Passing By…

Passing By...8-6-25

For the teachers and staff at my school, we are back in session. Required state trainings, meetings, classroom preparation, and district-level meetings. We are busily about the things that come with students return and the first day of school. The classrooms are clean with some paint touch-up here and there. The bulletin boards are being completed. The signs are everywhere that tell students "I'm glad you are here!". "You Matter!". "Welcome Back". "We are better together!". All those little things that some people notice and others just pass by.

Like a car quickly passing my house, there are things and people all around us quickly passing in all directions. Just like we try to tell our students, God tells us in a million different ways how important we are to Him. How much He loves us. That we matter. But most of us pass by those things without noticing, busily moving to the next task we need to do.

James 1:17, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

As we move from this to that only stopping out of necessity, we miss the wonders God has created around us. The gentle wind to cool the face, the sun to warm us, or the rain to bring nourishment to the thirsty ground. We miss the people who are put in our path for just that specific moment. They may need a smile, kind word, or God's message. We miss the cascade of colors in every shade imaginable on every surface. We miss the sweet laughter of a child. We miss the silent tear that falls when there is a perception that no one is observing. We miss the animals and birds busily talking to each other communicating with only direction from above. And we miss blessings. The blessings that are provided ready for us to reach out our hand and readily accept. No strings are attached, and there are no requirements.

Psalm 23:1-2, "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters."