My Crazy…Our Path…

My Crazy…Our Path

Warning, long but insightful blog ahead. The last six weeks or so has been fast and furious. The district I work for now has broken away from a district they consolidated with many many years prior. It has been difficult to put it mildly, but there is hope and purpose. This past week we were all working furiously. My team (God’s team) was there minus one, I can call them that because I had a say in their hiring and asked a few to come back to work alongside to begin this God-given opportunity. A group of our kids headed out to basketball camp only to have the bus we acquired throw a safety code. Upon investigation, the bus needed serviced immediately and the brakes on some with this code would fail. Apparently, this had happened previously. I sent the only other bus we have to get the students, only to get it halfway there to find out it had thrown this code as well. Brought the bus back, called parents that were present to bring kids home, checked with parents to verify approval, and set up maintenance. School begins in one month, would we have buses for school? Perhaps not, don’t have anything to send kids to camp in now. In the meantime, we are waiting on materials to wax our floors. Couldn’t even start ordering anything and get into buildings until July 1st because we were not allowed the keys. To make matters worse, our first payroll was due on the 20th. Couldn’t begin setting anything up until the 1st and applied for State Tax Withholding number, only to find out this very morning our application is lost in cyber land and we have to start over. No paycheck for me and others. God will provide. Many frustrated people, the final breaking for over-worked, dedicated Christian men and women. I re-assured, calmly assessed, and worked the problem. For some reason, and I know that reason, I was calm inside and out. Proverbs 16:9: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps"

That night and the next morning, I woke repeatedly thinking of the problem. As I prayed, my go-to when I wake at night and throughout the day, God revealed to me something that I knew my team needed. This picture above. You see, my part-time maintenance guy came back this year for me. I love him dearly. He and some others wanted to tear up the old stained carpet in my room and replace with tile, only to find we didn’t have enough of the old tile, couldn’t buy any. I won’t spend more money on my floor as the kids will need that money. So, he found the other color, and with approval from the Interim Superintendent, began a pattern to cover the floor. He worked tirelessly by himself. To some, it looks odd in our building, the only room like this. But God had a plan.

You see, this tile represents a journey and that is what God revealed to me. When I went into foster care at 16, I walked into the high school and sat two desks behind my now husband. We started dating the next year and have been together 44 years. The red tile is from that high school when it was renovated. The blue, yes it is blue but looks gray in this photo, is from the renovated school that is now our new district. This tile represents life, when mine began and when I let God heal me. I never dealt with what happened and when I became a member of this district four years ago, I went through some things that brought to the surface memories and feelings that I had to deal with and that caused significant illness. The very reason I began this blog. This tile is a representation and reminder of the path God has taken me on. He carried me out of that horrible situation and has carried me ever since. For the first time, my husband and I felt adopted by a community, loved, appreciated, respected, and we had a purpose. Then, I had to leave it two years ago. I had no idea then that I would walk back in to be their leader until I received a call to apply. God knew. That tile, my husband calls my crazy, just like me, is a reminder of where He has taken me and where He is taking our school, as well as each of us. He isn’t leaving us. He is not walking away. There will be days like this day. There will be tests of fire. There will be times of tears and frustration, uncertainty, and good times as well. Psalms 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

This is what I shared with this team when I called them together that morning. This floor will not change as long as I am in that office. That is our reminder for each of us as we walk by those doors. We are lead by God, and I will not forget that or let them forget. We are all on a path God knows and is in control of. We all have a journey. Then I told them what my husband always says, “When you get through preaching, we will sing awhile.” They laughed and we worked on. Peace settled around us, and I know He directs us from our going out and coming in.