There's a moment when you're snowboarding when everything is peaceful. You have a view of the whole slope. The wind still whips past your face... but it's different. People whiz past below you. Bird's eye view for every epic wipe-out.
You're on the lift.
Then comes the moment of truth.
This is the point where I usually freak out. One time, on the chair by myself, I slipped getting off the lift. Screaming, I turned around to grab the chair slowly moving past. The chair didn't stop or slow. I slid down the exit slope and crumpled into a heap of board and body parts.
And even if you get off the lift successfully, you're still at the top of the hill! Ready to navigate the trees, the rocks, the cliffs and the jumps. People who board or ski for fun would say your skill helps you down the mountain. I hear that's how downhill snow sports are enjoyable. To me, after you let go of the chair lift it's anybody's game.
This weekend was the ride on the chairlift. Soul rest. Bird's eye view. The moment where you can watch your spit freeze as it falls for 100 feet.
Tomorrow, my board will try to hit the snow.
Tomorrow begins with junior high Halloween. It's a half-day (because of state budget cuts) so each class period is only 30 minutes long. And I'm giving quizzes to the 7th graders, then expecting them to understand and diagram the components of a pumpkin "system". And I'm asking the 9th graders to design an experiment that demonstrates a Law I only taught them on Friday. And then I'm going to run a lot of errands, meet with some high school senior girls, and hopefully write an entry for my National Boards portfolio. And maybe greet some trick-or-treaters if they show up.
This week is a week of Kingdom work. "Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Mark 9:38
Our youth team is hosting an illustrated sermon two nights this week, to accommodate a hopeful combined audience of 600 students. Many of my former and current students will be there. They'll hear how Satan continues to lie to us, how he convinces us we are worthless. But they'll hear that God wins, too. They will hear that God has always been there, alongside them. They will hear the Gospel.
Our youth team is ready to bleed and sweat for our students this week. We already cry for them. We already pray for them. We already fight for them. We trust the Lord of the harvest for transformation.
These are the moguls on the ski hill. The moments that take your breath away.
As the week winds down, the 9th graders will take a unit test. I hope they study faithfully. I hope they ask the questions that help me to see what they understand and what they still need to.
Friday, I will pack up their quizzes. I will pack my carry-on bag. I will get into Megan's little white car.
If God wills and Friday comes, I'll get onto a red-eye flight and wake up in Newark, NJ. Praying that the snow has literally melted by next week!!! Then, another flight should take us to Santo Domingo. After two long years (and a few months extra) I will get to be back in the Dominican Republic.
That will begin a week in the DR and Haiti. Collecting stories of how God has transformed lives of students in Barahona's poorest neighborhoods. Collecting stories of how friends from Silverdale are bringing medical healing to families in Barahona. Collecting stories of a church beginning in the border batey of Los Robles. Collecting stories of the new program beginning for 13 students whose lives changed in the January 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Maybe, I'll even meet Isaura, the young woman I sponsor. Or any of the children that my dear friends sponsor in the DR.
I'm starting to see how people can enjoy snowboarding. Skiing even.
Wipeouts are worth it. Lord, use our mistakes to shape us more and more like you.
Coming back from Hispaniola, I'll jump straight back into madness. Conferencing week. Grades due. Catching up on e-mails. Youth leader retreat.
But oh, by Thanksgiving! Resting by the fireplace with family and friends, I hope to look back on this month even more in awe of our great God. In the lodge, all things are made new.
I wonder if we'll get to snowboard in Heaven.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
I can't wait to hear about your visit to the DR.
ReplyDeleteI love you!