Teacher's teacher

Have you asked this very simple question: What does death teach us while we are alive?

It teaches us that life is good only until death takes over so death teaches us to treasure life because death comes "life a theft in the night" - you are the last one to know death has visited you or me.

It teaches us that death finds meaning only in the realm of faith. If you are not a believer then your philosophy is:  "Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you will die" but if you are a believer then your philosophy is: " Like Christ one has to die but like Christ you will rise again in God's own time."

It teaches us what truly matters in life:  to do more, give more in order to be more as the great philosophers would say in our behalf but in death: to be in the mercy of God, the Judge.

On the occasion of November 1, All Saints' Day and November 2, All Souls' Day - we are answering the question that death is as important as life, the two days are symbolic of the respect we accord to our beloved dead who are in faith, alive in God's Kingdom.

If there is one things this blogger would like to have it is a television set with a capability to record what is worthy to be viewed again and again. Take the situation in New York. What is the implication  of "occupied Wall Street". Then take the most recent shocking news - death of Gaddafi. What are the repercussions of such death - of a leader who had everything in terms of power and fame - yet was killed by the very people he "served"? 

By the way, have you accepted the fact that right in our living room is the source of much information - the tv set? While you are cleaning your home, preparing meals or just sitting down while taking your snacks, you switch on the tv - make sure it is cable - you have before you the world. You become witness to how it is coping with any thing and every thing every other person is going through here, there and everywhere! Can you imagine if you can record all these and see it again, very slowly, ponder upon its nuances and contribute your own share in whatever capacity. Oprah used to give this kind of tv set many times so this Christmas, this blogger has some tv canvassing to do as to what tv set has this feature unless someone out there has read this log and would like to tell me how to get one???

As a teacher, events - like "occupied Wall Street" and "death of a dictator, Gaddafi" - confirm once again what greed can do to many who are struggling to live with bare minimum and how power can destroy anybody who uses it as an end not a means.

Then we come back to where we are and ask: Have I contributed to the misery of my family and community? Have I done enough to control my anger or tendency to manipulate others thereby promote peace among family members and colleagues?

Let us begin small and let us begin where we are . . . Shalom!

Leaders are our role models. So when they die, all the followers are sad. What is lost is not just one life but a life that is difficult to emulate. In the case of Moammar Gadhafi, Libyan prime minister, he must have been a role model one time being a leader. In the course of time, he must have lost this side of him for he wanted absolute power just for himself which is the tendency when power becomes absolute.

What lesson do we get from a person's death? like Gadhafi's death. One is the confirmation that whatever power we possess it is not self-serving but a temporary trust given to you with a consequent accounting of what you have done with it. Another is the fact that life is a one-way traffic such that when our time is up - what follows is no longer ours to decide so we are under the mercy of God's justice. Still another message is the legacy we leave behind. Others rejoice when you die because a tyrant is gone or they are saddened because your presence is always "sunshine after the rain", rainbow after the pain.

Let us always go back to our own lives and reflect on what we have done and are doing with this one life we are given.

To this day, after teaching for more than 30 years, we still meet so-called evaluators who have reserved their comments to be guided only by negative tones. Since we are aware that this person is not even super as a teacher and the over-all "aura" is negative, we can only surmise that it is but inevitable everything that emanates from this person is the opposite of positive. Have you met this evaluator yourself or your workplace has a counterpart? do share . . .

Every person nowadays has to be treasured. Students who are our main clients are our crosses for we as teachers try to give our all but sad to say, their exams are below par. We just hold on to the positive thought that they will "bloom" someday according to their own paces.

My daughter uses Apple computer so she can say with authority how unique the product is. We will not dwell on the superior quality of Apple computer but on the life of Apple's CEO for a long time: Steve Jobs. He dies at the age of 56, not so young but not so old.

For those who have not finished college life, Steve Jobs is an inspiration. He founded Apple. This proves once again that "some people are schooled but not educated". While going to school is always important, it is really what we get from all the class discussions that matter. As a teacher, my heart goes out to those who really go to school with love and care. Some of my students share how happy they are for being able to go to college amidst poverty.

Steve Jobs has many counterparts among filipinos. Perhaps you have already met one. We can also say, Steve Jobs has counterparts among persons of different cultures and races. After all we are made by one God so it is no wonder. Rest in peace Steve Jobs. Your life may have ended but your legacy which is topped by humbleness amidst triumph is a legacy that will last forever.

The information is that September 5 began the celebration of World Teachers' Day and a month later, October 5 ends the month-long celebration. In the Philippines, the Department of Education calls it Teachers' Month Campaign for the spirit is in tune with what World Teachers' month-long celebration.

As a teacher all my life, it is heartwarming to note that the teacher is given this recognition which is always a worthy move. Teacherallherlife.blogspot.com is very grateful for the greetings from friends and students. The texts are both funny and thought-provoking. A message from a friend, colleague and fellow girl scout goes: Pasalamat ka ikaw ay teacher (You should be grateful you are a teacher.)And lawyer pagnagkamali, priso kliyente. (The lawyer once he is wrong, the client goes to jail.) And pari pagnagkamali, sa impiyerno uwi. (The priest once he commits mistakes goes to hell.)Pero and teacher pagnagkamali ERASE THE BOARD lang. (But the teacher once she commits mistakes, all she does is ERASE THE BOARD.)  Happy World Teachers' Day!  The a foregoing is ONLY A JOKE so please smile or laugh and it already serves its purpose.

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.