Happy Christmas and New Year, EDS friends...
I realize I have missed blogging for the last two weeks of Advent. Much like Santa's Workshop, life seems to get just as crazy here at EDS. I can report however that my "ROSE" week was full of joy, parties, and anticipation of the Christmas holiday.. my last "Periwinkle" week was coupled with a church pageant rehearsal, a near-carol sing (that i still needed to prepare for), and ultimately the rescheduled EDS Yuletide Eve.. which is NEVER a disappointment, or the rare few. Then Christmas Eve was upon me. My apologies in not writing sooner.
In hearing from many of EDS' parents and families since the production, one particular commentary stood out among the many. It actually brought me to tears. And really it made me tearful, (joyfully), exactly at a moment when I truly needed it. One of our mothers shared her personal family blog with me. In this blog were various comments as to his performance. It was very cute and very funny! She went on to state that her child had found a home at EDS because he wasn't just "tolerated" for his differences... he was actually encouraged! She spoke of one or two other students whom clearly lent their own "spin" to their roles during the performance.
I swelled with emotion after reading her words. It was about 7:30am post-show. (I am always tired and emotional the following morning). I was sipping my coffee and going through my emails, (as I do early on in the AM), and then read this perfect description of EDS.. but really what I feel is my gift. My gift that has been shone through me from God. How the Holy Spirit works through me. You see I am no stranger to the unique personality. Folks.. to be honest that is more than half the reason and foundation that this school is the way it is. I have plenty tell me this over the years... that very thought. I have parents who have referred to my standards and "me" as "the Eiffel Tower".. I have one family who clearly said.. "Miss Dawn, build it and they will come."
This article is not a tribute to me. Hardly. It is leading me to my topic of discussion which is about our "Star". It is about all of us shining on, and though, in what we were meant to do and be through Christ and following that Star.
Perhaps, an Epiphany, can occur several times in ones' life. (truly God's redeeming grace for us). But really, this particular Epiphany gets bigger and brighter for me. Our lives . I think, are following our paths that are set before us by God. They are clear and spelled out. Do things get in our way?? Yes. But mostly those things are US! We are meant to do great and powerful things in this world. WE are meant to SHINE in the way that is intended for us. Much like these children are given that chance to do here at EDS. I have always subscribed to a wide-bodied, well-rounded curriculum. Always. How else could I tell a parent what avenues to travel down in helping their child discover their talents? That is the purpose of my school. It is here to seek the star in all of us. We then foster it, and nourish and nurture, the growth to allow this very unique individual develop their natural abilities to pursue whatever it is that is intended for them by God. That simple. The Holy Spirit does the rest. Yes,, we need to work ourselves.. but once we know where we shine we can move.
I have two male persons in my life who talk about "shining" a lot. Ironically, both are huge Pink Floyd fans, Yankees fans, and theology addicts. One has coined the phrase, (as his sign-off),
"shine on"... (lyrics from Floyd). He is right and good to tell people to do this. He is asking them to let it rip.. be your authentically true self when entering the public sphere.. go be what God intended you to do and be. The other man in my life goes deeper. He says, "I know you will shine.. you always do." This person not only knows I will deliver what God has intended, he also is encouraging me to be me. He usually signs off with something like, "You know I believe in you." How powerful? How persuading! Perhaps, at times daunting! Yet, this is my exact message to my kiddo friends. Find your niche and stick with it. I am going to support your unique talent.. see you through. Believe in your ability... And "find the space where the oxen can air guitar" and the Magi to wear a shiny, red sequence jumpsuit, or drummer drum to every song in a production... Because it is what they are meant to do. God has helped me be part of their lives in doing so I possess the responsibility to let them follow their stars!
Isn't that my stewardship as well?
I am struggling a bit these ending days of our 2008 year. There have been several times this year that I have felt like the Magi, stuck in the desert somewhere.. with only that star to follow at night. (Remember that's was the only time they could travel.. in darkness). They knew the outcome was to find the promised one. They studied and researched Jesus' coming for years. The met and faced obstacles. They continued to follow the star that God set ablaze for them. They rode through the deserts, through wind and cold to present the gifts to the child Jesus. To set the tone for the times to come. Epiphany's were flying. Dreams were present and real. Life would never be the same again for that poor and ostracized couple.. but they continued to believe in God's promise for them. Therefore we must do the same. There was a plan. The plan is present for us all who follow our star path.
I may be faced with losing my position at EC as Christian Formation Director for the upcoming year. Simply, as it is explained to me, is that church can no longer afford me. I have had this inside of my being since before Christmas got off to its usual furvor around here. I have questioned it over and over. I have cried more than anything else..but, I have decided to follow the star in my life. The Epiphany of what is to come will be coming. But, I must wear night-vision glasses, and I must be prepared to move on dreams...
I love and appreciate every moment that I am honored to relate God to one of my students. It is the most fulfilling thing I do.. I believe. My star is burning brightly and I must continue to relate God's words and messages to my young friends and God has willed that for me...I may have to cross some deserts to arrive, but He will be my navigator.
My New Year's wish and Epiphany message is to welcome your new star, believe in yourself and others. And shine on!
Dawn M. Grinnell, Director Children's Formation, EDS
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
"Mr. Peabody's Apples"
Happy 2nd Week of Advent.
Again, this Sunday we light another periwinkle candle on our wreath and contemplate the message in this week's waiting. In yesterday's second reading, Peter, ( Peter 3:8-15a), is reminding us to wait patiently...even if 1,000 years is it..becuase in God's time 1,000 years is a day. He also reminds us to see God's patience with us..and that we need to be patient in waiting on God. He reminds us that God does not seek our demise, but in fact promises an ending. Likewise our Gospel message, re-iterating Isaiah's encouragement from Reading 1 "Prepare the way of the Lord", speaks of a similar path and truth.
These readings anticipate a hurriedness. A need to to get to the end..and a need to make sure the end is indeed the right end..with Jesus' coming we must examine the facts in front of us and clean out a space to prepare. We cannot wait on the coming of something new if the old junk is still hanging around. (very much like encouraging our children to tidy and remove toys from their playrooms awaitng the new stuff Santa has promised us).
In this week's Liturgy and reflections of the Advent in my own life...I am reassessing this past year's goodnesses and looking at the untidy spaces that still permeate in my own life and surroundings. I will be encouraging the children "This Week at EDS" to do the same. This week we shall begin to tidy our spaces.
In recently having dinner at a close friend's I am typically asked to read a bedtime story to my special little friends as a treat when I sometimes visit. (Mind you these same people hear me speak 5 days a week at EDS so I am impressed as they would like to hear my storytelling some more in their free-time from me).. haaaa. children! They of course have a selection of 5 books out to choose from..(Christmas in theme). I glance over however to a random book that I discovered a little over a year ago. My eyes lit up knowingly that my advent housekeeping work was beginning...I said, "How 'bout this one?" of course, the stares of horror that a book of Apples would be what I would read to my young friends during the Christmas season. "NO...12 Days of Christmas..." (which from there I was coerced into some Spanish vocabulary read..) again children! But, I couldn't keep my eyes off of "Mr. Peabody's Apples". Madonna, albeit, I love most of her music, I've never thought much of as a children's author..not sure I still do.. however, I did happen to enjoy this rather telling story. I asked my friends if I could borrow this text for a while.. they happily delivered.
I have read and re-read this story a number of times this week. I am reminded of a children's sermon that I did on it last year. I am again reminding myself to ask that powers that be to allow me to deliver it on special children's Sunday in church one of these days. As I always say, the stories out of kids books are the stories that hold the most truth. They are simple and honest. They actually teach a great lesson in less than 15 minutes. Perhaps in our adult world it all we have time for as well.
Mr. Peabody is a man that stands accused of something that looks morally bad. He in fact, knows otherwise. This is actually not the premise of the story. If that type of thing isn't sad enough for you..go one step further. Mr. Peabody's good name is now ruined and shred into so many littler lies as the story is told over and over to the tiny little town they all live in. (Much like ours). Mr. Peabody struggles to figure out one day why no one is befriending him. He hasn't a clue as he always helped others and lived a fairly normal life. It was in the perception of ONE individual that causes such great strife for Mr. Peabody. ONE person has the ability to cause much damage. Yes, that is a fact.
When Mr. Peabody finds out what he actually has been accused of and renders the situation to the individual doing the spreading..(mind you a person who never actually saw a thing he was being accused of)... he takes this person and shows them what one "harmless" accusation can do to someone and their circumstances. THIS is MY FAVORITE teachable moment... the accuser who has now been to see the truth and believes that he spoke out turn begs Mr. Peabody to make it all up to him. Mr. Peabody agrees that one thing could help him...the accuser happily agrees. (Now mind you, after the two have agreed the accuser was wrong and misguided.) Mr. Peabody asks this person to bring a pillow stuffed with feathers out to the baseball field where they have practiced and played games for years together. The act is readily done...the accuser thinking "all I need to do is empty a pillow out into the air." hmm. After the feathers are released into the windy air..the feathers neaturally spread across the entire baseball field and out inot the town... much like the way a rumor is spread. it is not in telling "one person", it is in the telling of one that spreads to many. Try catching one feather on a windy day..never mind a pillow full!!!
It is hard to prevent people from messing things up. Especially when it can be so damaging.. it is even harder to correct it. In my Advent season I am trying to clean up the feathers of doubt, mistrust, and patented falsehoods that permeate our little existences.. and not only for me but for those that need my help.
Please rememeber this little tale the next time you think to tell someone else something you may not be sure of...it can be forever damaging and certainly too much for us to manage as we are busy trying trying to figure out our own truths... remember the circle fo life never stops spinning. What goes around comes around. That was message to my children this week and hopefully a message we can all "prepare the way for".
Miss Dawn, EDS Director
Again, this Sunday we light another periwinkle candle on our wreath and contemplate the message in this week's waiting. In yesterday's second reading, Peter, ( Peter 3:8-15a), is reminding us to wait patiently...even if 1,000 years is it..becuase in God's time 1,000 years is a day. He also reminds us to see God's patience with us..and that we need to be patient in waiting on God. He reminds us that God does not seek our demise, but in fact promises an ending. Likewise our Gospel message, re-iterating Isaiah's encouragement from Reading 1 "Prepare the way of the Lord", speaks of a similar path and truth.
These readings anticipate a hurriedness. A need to to get to the end..and a need to make sure the end is indeed the right end..with Jesus' coming we must examine the facts in front of us and clean out a space to prepare. We cannot wait on the coming of something new if the old junk is still hanging around. (very much like encouraging our children to tidy and remove toys from their playrooms awaitng the new stuff Santa has promised us).
In this week's Liturgy and reflections of the Advent in my own life...I am reassessing this past year's goodnesses and looking at the untidy spaces that still permeate in my own life and surroundings. I will be encouraging the children "This Week at EDS" to do the same. This week we shall begin to tidy our spaces.
In recently having dinner at a close friend's I am typically asked to read a bedtime story to my special little friends as a treat when I sometimes visit. (Mind you these same people hear me speak 5 days a week at EDS so I am impressed as they would like to hear my storytelling some more in their free-time from me).. haaaa. children! They of course have a selection of 5 books out to choose from..(Christmas in theme). I glance over however to a random book that I discovered a little over a year ago. My eyes lit up knowingly that my advent housekeeping work was beginning...I said, "How 'bout this one?" of course, the stares of horror that a book of Apples would be what I would read to my young friends during the Christmas season. "NO...12 Days of Christmas..." (which from there I was coerced into some Spanish vocabulary read..) again children! But, I couldn't keep my eyes off of "Mr. Peabody's Apples". Madonna, albeit, I love most of her music, I've never thought much of as a children's author..not sure I still do.. however, I did happen to enjoy this rather telling story. I asked my friends if I could borrow this text for a while.. they happily delivered.
I have read and re-read this story a number of times this week. I am reminded of a children's sermon that I did on it last year. I am again reminding myself to ask that powers that be to allow me to deliver it on special children's Sunday in church one of these days. As I always say, the stories out of kids books are the stories that hold the most truth. They are simple and honest. They actually teach a great lesson in less than 15 minutes. Perhaps in our adult world it all we have time for as well.
Mr. Peabody is a man that stands accused of something that looks morally bad. He in fact, knows otherwise. This is actually not the premise of the story. If that type of thing isn't sad enough for you..go one step further. Mr. Peabody's good name is now ruined and shred into so many littler lies as the story is told over and over to the tiny little town they all live in. (Much like ours). Mr. Peabody struggles to figure out one day why no one is befriending him. He hasn't a clue as he always helped others and lived a fairly normal life. It was in the perception of ONE individual that causes such great strife for Mr. Peabody. ONE person has the ability to cause much damage. Yes, that is a fact.
When Mr. Peabody finds out what he actually has been accused of and renders the situation to the individual doing the spreading..(mind you a person who never actually saw a thing he was being accused of)... he takes this person and shows them what one "harmless" accusation can do to someone and their circumstances. THIS is MY FAVORITE teachable moment... the accuser who has now been to see the truth and believes that he spoke out turn begs Mr. Peabody to make it all up to him. Mr. Peabody agrees that one thing could help him...the accuser happily agrees. (Now mind you, after the two have agreed the accuser was wrong and misguided.) Mr. Peabody asks this person to bring a pillow stuffed with feathers out to the baseball field where they have practiced and played games for years together. The act is readily done...the accuser thinking "all I need to do is empty a pillow out into the air." hmm. After the feathers are released into the windy air..the feathers neaturally spread across the entire baseball field and out inot the town... much like the way a rumor is spread. it is not in telling "one person", it is in the telling of one that spreads to many. Try catching one feather on a windy day..never mind a pillow full!!!
It is hard to prevent people from messing things up. Especially when it can be so damaging.. it is even harder to correct it. In my Advent season I am trying to clean up the feathers of doubt, mistrust, and patented falsehoods that permeate our little existences.. and not only for me but for those that need my help.
Please rememeber this little tale the next time you think to tell someone else something you may not be sure of...it can be forever damaging and certainly too much for us to manage as we are busy trying trying to figure out our own truths... remember the circle fo life never stops spinning. What goes around comes around. That was message to my children this week and hopefully a message we can all "prepare the way for".
Miss Dawn, EDS Director
Monday, December 1, 2008
When in doubt...Wait
Father, forgive me, it has been one month since my last blog... (I do apologize).
We begin this blog tonite, maybe, with your inner commentary, "Well.. I've been waiting." Yes.. I am aware... and I do realize how long it has been..(November completely took off and I never looked back).
But in regard to waiting, I thought it so appropriate to start December's blog entries with precisely that..."Waiting" or in my world, "Advent". Yes, friends it is the season of Waiting. We will now wait with open and quiet hearts through these last 4 weeks of darkness. We are waiting for our light to shine through..to arrive, to come, to breakthrough and knock us over. Thankfully God doen't make it such a lengthy wait.
Today-at-EDS we discussed this very season, Advent.
The children..they waited today for me to hurry on up and finish my rather long chapel sermon about the coming of Jesus and how it all happened. They waited. We are waiting for the arrival of St. Nick, (aka Santa) in a mere 23 days now. I am waiting, (and slightly panicking about waiting 18 days until our Christmas show). I have also been waiting for a number of things myself. I am waiting and anticipating the news of a friend's good fortune to manifest. I am waiting to settle into a cozy and quiet winter ahead. I am waiting for the advent of my own life to manifest in as many ways that I can handle..aren't we all? Yes.. waiting. I think Carly Simon coined the phrase, "Anticipation..it's making me late..it's keeping me waaaiiiting!" She wasn't wrong in the anticipatory part.. that sensation always makes for good waiting...it is in the "making me late part"... that I think we need to delve further into... perhaps lateness is right on time? And with God... it is always in God's time when the windows and doors just open miracously one after another when we are good waiters and listeners!
Jesus came to us exactly when he was supposed to. It had been discussed and prophesied for hundreds of years about HIS coming. My goodness, if you read any of Isaiah...you sit and wonder, "WELL when is this guy getting here already?" We are a starving people, in more ways than one." Great.. the Holy Spirit takes care of that..He send manna from the sky when we need it...we weren't ready yet for the Son of Man. How about the desert and Moses? 40 years..hmm? That's alot of waiting...(and walking for that matter).. again, not ready. How about Noah on the Ark with the animals of the world, and his family for 40 days and nights...(I think I might prefer my stay with the zebras sometimes when I think of that scenario..sorry Mom and Dad and girls). Again waiting for the sign. The good word. When will it get here? Are we there yet??
We live in a world where waiting is not the norm anymore. (Could you imagine anyone in today's high-tech society waiting for any of those above mentioned events to come and deliver its goods?) Myself included, and I consider myself a patient woman! Heck, Domino's promises us 30 minutes and then we are not obliged to pay for the pizza... imagine if God worked like that? The problem with that is that if God delivered everything we waited on in 30 minutes we wouldn't know what to do with it...OR RECOGNIZE it..when it arrived! And better, it wouldn't satisfy our hunger or thirst as in those 30 minutes we may want Chinese.. (I know this happens, ask my friend Miss Terri!)
It is hard to wait. It is harder for some than others. And quite honestly, I suppose it does depend on what it is we are waiting for. Are we desperate enough? Do we genuinely have a need and a void that requires attention. Yes.. the world had those two desires in its wait for Jesus. And look what they still did to Him?? The very thing they had been promised for centuries. The very thing they escaped out of Egypt for. The very thing that some are still waiting upon. But God finally thought the timing was perfect enough to send His only son to us. And the conditions couldn't have been better. Really?? you say? and I say, yes, really. A stable, a humble and willing couple who were PETRIFIED as to how they got into this thing and gave it all up to the Holy Spirit to figure it out for them. They waited for the map quest from God and got it when the Magi showed up. They waited for everything and they didn't blink..they knew when the time was right they would make their move...it happened right along. What if the trip to Bethlehem never took place?... what if Joseph didn't trust His God and stand up for Mary? What if Mary said "No".. she could've?? God loves us that much to let US mess up His plans for us... amazing and yet they didn't do anything like that. They waited, they listened and they walked through he darkness until they saw the light. SOmetimes the right thing IS NOT THE EASY THING. The signs were all provided. When it was time to flee Israel, they left and layed low for a number of years in Egypt..ironic? They didn't make a move until God notified them somehow... the angels are God's "text-messengers". (Iwish my texting plan had angel delivery).
When was the last time you had a significant dream? I had one the other night. It was chock-full of symbology?...of my own psychosis catching up with me?... it was a message about what is coming if I choose to wait for the advent of this event in my life.. I know it is rather ancient and naive..but I figure if it was good enough for the biblical elite to move ahead with their lives based on dream-notification, I should probably honor its importance as well.
These days I have read some VERY heavy duty stuff on the Holy Spirit and how it operates. Waiting and asking is all part of that process. The happiness you seek is on the road marked advent. Your life is quite valuable... not only to you but to those you touch. Remember George Bailey folks???? This is how God gets his work done. When you say no to waiting or listening to God..know that it is okay.. but you are inevitably tying up your own progress by not going down the road of life which is 2-ways. By travelling the route of "Thames St"... one-way... you are not able to readily get off and turn around so quickly. You and God must travel together. Waiting at the yellow light only implies, "caution"...
In this Advent season I hope you come to seek the HS (Holy Spirit) in a way you have never had to or wanted to before. He is the living Jesus among us. Wait for Him and He will surely deliver you your season of Christmas. Have faith..Adeste Fideles...and when in doubt... wait.
Miss Dawn, Dawn M. Grinnell
Director, Emmanuel Day School and Children's Formation
We begin this blog tonite, maybe, with your inner commentary, "Well.. I've been waiting." Yes.. I am aware... and I do realize how long it has been..(November completely took off and I never looked back).
But in regard to waiting, I thought it so appropriate to start December's blog entries with precisely that..."Waiting" or in my world, "Advent". Yes, friends it is the season of Waiting. We will now wait with open and quiet hearts through these last 4 weeks of darkness. We are waiting for our light to shine through..to arrive, to come, to breakthrough and knock us over. Thankfully God doen't make it such a lengthy wait.
Today-at-EDS we discussed this very season, Advent.
The children..they waited today for me to hurry on up and finish my rather long chapel sermon about the coming of Jesus and how it all happened. They waited. We are waiting for the arrival of St. Nick, (aka Santa) in a mere 23 days now. I am waiting, (and slightly panicking about waiting 18 days until our Christmas show). I have also been waiting for a number of things myself. I am waiting and anticipating the news of a friend's good fortune to manifest. I am waiting to settle into a cozy and quiet winter ahead. I am waiting for the advent of my own life to manifest in as many ways that I can handle..aren't we all? Yes.. waiting. I think Carly Simon coined the phrase, "Anticipation..it's making me late..it's keeping me waaaiiiting!" She wasn't wrong in the anticipatory part.. that sensation always makes for good waiting...it is in the "making me late part"... that I think we need to delve further into... perhaps lateness is right on time? And with God... it is always in God's time when the windows and doors just open miracously one after another when we are good waiters and listeners!
Jesus came to us exactly when he was supposed to. It had been discussed and prophesied for hundreds of years about HIS coming. My goodness, if you read any of Isaiah...you sit and wonder, "WELL when is this guy getting here already?" We are a starving people, in more ways than one." Great.. the Holy Spirit takes care of that..He send manna from the sky when we need it...we weren't ready yet for the Son of Man. How about the desert and Moses? 40 years..hmm? That's alot of waiting...(and walking for that matter).. again, not ready. How about Noah on the Ark with the animals of the world, and his family for 40 days and nights...(I think I might prefer my stay with the zebras sometimes when I think of that scenario..sorry Mom and Dad and girls). Again waiting for the sign. The good word. When will it get here? Are we there yet??
We live in a world where waiting is not the norm anymore. (Could you imagine anyone in today's high-tech society waiting for any of those above mentioned events to come and deliver its goods?) Myself included, and I consider myself a patient woman! Heck, Domino's promises us 30 minutes and then we are not obliged to pay for the pizza... imagine if God worked like that? The problem with that is that if God delivered everything we waited on in 30 minutes we wouldn't know what to do with it...OR RECOGNIZE it..when it arrived! And better, it wouldn't satisfy our hunger or thirst as in those 30 minutes we may want Chinese.. (I know this happens, ask my friend Miss Terri!)
It is hard to wait. It is harder for some than others. And quite honestly, I suppose it does depend on what it is we are waiting for. Are we desperate enough? Do we genuinely have a need and a void that requires attention. Yes.. the world had those two desires in its wait for Jesus. And look what they still did to Him?? The very thing they had been promised for centuries. The very thing they escaped out of Egypt for. The very thing that some are still waiting upon. But God finally thought the timing was perfect enough to send His only son to us. And the conditions couldn't have been better. Really?? you say? and I say, yes, really. A stable, a humble and willing couple who were PETRIFIED as to how they got into this thing and gave it all up to the Holy Spirit to figure it out for them. They waited for the map quest from God and got it when the Magi showed up. They waited for everything and they didn't blink..they knew when the time was right they would make their move...it happened right along. What if the trip to Bethlehem never took place?... what if Joseph didn't trust His God and stand up for Mary? What if Mary said "No".. she could've?? God loves us that much to let US mess up His plans for us... amazing and yet they didn't do anything like that. They waited, they listened and they walked through he darkness until they saw the light. SOmetimes the right thing IS NOT THE EASY THING. The signs were all provided. When it was time to flee Israel, they left and layed low for a number of years in Egypt..ironic? They didn't make a move until God notified them somehow... the angels are God's "text-messengers". (Iwish my texting plan had angel delivery).
When was the last time you had a significant dream? I had one the other night. It was chock-full of symbology?...of my own psychosis catching up with me?... it was a message about what is coming if I choose to wait for the advent of this event in my life.. I know it is rather ancient and naive..but I figure if it was good enough for the biblical elite to move ahead with their lives based on dream-notification, I should probably honor its importance as well.
These days I have read some VERY heavy duty stuff on the Holy Spirit and how it operates. Waiting and asking is all part of that process. The happiness you seek is on the road marked advent. Your life is quite valuable... not only to you but to those you touch. Remember George Bailey folks???? This is how God gets his work done. When you say no to waiting or listening to God..know that it is okay.. but you are inevitably tying up your own progress by not going down the road of life which is 2-ways. By travelling the route of "Thames St"... one-way... you are not able to readily get off and turn around so quickly. You and God must travel together. Waiting at the yellow light only implies, "caution"...
In this Advent season I hope you come to seek the HS (Holy Spirit) in a way you have never had to or wanted to before. He is the living Jesus among us. Wait for Him and He will surely deliver you your season of Christmas. Have faith..Adeste Fideles...and when in doubt... wait.
Miss Dawn, Dawn M. Grinnell
Director, Emmanuel Day School and Children's Formation
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