, which would have qualified me to accept a position even if I wasn't fully licensed yet to do gifted. 2. The cessation of a certain chunk of state funding created a gap that most school districts addressed my tightening their outside hiring - this hit especially hard this year.

So, it would seem I really did miss the boat by not having my license in place over a year ago. If I had, I might have simply requested a transfer to this other position. Instead, I ended the school year with absolutely no idea what I was going to do the following year, let alone during the summer.

Jump to Memorial Day, having lunch at my in-laws'. One of my father-in-law's many charms (bless his heart), is that he is never intimidated to speak his mind. In a moment with the gals in the other room, he kind of laid into me and said some things that, while they stung at the time, really lit a fire under me to seriously evaluate my direction. I really didn't want to hear someone say, "It's time you considered whether you're supposed to be a teacher." But after stewing until the next day, I plunged into Careerbuilder and started sending my resume to a number of job listings. I tried to focus on positions my "other" degree in psychology might qualify me for, but many of them were looking for a licensed social worker. For whatever reason, I also submitted my information to several listings for marketing and sales jobs that said no sales experience was required. What the heck, I figured.

The next week, I had FIVE interviews for these sales and marketing jobs. Most were very cursory and almost seemed like a waste of time. One was even a "group" interview. Weird. But in one interview with a multi-state regional manager for a health insurance sales company, something sparked my imagination. I distinctly remember her banging her hand (with an enomrous diamond ring she had won by producing over $1 million in business) on the table and saying, "Oh, Andrew, you guys deserve better than that!" I had just told her what Rene does for her job. Now, Rene loves her work, and I have loved teaching, but something about her statement, along with my father-in-law's, just got stuck in my craw. By the end of the second week in June, I had signed a contract with that company, and spent from then until the last full week in June studying for and taking the licensing test so I could sell life and health insurance in Kansas and Missouri.

The week leading up to July 4 was our mission trip, and the following week was my three-day, very intensive training, primarily on product knowledge, but also a tiny bit on sales skills. After that came a week of essentially telemarketing. I had a large stack of names and numbers provided to me, but mostly of folks who weren't the least interested. Many were wrong or disconnected numbers, and most just never answered. Now, I realize that any sales job will involve "cold-calling," but there was just something off about the whole thing. I didn't realize how much it bothered me for almost two weeks.

Camp was the last full week of July. It was fantastic. Our speaker is a personal friend of several of the middle school pastors that were there, the programming was the best it's ever been, and I had an amazing group of boys to connect with. The day I dragged my tired self back home, Rene showed me a printout she had made from the Better Business Beareau website showing an unsatisfactory rating for my company, based on failure to address the underlying issues in numerous complaints. I had been wrestling in the background of my mind for many days already, and this seemed to confirm that this just wasn't the right situation.

That following Monday, I cancelled my contract. Fortunately, since I had not submitted any business for them, I did not have to deal with any kind of financial detritus that might have been an issue if I had been paid. Briefly - all commissions are advanced to agents, and if those customers cancel, the agent could actually owe the company instead of the other way around. So, it was back to the drawing board. I called back one of my other interviewers, this one with Farmers Insurance. I moved a little more deliberately toward a decision on this one. But, about a month later, here I am having earned a second set of licenses to sell property and casualty insurance as well (i.e. home, renters, auto, etc.). The training is much more in depth, and I am so much more comfortable with building a business the right way within this opportunity.

That's all I can say for right now. Tempus Fugit - time flies! The clock is bearing down on me and I need to run. Hoping I can post some additional thoughts on where I'm at in this journey. Thanks for reading.

Delighting

At our middle school Fall Retreat this weekend, we're focusing on Psalm 1. Specifically, the students are being challenged to consider what the "blessed man's" life is like. He avoids the wicked, sinners, and mockers' influence, but instead delights in meditating on God's law. What a rich source of inspiration for young believers to anchor to.

I went for an early morning jog today, venturing down Spoon Creek Road and past the I-35 underpass. Unlike most jogs, I went without the iPod today. It was a big change of pace to exercise and hear only the sounds of rural Miami County starting to wake up. After I was off of Camp's drive, the only motor traffic was on the highway.

As I puffed along, I let the words of that Psalm resonate within, and I was reminded of an old Eric Champion song called "At the River's Edge." I was a brand new believer when that song was in - get this - my Walkman (that was that device that played these things called "cassette tapes"). Getting old school like that made me think of the ground I've been over since 1991. In many ways, I miss the simplicity and enthusiasm of my early days as a Christian. I also realize that maturity (or just the passage of time) can cut both ways. I value the perspective and wisdom that only time can afford. Years of thinking theologically have brought me far beyond my immature and sometimes careless approach to life and faith.

But the thing I really miss about those days as a college student is the ability and appetite I seemed to have then to hang out in God's Word. It helped that some days I didn't have class until afternoon, and would be able to find quiet places on campus to sit with God and people assumed I was simply studying. There's a rhythm to the life of a college student living on campus that just can't be replicated for most of us.

It is often a struggle in life today to carve out times to really meditate on and delight in God's law. But apparently God still desires it for us. It's just a discipline and cannot be taken for granted.

As I rounded the bend this morning back onto Camp property, I was struck again by how much I appreciate and love this place. Between cabin leading and church retreats, I have intersected with literally hundreds of lives within this space. I can't begin to count all the conversations I've had or the friendships that have begun and continued at these benches, porches, tables, and walkways. I hope to be able to bless my own kids someday with their own YouthFront camp stories.

No more for now. The next item on our schedule is "One Mess Of a Time," and it's time to get ready.

Supposed to

I was supposed to go to a Royals game that night with my dad and brother. Instead I found myself frantic to hear the voices of anyone I loved on a cell phone that afternoon. September 11, 2001 was the first of many "supposed tos..." in the life of our country and world, but also in my own life, that didn't turn out as expected. But, had things happened the way they were supposed to, I would never be where I am. Had I stayed in the church situation I was at, I might never have met Rene. Just one of a multitude of ways God flipped the supposed to's on their heads for His greater purposes.

This year, I was "supposed to" be working full time in Olathe on a contract, but as you know, things didn't turn out that way. Then, I was "supposed to" be back to my normal fall routine of subbing here and there, including in a new district in addition to what I had been, plus the many groups at TimberRidge. Then, the day before school starts, I get a phone call asking if I can begin the school year for a 4th grade teacher at the same elementary I did the long-terms at last year. It is not certain how long this will last, so I'm proceeding as if it could last a while.

So, since then I've been in 4th grade land every day. It's a little outside my normal comfort zone, but the kids are great. Now if only they'd hand all their work in on time and think before they write things down! It's definitely a different rhythm than I'm used to. It's both refreshing and stressful to be completely in charge of a classroom again.

If I can get all my certification ducks in a row, being on this job really strengthens my chances for next year. Stay with me and I will try to keep you posted.