yet a third...
I have obviously not had much actual work to do today at my work-study job. It's been nice. Not only have I been able to catch up on emails, posting, and internet reading, I also was able to get some work done for my portfolio so that I'm no longer behind. Anyway, here's what I was really going to write about...
I just had the brief opportunity to interpret for one of the Deaf teachers here at the school. (For those who don't know, we have Deaf teachers here who teach the ASL courses.) She came into the office to ask a question, in which case she would normally have to find a piece of paper and write the question, wait for the person to read the question and write a response, etc. But instead of all that nonsense, I simply told her I sign, and we conversed in a far less restrictive manner. What's my point? Well, it's more of a connection than a point. Already today I had been thinking of something which this reminded me of. To sum it up nicely (before I explain in further detail), there are no coincidences. Everything happens for a reason. God has a plan for me. Earlier I was thinking a little about what it is that I want to do with my life, which is a scary and intimidating topic most of the time. (One of the topics that gets vetoed from conversation frequently at the house because it stresses everyone out!) Anyway, today I was thinking: "I'm going to graduate with a teaching degree, but what if I don't teach? Will it have been a waste?" (In all honesty, I wasn't thinking quite that concretely about it... it was more of a vague thought.) My thoughts about that question brought me back to things that God had shown me a while back. I first came to Flagler/St.Augustine for the sole reason that I wanted to major in Deaf Education, and Flagler was the place to do that. I took all my sign language courses, but before taking most of my actual Deaf Ed courses decided that it was not the field for me, despite my love for the language. I switched majors to Elementary Ed, and was quite pleased with my decision for some time. I had determined that God wanted me to teach and He knew the only way to get me into the profession was to sneak me in by means of Deaf Ed. Otherwise, I would have gone kicking and screaming the whole way. While this is still a possible explanation, another thought has come up, as well. My new theory is that the profession wasn't where God needed to get me, He just needed to get me to St. Augustine. (For the record, I believe I will teach, but I'm not sure how long.) Regardless of anything else, I am certain that St. Augustine is exactly where God wants me to be. I have been here 2 and a half years now and have never questioned if it was right or not; I have always been confident of that. Everything here is a perfect fit for me: atmosphere, friends, church/ministries, current relationship, school atmosphere, housing situation, EVERYTHING. I could not imagine being happier or more content in another place. What a great feeling! To tie this all back in to the origional story, I just was thinking that I believe that no step along the way was a waste. I am very glad to know sign language, and I know God will use it in specific ways throughout my life, even if they are small ways like being able to help someone else communicate easier. As for being an Education major who may not remain in education, that's okay too. I will have gotten a Bachelor's Degree, which--let's be honest--is really the only thing most employers care about, and even if I don't "use" my degree, I have learned lots of interesting stuff about the ways people learn... one of those things I am interested in anyway. So that's my point, or rather my lengthy connection of ideas, for today. I'm satisfied.
Feb 3, 2005
if...
If I were a really anal person... okay, if I were really anal in a mean sort of way... this is the kind of blog I would have. It's called "Things I hate about my flatmate." (They even have a mouse problem, which the girls and I can relate to right now.) But don't take that the wrong way... I love my girls and would never write nasty things like that about them.
Speaking of room mates, Christina got into the school she applied to, so that's really exciting. The not so exciting part, however, is that our lease is up next month, so when we re-sign, only three of the origional five of us will be re-signing. We need to get another room mate. We've talked about that idea, but that's really as far as we've gotten. No names have come up and no action has been taken as to actually finding someone. But we really do need to. More on that in days to come.
If I were a really anal person... okay, if I were really anal in a mean sort of way... this is the kind of blog I would have. It's called "Things I hate about my flatmate." (They even have a mouse problem, which the girls and I can relate to right now.) But don't take that the wrong way... I love my girls and would never write nasty things like that about them.
Speaking of room mates, Christina got into the school she applied to, so that's really exciting. The not so exciting part, however, is that our lease is up next month, so when we re-sign, only three of the origional five of us will be re-signing. We need to get another room mate. We've talked about that idea, but that's really as far as we've gotten. No names have come up and no action has been taken as to actually finding someone. But we really do need to. More on that in days to come.
my beef...
(for you, k-dogg)
I'm a listener. That's what I do. More so, that's who I am. Throughout my life as a listener, I have come to realize that the most important part of it is simply the listening... NOT the responding. People come to you with problems because they need someone to talk to, someone who will listen to them, someone who will not judge them. They do not necessarily need your advice. Especially your uneducated, unconsidered advice. A good listener is willing to say, "I don't know what to tell you." Sometimes that's the best thing you can say because all they needed to do was to speak their heart. If they want your advice, or you feel it would be appropriate for you to give it, be sure you have seriously considered and prayed about what you are going to say to them. If it is a serious situation, you do not want to be hasty in your advice-giving. You could really mess them up. Be willing to take the time necessary to make sure that the advice you are giving is the best advice... not merely good advice.
On another, unrelated note, I have been overwhelmed this week with the concept of Christ's forgiveness, and how it is our responsibility to show that to others (you know, forgive as Christ has forgiven you). How fake it is of us to say we love God and to enjoy His forgiveness, yet when a situation comes up that requires us to forgive someone else, we withhold forgiveness from them. I have encountered and observed more than one situation recently where this principle applies (whether it was properly applied or not). I am amazed daily at the unconditional love that Christ has for me, and He has just been revealing to me this week that my response to that is to be like Him.
Determine to live like Christ.
(for you, k-dogg)
I'm a listener. That's what I do. More so, that's who I am. Throughout my life as a listener, I have come to realize that the most important part of it is simply the listening... NOT the responding. People come to you with problems because they need someone to talk to, someone who will listen to them, someone who will not judge them. They do not necessarily need your advice. Especially your uneducated, unconsidered advice. A good listener is willing to say, "I don't know what to tell you." Sometimes that's the best thing you can say because all they needed to do was to speak their heart. If they want your advice, or you feel it would be appropriate for you to give it, be sure you have seriously considered and prayed about what you are going to say to them. If it is a serious situation, you do not want to be hasty in your advice-giving. You could really mess them up. Be willing to take the time necessary to make sure that the advice you are giving is the best advice... not merely good advice.
On another, unrelated note, I have been overwhelmed this week with the concept of Christ's forgiveness, and how it is our responsibility to show that to others (you know, forgive as Christ has forgiven you). How fake it is of us to say we love God and to enjoy His forgiveness, yet when a situation comes up that requires us to forgive someone else, we withhold forgiveness from them. I have encountered and observed more than one situation recently where this principle applies (whether it was properly applied or not). I am amazed daily at the unconditional love that Christ has for me, and He has just been revealing to me this week that my response to that is to be like Him.
Determine to live like Christ.
