Two questions I get asked

When I am asked if I miss DC, my first thought is "I am too busy to miss it" - but that is not the whole truth. Do I miss DC? Sure I do.  Whenever I see one of my former students or colleagues, I am immediately filled with joy. It makes me happy to see them. I miss getting to interact with them and knowing them better. I will especially miss not taking students on mission trips or to service projects and seeing them grow "right before my eyes." And I especially miss the people there who shared with me an incredible passion to serve God in that place and at that time.

But I don't mope for DC. I am busy, and I love what I am doing now. I have a new group of students that I am working with at both Commerce and Richland. I love getting to interact with them and to know them. And my doctoral classes keep me engaged and help me with my work. But none of this doesn't mean I don't miss the people at DC. There live, work and play some of the best people in the world - both students and adults.

Here is the second question I am sometimes asked:  "Do you know how things are going at DC?" I don't feel qualified to answer. I don't sit and talk or phone and chat with anyone there. This is an institution question. Even when you are working there, it is always a difficult question to answer. What exactly is being asked? How is the system, how is the community there as a whole?  Or what is teacher morale? Student morale? Academic achievement? Financial status? The spiritual focus of administration and faculty? Of the students? And, by the way, how do you measure any of it?

So, here is my answer: God bless all the people who serve at Dallas Christian School whether student, staff or parent. I pray that their eyes be open to the Lord Jesus in everything that they do, that they realize their place in the kingdom, serving kids, families, and the world that others ignore. If they will do that, their light will always shine and they will be doing quite well, thank-you-very-much.

Speaking of Purpose at DC

Seeing my ex-colleagues from DC and having the opportunity to speak to them was encouraging to me. Not only was it fun to see everyone and do some "catching up," it was a moment of reflection for me as I thought about how we still share the same passion for ministry even though the arenas for our work are different now. I wanted to encourage them with a couple of basic ideas that have helped me have a day-to-day understanding of my purpose in my life and work - whether the work was at DC or at the United States Post Office. My intent was that they could be reminded of their high calling at Dallas Christian. (In my other blog, "Since I Don's Preach," I am writing what is essentially, a two-part summary of the talk).

I think that in times of change, somethings need to stay firm and solid - like our purpose. Also, I think that our purpose in life should inform our purpose in the workplace. What anchors me in life and work comes from a scriptural understanding of God's purposes, his gifts and who I am.

So, I am wondering what is your purpose? How does your understanding of your purpose inform what you do on the job as well as your everyday activities?

First Christmas Post-DC

Christmas was a lot of fun this year for me. We had all the girls and their families at our house on Christmas Day - and this year, family included Kendall's boyfriend, Kevin, who was able to spend a few days with us over the holidays. We ate lots, talked and laughed a lot, and even got in a game of touch football. We also had Christmas two more times, once with my side of the family and another with Denise's side.

One major change this year was prompted on our part by our "new start" (which = less money!). We spent about the same amount of money on our grandkids as any other year, but we really cut back on gifts to our daughters and our son-in-laws. Instead, we made gifts for each other. From my point of view, this made for a Christmas that was especially significant.

For a long time I have felt like I have not really expressed what I feel for my kids through the gifts I have bought them. I know that all of us appreciate a "nice" gifts: money, gift cards, books, clothes, technology, etc. Things can be treasured as gifts that have been given as "signs" or "symbols"of love. But I think that when I purchase something or give money as a gift, I can do it almost without thought. When I make a gift, I can't help but think about it: I spend more time thinking about the person I am gifting as I decide on what to create and as I create it.

The girls made us and each other wonderful, beautiful gifts. They had some talents that we did not know about! For our part, Denise decoupaged art work for them using materials that had special significance for each family. I wrote poems for the girls and the son-in-laws and made a Ken Burns-style film using still photos where I tried to capture what we mean to each other.

Here is the poem I wrote for the girls. I am guessing that most moms and dads feel the same way about their kids.

5 Daughter Gift

When I was a young father                                                                                                                                                                  
Busy and Important
Someone told me that children were a gift
We don’t own them
They are just passing through                                      
And I thought that this was true
But it seemed at least a little
Strange.
A gift?

You were so entangled with every minute of our days
Changing your diapers
Making your dinners
Feeding you, dressing you, correcting you, laughing at you and with you.
Getting frustrated and happy and sad
Making “big” plans and small ones
Watching with wonder as you grew
Filled with delight
Scared to death
We lived our lives with you.
Isn’t that more than a gift?
                                                                                                                                                                                       
I still think it is more                         
It is certainly not less.
Now we see you
Full and complete
Living loving struggling
Laughing sighing
Overcoming
At home
At work
At play

But we remember
Each memory a photograph
HD moments that sign
Places moods
Events activities
People who have come and gone.
And you are there
Immovable eternal
Filling our hearts
Making a universe with your presence

You are gifts
Gifts we could have never asked for
Glories we never imagined.