August 21, 2008

Department Store Hell

Have you ever shopped in what I call a "low end discount department store?" What I mean is one that is known for its low prices on name brand items. Sure, you can save a buck, but you have to wade through a lot of crap first. Those clothes may not be this season or even last season, but by golly, they are Name Brand!

Name brands mean nothing to me. I didn't go in that store to find a name brand top to wear under my much too revealing dress. Just about the only name brands I know are Sag Harbor and Bobbie Brooks; one of which is now sold in Wal-Mart. There were too many choices like type, colors, sizes, fabric, solids, floral or patterned, and the clearance items appeared to be mixed in with the regular priced items. It really resembled a garage sale.

Some clothes had fallen off the hangers and were flung across the hanging rack making it an annoyance for anyone moving hangers to see other clothing items. I can only assume that when the item of clothing fell off the hanger, a customer decided they were doing the store a favor by throwing it on top of the rack of clothes, instead of leaving it on the dirty floor. Furthermore, the whole bending, stooping, picking up, and flinging of the garment must have worn said costumer out so much because they didn't even put it back on the hanger.
I mean...really. How hard can it be to hang it back on a hanger??

The thing that really disturbs me about walking through a "bargain basement" type of department store, is the people who shop there show no respect for the store, the merchandise or even themselves enough to handle the items with care. The shoe department looks like a war zone of dead shoes strewed up and down the isles and laid out on the shelves minus a mate. I just don't have the patience it would take to find a matching pair of shoes in all of that clutter.

After my dissatisfying trip to the fitting room, I emerged from the hot musty smelling dressing room imagining that this must be what Hell is like. Hot skanky smelling dressing rooms, ill-fitting clothes, messy floors and things of all sorts thrown around like confetti. I felt sleazy as I left the store.

It is amazing to me that places like that stay in business and that people continue to give in to their Siren cries of discounts. What was I thinking when I walked into that "Den of Disarray?" Yet, I must confess, this wasn't the first time I'd ever ventured into such a department store. Oh no, I am a shamed to admit I have attempted to find clothing there before and failed. So, why did I think it would be any different this time?

At least I didn't leave my money with those money changers. Like Satan, I must put that store behind me. I must pray never to be lured through its dank doors again. For now, I have escaped the disorganized, dirty, drab, dismal, Department Store Hell.

August 18, 2008

Today Has Enough Troubles

The other night, Kim and I had our small group from church in our home for a time of Bible study. Our text was Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

The question posed was, "What does righteousness mean?" Someone answered that it was "being right in the eyes of God." Another person questioned the meaning of the word, righteous. All agreed that the word is more of a religious word and not one used by people not familiar with what might be considered religious buzz words. So, how does one relay that message to hunger and thirst for righteousness to the un-churched, that is, one who isn't connected to any religious organization? What does the word righteous mean? Furthermore, why seek righteousness in the first place?

Righteous--1: acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary).

Hmm,...still a lot of religious words in divine or moral law. However,
free from guilt or sin might speak to the common man a little better if it weren't for that word, sin.

To be guilt or sin free is not possible and being righteous is not as easy as it sounds, is it? Who was the only righteous One? Jesus Christ. Isn't being righteous like Jesus is righteous a pretty tall order? Fortunately, God has us covered. ( John 3:16)

Although, I would like to back up to the root word, right, for a better understanding of the meaning of righteousness.

Right--
1: righteous, upright2: being in accordance with what is just, good, or proper <right conduct> (MWOD)

Surely, all would understand the word good. Every child has heard often to "be good." So, to be right in the simplest form is to be good. But, how does that work with the definition of righteous and having to do with divine and moral law? The word righteous is an adjective and describes someone or something. Jesus is divine, that is,
1. of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God. (MWOD) Therefore, to hunger and thirst for righteousness is to have a longing or desire to be righteous or divine like Jesus. Still easy for the Divine One, but what about Me? How is that possible? Why am I hungering for Christ-like righteousness?

Matthew 6:31-34 talks about our worries of what to eat, drink or wear. As I thought about that text, I could relate to my own anxieties now that I have retired, as to having enough money to pay bills, make needed repairs to the house, buy clothes, and food to eat. Our needs haven't changed much from Jesus' day. We still worry over where we'll get the means to acquire those things. In verse 32 of chapter 6, Jesus is telling us that the Father knows we need those things, but if we seek first his (Jesus) kingdom and his righteousness, all of those things we need will be given to us. That's why we seek righteousness. To be without worries and to trust in God. Think of it like having faith we will have air to breath all through the night as we sleep and into the morning as we wake up. Do we fret over having air? No, its there. We can't see it or hear it, but we know it will be there for us every day. So, why is it so hard to trust that God, who we can't see or hear, will also provide for our needs. If we trust and have any amount of food, clothing or money; it is because of God. First, however, we must seek (hunger/thirst) for his kingdom and his righteousness. When we do that, Jesus reasons in Matthew 6:34, there is no need to worry about tomorrow. Let that sink in, don't worry about tomorrow. That should bring a calm sense to your very soul. We do not need to worry. Furthermore, why should we? After all, each day has enough trouble, don't add to it with tomorrow's trouble too.

Finally, allow me to conclude with a song. As I thought about not worrying about tomorrow, I was reminded of a secular song by a 1970's group, Fleetwood Mac, called Don't Stop. The lyrics may appear to be opposite of Jesus' advice to not worry about tomorrow, but the song has the same message. "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow, it'll be here, better than before. Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone". For Christians, we can forget about today and look forward to a worry-free tomorrow because God has it covered for those who thirst for righteousness.

To hear a very righteous offering of Fleetwood Mac performing Don't Stop, click this YouTube video link. The Fleetwood Mac band, joined by a school band*, will bring a smile to your face and happiness to your heart. Be blessed, hunger for righteousness and don't worry about tomorrow.

*After some research, I learned the band in the Fleetwood Mac video is the University of Southern California Marching
Trojan Band.






August 12, 2008

Back to School...Sort Of

In two weeks when the big yellow school buses are zipping down the streets to transport kids of all ages to school, I will be joining them. That is, in a sense I will be joining them. I have gone back to teaching part time and this go around I will be working with college aged students. My part time profession as a adjunct with the University of Houston-Clear Lake, is a new and exciting venture for me. As a University Teacher Supervisor, it will be my task to instruct students within a professional setting and monitor their internship as teachers.

If someone would have told me when I was getting my master's degree that one day it would help get me a job in a university, I would have laughed. When I got my MA, as much as it was for furthering my education, it was for adding to my paycheck. It never occurred to me that some day I would actually use my degree to work with college level students. As a retired teacher with an elementary teaching background, this job will be a different challenge.

Next week I will drive to the university to meet my students. They will be given a syllabus with assignments meant to broaden their outlook of what it is to be an educator. Some of them are going to be nervous about standing in front of a classroom full of children ready to point out any mistake they make. Those nerves will be strained more as they are also observed by their mentor teacher and me, their University Supervisor. It will be my job to encourage, teach, mentor and guide them through the semester.

When I as teaching full time in elementary school, most of the initial excitement about school starting back was seeing all my colleagues and friends again. As much as I looked forward to meeting my students, it was a ton of work to prepare for their first day. This year, I'm excited to have more freedom than I did as a classroom teacher and to be able to work with older students. Instead of putting up brightly colored bulletin boards, cutting out shapes for name tags or filling supply boxes with crayons, pencils and scissors; I will be setting up computer files for each of my 9 students, reading their academic textbooks, and preparing myself to be an effective instructor.

My parents would be surprised that I have signed on with a university. Heck! I'm surprised that I signed on with a university. However, I believe my parents would be proud that I've come this far in my career. It is my hope and desire to always be searching for something else to do with my time and abilities for as long as God will allow. It is humbling for me to think about where I started as a scared just-turned 6 year old student walking into a school building for the very first time. I didn't even know all the letters of the alphabet and my 5 year old grandson can read words going into kindergarten. Now I can be the confident 56 year old instructor walking into a school for higher education. Humbling indeed that God didn't give up on me when I bogged down in self-pity or self-destruction. That He kept whispering in my ear to get up and move on has reminded me often that I am not alone in this world.

This little adjunct job with the university may not seem like a big deal to a full time PhD on the faculty of a major university. But, to a little East Texas nobody of a girl who ranked in the lower middle of her 400+ high school graduating class, who barely scraped up an acceptable GPA to earn her bachelor's degree and had to begin her post graduate work on probation...this is HUGE. I gratefully and with much humility, thank the Lord for an opportunity to give back some of what I learned as an educator over the course of 30 years to young interns. That just boggles my mind.

However, I would be remiss if I closed this post without giving notice to what a wonderful, supportive husband of 33 years I have. He always encourages me and never once has he told me I couldn't success in whatever I set my sights toward. Even though we don't always agree and sometimes he makes me so mad I want to scream, he is my reality check and solid wisdom. Where the rubber meets the road, where it really counts, I know that Kim is there for me.

"Back to School" novels with many new chapters are starting to be written. Let our stories continue.

August 7, 2008

Cats vs. People: Cats Win


It isn't easy living with people. They can be rude, messy, noisy, inconsiderate of other's feelings and aloof. Like the song says, "...you always hurt the one you love, the one you shouldn't hurt at all."

However, cats, unlike people, care. My cat, Homer, is always considerate of me. He is a faithful male. I am never ignored by Homer. He follows me around the house and will come lie by my side when I sit down. If I have just woke up or in a mood, he'll place his paw gently on my arm or even my face just to get me to look at him. When I do, I'm always rewarded with a soft rub of his head. He isn't too messy. He tries to keep his litter in the box and doesn't leave clutter on the tables, beds or floors. He trusts me because he knows I love him and would never be mean to him. He shows his love for me. He rubs his head on my foot or puts his cold nose near my hand, he likes to cuddle. Yes, Homer, is more affectionate than many people.

My other cat, Baby, is the older of my two cats and a female. She has silky black fur that is very soft to touch. Baby likes my singing. When I sing, she will come into the room and if possible climb in my lap all the way up to practically breath the songs coming out of my mouth. What a compliment! She does, however, leave things lying around on the floors. To tell the truth, though, I think she is bringing me offerings of her affection. Baby even "talks" to me as she meows her announcements of treasures she brings into the room. Baby does not ignore me.

Cats are loyal friends who love their people and will notice when they walk into the room. They treat their people with respect, never contradicting something they say. They are playful, providing a lot of entertainment for the people in the room as they run with each other. Its sweet to observe how they show affection for each other. If Baby or Homer are outside and come in after a while, the one that was inside will always lick the other one's neck or head. I think it is their way of kissing or greeting the one that was gone for a while.

Homer and Baby never give me cause to question their love. They always greet me when I come home and make me feel welcome. I love my cats. If I should ever find that I'm in a house without people, I know that Homer and Baby or whatever other cat I may have, will be there to keep me company. Cats verses people may not be an even match. After all cats are at an advantage because of their natural ability to love the people who love them.
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