Sunday, February 16, 2014

Resting in Beauty

“’My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’” ~2 Corinthians 12:9

I am sitting on my bed feeling achy and snot-filled. I was reminded of this 2 Corinthians verse earlier this morning. My mind often says, “Go, go, GO! Do it! You can do it! Keep going!” This weekend, my body’s natural responses are overpowering my mind’s ability to connive me into doing lots of stuff and accomplishing many things.
The beach w/Brit.

So, here I rest. This is what I read this morning in Jesus Calling: “Thank Me [God] for the conditions that are requiring you to be still. Do not spoil these quiet hours by wishing them away, waiting impatiently to be active again. Some of the greatest works in My kingdom have been done from sick beds and prison cells.
Brit & I visited Heartline (a pre and post-natal care center
for women), with Miquette & Max (pictured) &
Irene & baby Grace. 

“Instead of resenting the limitations of a weakened body, search for My way in the midst of these very circumstances. Limitations can be liberating when your strongest desire is living close to Me.”

So I say, thank you, Lord, for a cause to recall how inadequate my bones and flesh are to carry me through life in a solo dance. I was never meant to dance alone. A dance is meant for two, and here I am, stepping out to join You, “Lord of the dance.” I require support, rest, strength—I am not capable of working it up out of my own doing. Thank God!

A night out with Ruth & Jen
(fellow literary heads/co-workers/friends)
The past month has been filled with adventures. I am exploring my home more than last semester and discovering all kinds of new treasures. I bought my first couple of pieces of Haitian art; bartered (well, someone bartered for me) for a silk dress in an underground used clothing market; and drove to the beach with my good friend, Brit, who came to visit for an entire week. Woot woot!

School-Side:
My 9th graders and I just began exploring colonization in Africa as we dove into Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe last week. He was a pioneer of African literature—desiring native people to write and express their cultures instead of having foreigners become the sole authors and representatives.

Cafe Rebo with Brit! 
My 10th graders led a successful Socratic Seminar last week as they discussed the development of our book, Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. They also turned in their final drafts of a biographical paper based on someone they know who’s experienced a crisis (on a personal or large-scale level).

The English Enrichment Class got to experience Brit’s spoken word poetry while she was here. She performed a spoken word that she’d written, and many of the students were blown away. The emotion and heart that comes with an art form like spoken word is powerful and moving. Several students commented later on how inspired they felt.

Dear friends: Linda & Brit. We adventured & hung out. :)
My table at the V-Day dinner. Fellow co-workers.



The middle schoolers also got to hear spoken word, and it was extremely timely for them because they are in the middle of a poetry unit right now. Tears came to my eyes as Brit let loose with her spoken word in front of the 7th graders because it was a powerful and beautiful encounter.

The seniors at the school hosted a Valentine’s Day dinner for the teachers last night. It was a beautiful event and high enough up in the mountains that I was actually shivering. J

In other news…I have the visit of my mom and brother Matt to look forward to at the beginning of March! They’ll be here for an entire week!

I am thankful that I don’t need to self-sustain. Although I sometimes feel like I’m pretty strong and motivated, I am unable to do anything on my own. Lord, remind me of that day by day:


“Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” ~Psalm 73:25-26
Bonus Photo: Brit & I out celebrating my birthday before she left. :)

1 comment:

  1. Dear Precious Daughter, thank you for sharing the grace that has been poured over you during this time of physical and emotional weariness that has led you to our Saviour's arms. Through suffering we can experience grace and in grace celebrate joy, HIS joy. Thank you for the pictures that open the window of my heart and transport me to another place, your place, filled with wonders I have never experienced and breezes that refresh my spirit as if I were right there in your midst. Thank you also for taking the time, each month to share in word and pictures, a snapshot of all that the Lord is sharing with you, in this new home. Wish I could be with Matt and Mom when they come to see you. But I know I will be, in a very real sense, as your Mother and I are one, so as she is with you and sees all the wonders I wlll as well. Love you beyond measure my precious daughter. Xoxo with lots of hugs, dad

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