I have come to fall in love with teaching in Catholic schools. What are YOU in love with?...

"Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything." - Pedro Arrupe

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Breathe...

Breathe in...Breathe out...Breathe in...Breathe out...

Or, in the words of Mr. Miyagi in "The Next Karate Kid," "Sun is warm; grass is green."

Mr. Miyagi made it look so simple.
(He, obviously, was not teaching in a classroom with a bunch of 9 and 10 year-old students.)

I have to admit - there have been quite a few instances where students have really pushed my buttons over the past two days (more so today than yesterday), and it's taken everything in my power to remain (or at least appear to remain) calm and collected, without flying off the handle.

But I know that staying calm is essential. Rooting myself in a deeper patience and PRESENCE is a must.

St. Teresa of Avila knew a thing or two about this too (in her Nada Te Turbe prayer):

Let nothing disturb you, 
Let nothing distress you; 
While all things fade away, God is unchanging. 
Patience overcomes everything. 
With God in your heart, Nothing is lacking. 
God alone suffices.

For some reason, all of these thoughts make me think of The Beatles and their classic "Let It Be" - but maybe that's stretching things a little too far.


To prepare for tomorrow, I believe just what the doctor ordered would be sleep and prayer. I need to look ahead to tomorrow with eyes on the greater scheme of things.

Breathe in...Breathe out...Breathe in...Breathe out...

And, by all means, PRAY!

1 comment:

  1. sounds even cooler in spanish:

    Nada te turbe,
    Nada te espante,
    Todo se pasa,
    Dios no se muda.
    La paciencia
    Todo lo alcanza;
    Quien a Dios tiene
    Nada le falta:
    Sólo Dios basta.

    ReplyDelete