Lessons Learned

Teaching is Always Uphill Yesterday,  I stood symbolically with my staff with our backs loaded down with the burdens of starting a school year.  We stared at the map outlining the uphill journey ahead of us.   We knew that our only option was to carry those burdens up the hill as we guide children towards the summit of success. Teaching is always an uphill journey.   There are no flat plateaus or sloping winding descents.  Always climbing,  teachers push on through storms and debris focused on the mission of changing lives.   On the best days,  the teaching journey is an uplifting, joyous struggle.  I must admit that  I stood at the edge of the uphill journey and asked how many more of these ascents do I have in me.   At that moment,  the clouds cleared.   A beam of light called a Facebook message brightened the horizon and gave me a glimpse of the amazing summit that awaits us as we guide our students up the ascent....

If I had Only One Day  Through my mist filled ocular view,  I see 10,950 days of memories as if those memories were shimmering stars in the  midnight  blue sky.  Some stars so close that you can touch them and some stars just as bright sparkling in the distance.  Those stars that I see in the misty sky show the loving memories that I share with Robin, my beautiful brown eyed bride.  The mist in my hazel eyes turns into drops that overflow dripping down my face as I reflect on instead of 10,950 days with Robin that the gracious God of love said to me,  "I am only going to give you one day, but on that day you will know the love that makes two people become one.  With only a day to experience the all encompassing love of your life, what would I do?"  Smiling, I would say, "Thank you, Lord for this day with my beautiful bride and I will:  ...hold her hand and feel the gentleness of her touch. ...h...

The Principal and the Preacher Today,  a tall good-looking high school kid came back to see his old principal.   I looked in his calm eyes and this old man began to smile.   My friend was in a good place and he came back to see his former teachers and one old principal. When my friend left my office and after I gave him a hug,  I closed my office door.   I fell into my chair and I sobbed.   I was transported back in time to a cold winter day when I walked this boy home from school.  My heart ached on that cold bitter day.   My young friend was hurting in ways that no child should hurt.     I sat in his parents living room with his family and his counselor.  I held his tiny baby sister in my lap.  My boy curled up with the old family dog.   We all knew that this hurting tender little boy needed more help than we could provide at school.   We cried as we decided that ...

A call from the 216 area code informed me that my friend and college roommate was being traded from the home team.   He was walking off the football pitch way too early in life. He took off his jersey, walked over the end line and into the light.  There was still time to be played when Ron “Bakes” Baker was called to play in Heaven's premier league.  Ronnie played the game that we call life with honor and integrity. Ron was a person who made friends fast.  It just seems like yesterday that he introduced himself and became fast friends with a special band of Harbor knuckleheads.  We would laugh and clown.  His accepting and good nature made for life long friends. His quick wit and fast smile made for fun times.  Ron was a true and loyal friend who knew how to have a good time. Bakes had many interests that completely engaged and excited him.  An accomplished woodworker, Ron made legacy pieces with the art of a craftsman.  ...