Teacher's teacher

This early, 100 days before Christmas 2011, already the feeling of giving love to others is in the air.This is one event all over the world when even the "hardened" at heart will have to give in to the soft side of of a person: the capacity to reach out to others all in the spirit of Christmas.

This blog will focus on good deeds that she observes as the countdown formally begins today and to culminate when Christmas comes and all of mankind sings joyously the Christmas carols. 

Today, we expressed our love for our colleague who is celebrating her birthday. A nice lady and well loved by the faculty. We pray that she will receive all of God's blessings and most of all good health which she really likes to maintain and sustain. Happy Birthday Lina!

Why must it be cable television and not just regular tv? and why should it be particularly important for the elderly?

For one, cable tv keeps on running even after 12:00 p.m. unlike regular tv that ends with its sign off feature.So for the elderly it means staying up through the night and waiting or dawn in silence, nothing to lull her to sleep. 

Two, there are repeats and so whatever was not seen entirely during the day because of he demands of work will be seen again this time leisurely now that it is past nine or ten or eleven or twelve or one a.m. or two a.m. or three a.m. or four a.m. . . another day . . . another time spent for the day's chores . . .

Those who are not yet elderly, take it form someone who has finally reached it: sleep comes difficult and should it come, it is only for a few hours and it is only with the help of miracles from God that somehow another day comes by sleep or no sleep.

For you out there then who are young and are already bored with life, think again. Take the rare opportunity of being young and live it to the fullest. do not hurry up to grow old. Savor every moment and bloom to your full capacity. Why spend all these chances that come but once to drugs, cigarette smoking, drinking liquor and wasting the night away in bars and questionable night spots? Desiderata reminds you: "Take kindly the counsel of the years . . . nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortunes . . . You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars you have a right to be here . . . With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world . . . Be happy.

As an aside, Google informs us that Desiderata was originally written by Max Ehrmann which for this blogger was a poem written by an anonymous. Now, this anonymous has a name: Max Ehrmann.  Rev. Frederick Kates of St. Paul's Church in Baltimore used tis poem in his devotional materials A.C. 1692 just as we still use it today, more than ever.

For this blogger, cable tv reaches her abode via Parasat for she is here in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Philippines.

Now, it is already 3:38 A.M. and this blogger is awake.It is good to watch CNN with Piers Morgan then Talk TV then AXN, Blue Blood then 2nd Avenue, Parenthood then Lotus Macao, channel 50, Michael Douglas film.

Thank you inventors for cable tv. Good night or is it Good morning!

Will there be an attack - God forbid, again? We pray, never again, please God.

Ten years ago, I was watching CNN when - like a dream - I saw the two planes hit Twin tower, one after the other. Then news continued saying another one hit a part of Pentagon, what?  Then and now, my feelings never changed - that of shock, shock and shock! I wanted to believe it was just a movie or that it was just one of those slides or clip misplaced or something but never real. A joke?

All these are  memories of September 11 that was an attack on humanity by terrorists. Ten years later, an attempt to re-build a  twin tower as a symbol of moving on. In an Interview with Matt Lauer  in Today, he took time to talk with some of the engineers who confirm that the building is a testament, a statement to rebuild, to recover.The new building will be ready in 2013. I will retire in 2015, Please God, allow me to see the new twin tower!

For us teachers, events like this, give us talking points: Can hatred to humanity be such that persons behind this inhumane attack on mankind  still deserve to live? Where do they come from? an offshoot from hell? What kind of heart and conscience do these plotters have? Do they have any- if at all? If words are not enough at least in thought we can rely on our faith to hold on. Think good, Think God. 

May I end with a prayer . . .

God, Father of us all, this is one time when we become one in your name however this name may be.

You made us out of love but sad to say we do not return this love same way - rather we see hatred in kind: attack on the Twin Tower, wars everywhere, hatred among family members, clash among tribes, crimes of various kinds especially against the helpless - the children, destruction and abuse inflicted on Mother Earth, all the other manifestations of sins that are negations of what we are yet  you alone see its reasons for happening.

How can we ever account for all these transgressions? How can we ever look you in the eye without bowing our heads in shame?

Father God, we can only plead for your generosity and endless love. We beg for your mercy.

Lift us up and once again bless this earth you so kindly entrust to us. Visit our hardened hearts and help us know you are there.

Father God, please hear what words can not be said but we utter in faith. You alone know where this world is heading. We offer everything to you- the good and the bad.

You made us out of love but we know you alone know whether we have returned this love or not.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

If one looks hard enough, one finds the disparity of opportunities given to persons. But if one really looks hard enough, we are all equal in the school called life. Our teacher is the same: life as it unfolds.

For the parents the lingering pain is how to deal with the gradual departure of the grown children from the one fold of the family. The earlier a parent accepts this inevitable separation, the better for the child and the parent. Today, for example, Malaybalayan could only hug and say good luck to a beloved son who has to leave for Davao City because a job interview is in the offing. It is painful but it is good news for before long, even the separation is part of the love you have to give, even if it means letting go.

The teacher in each of us is a gift that the school of life generously grants every well-meaning citizen of the world. So, let it be; let us all enroll in the university of life. Everyone becomes both the learner and the teacher: a rather unique blend and no money involved for once.

As the years of teaching become years of dealing with many kinds of young people who will become professionals someday, many thoughts come our way.

However the years have come and gone, however some bosses make or unmake some of your days, you always emerge stronger and more inspired. After all, you meet again these students-turned professionals and share their own stories of victories and failures.

There are groups of young learners who really cause you the headache but reflecting on it again and again, they are just still-in-the-soon to become student teachers and in this limbo, they are lost in the maze of requirements.

Tomorrow, there is a promise to be made when we meet these puzzled students in our care. We will let them know that teachers may say something to "hammer" some points strong enough to challenge them. There is never an intention to underestimate them just the hope they will do better. We will try to  make it known teachers are first persons who care. While we are in this reflection mood, we visited a blog entitled The Best of Teachers Pay Teachers by Teacher Victoria. We left a comment and hope for an exchange of notes someday.

There are many opportunities to become an agent of change and to become a teacher is one of the best opportunities!

We are created equal but along the way, especially in our careers, we have bosses and with their presence, an additional baggage is thrashed on you. This gets more complicated when these bosses who are part of the system of management are those you do not like at all. So how do you deal with them?

Google articles give so many tips, some of which are directed to cubicle warriors. Outlast the boss, vent in a safe place and focus on your performance are some of the thought-provoking ways to get by.   

But wait! why do we not like our bosses - not like as against hate - when they are just doing their jobs? This is the crux of the matter. The first reflection point always goes back to us. Are we sure we are the only ones who feel this way? What if the bosses do not also like us. Can you imagine their dilemma too? So this is the way to handle the feeling: feel for the other party and before you know it, the intensity of not liking the boss is greatly minimized.  

Feelings are real and fickle so we should not put so much intensity on it. Ventilate. Experience your catharsis but always, get the proper perspective. Bosses need the same ventilation and catharsis. If only we see this then we need not dislike them too much.

The last point is in order. If the focus is on you and not on your boss: your performance and not on the face of your boss, life becomes bearable. Diplomacy can work hand in hand with your new found course of action.

How do you deal with bosses whom you do not like? Deal with yourself  first and before you can entertain the  negative feeling, you have overcome it after all. Life is more than all the bosses in the world who do not deserve the best in you. Smile fellow workers!

Nowadays life seems to pass by faster and difficult to keep pace. Life is teaching us to slow down and "smell the roses" so to speak. If it is possible, take the time out to go on retreat somewhere in the mountains - if it is still possible. Perhaps it comes more urgently for the elderly like some of us have found ourselves in.

Once in a while there are holidays that come in a row and a weekend before it so four (4) days are a treat. The days could have been the days to make a go of many things that were left unattended for quite a time but as it happened the days just  made the time for us. When would these moments come again would be one of those "miracles".   

Here is one who wishes all teachers would have all the time for their organic gardens and blogging without a thought where their next salary would come from. We can dream all the time, can't we?