#l2011

#l2011 It is hard for me to believe that I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks - time is pumping for me recently. I can't even wrap my head around the fact that a week from today is Thanksgiving. The last month has really just gotten away from me in a big way. I have been traveling a bit for work this month, and I'm not done yet, as I will be in MI for the holiday, then more training of principals and some work out of the office there. But a few days this month I did get to attend Learning 2011 , which was certainly the most interesting conference I have been to in my life. Elliot really knows how to put on a shindig that encourages learning and development. It certainly didn't suck that it was in Orlando, and 80 degrees in November does not suck. This conference really made me think deeply about some work. I don't know if I blogged about it, but I have had a sense that God has been preparing me to do something different. This year certainly can fit into the different category - and I have been enjoying this year of my career I think more than any other. I really think the main reason I can say that is that I have tried my absolute hardest to release my work to Him and at times, know that I don't have a clue how to accomplish some of the tasks before me - and so I need to lean on Him more. And that has given me a peace and comfort I don't think i can put into words. The conference was about learning. About learning about learning. And I came to a realization (as I laid in the hammock under palm trees surrounded by white sand) that learning is at my core. Being in the field of education, one might say to this revelation: "No sh**, T$." But it was a new revelation to me in so many ways. I love to learn. I love even more being involved in leading others to their own learning (in which the process helps me to learn more about learning about learning about learning). It is something that God has hardwired me to enjoy so much. And then I spent some time after leaving the beauty of palm trees and white sand reflecting on the last few years in our move to BKLY. I had no choice but to spend all of my days and nights, work, play and weekends learning. A new way of life. A new job (times at least 3, maybe more this year), a new city, a new culture, a new way for our family to experience life. A new way of doing everything. But drilling deeper, in my spiritual life I have pressed into the learning that I never took the time to do before feeling this call. Now I could shoot off my toes one at a time on the days I don't start with reading the bible, journaling, and taking time to "be still, and know that I am God" as Psalm 46:10 tells us to do. And I learn more every time I engage in those activities. And today, as I ran 5.88 miles in the park (yeah booyah - turkey trot here I come)I realized that Jesus came to teach - his focus was others' learning. He spent his life coming alongside others and tried to teach them how to live. I am NOT saying that is what I am doing, but I saw the correlations of helping others learn. What a cool thing to think that Jesus is still with me every day - that the Holy Spirit is with me to teach me - so I can learn about learning about learning. And I sensed that Jesus was telling me he is with me -always. That is pretty darn cool if you ask me. And then I spent some time reflecting on just what I have recently learned about learning about learning. A lot. I keep learning more each day I open my eyes and ears to growing in my position at work. I learn so much when I stop and tell myself - I don't have a clue what this is/how to do this/what we need to do/where to go from here - that is when I learn the most. And the same can be said when I open my heart, mind, soul, and strength to the Holy Spirit to guide me - that is when I learn the most. So thanks Elliot for opening my mind to learning about learning about learning. #l2011

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Too, Too, Too Much Fun

Alright. So you're sitting in front of your computer right now. And you're saying to yourself at about 8:00 pm: "Huh. It's been dark out for nearly three and a half hours now. What else can we do for fun?" Well, sir, we have the answer. Take a look at this.
Read more

Righteous or Unrighteous?

Today, as I thoroughly enjoyed my walk to the school, I pondered quite a few things, as I often do on my walk. Sometimes I pray for people like Hammy, Jimmer, sick pete, mg, cdubs, pastor, beary, and the like. But today, I simply reveled in the fact that God loves me. As I watched the snow melting away, I could see the dirt and garbage left behind throughout my walk. I think of how God melts away our dirt and our garbage. How he longs to be in relationship with us, and how he cleanses our sins from existence. As the sun rose, I couldn't help but think of the verse I read this morning in Matthew 5:45 - "...that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." I pondered if Jesus was walking with me, which of the above categories would HE put me in? I'm pretty sure the unrighteous one at times. But yet he still walks with me and leads my steps. He brings the heat ...
Read more

Casa de Kelly - a nice place to dine.

Image
It has been a challenging week for me personally. Struggling with some things personal in nature, nothing that I need to go into, but just working hard to keep my chin up. But encouragement comes to me through others that follow God. Thanks to sick Pete for his encouragement to me this week. Thanks to BK for his prayers and vulnerability. But my biggest thanks goes out to the kkft. After a tough week, I got an email yesterday from superstar saying she was hoping to take me out to dinner for drinks, conversation, and even dessert. But no sitter. So her and the girls were working on 'casa de kelly' restaurant in our apartment. I am almost certain it was the best restaurant I have ever visited in my life. Candlelight, mexican food and latin music, time to sit and chat with my wife, the girls serving us and giving us privacy (even had the taboo buzzer to call them when we needed something :)), it was my best night of the year by far. But perhaps the biggest part of the n...
Read more