>Summer Learning Curve
>Even though my summers off consist of a lot of coffee, staying in my pajamas all day, watching tons of movies, reading as many books as humanly possible, eating at strange hours of the day and dreaming of a life in which I could do this all the time, I do actually do productive things as well. But aside from all of the projects I create for myself, I feel like I've learned a little more than just basic Portuguese and how to make a Brown Butter Raspberry Tart. This summer was a a "bigger picture" summer, and with 5 weeks left and counting, I thought I'd share the things I've learned in the last six weeks (more so for me than you, but hey, if it's inspiring then it served double-duty).
1. God can be trusted.
I was hesitant to list this first, considering after being a believer for a solid 10 years now, I should already have had this down. Alas, the truth is out. I never really believed it to be true. Not until this summer.
2. Fear is a False Prophet
I think it would be safe to say that the last few years of my life have been dominated by fear. Fear of people's opinions of me, fear of the unknown, fear of the familiar, fear of success- yes, I was one of those who expected failure because I believed I deserved it and feared success. Crazy-fear of illness, fear of financial disaster, and the list goes on and on. I was taught this summer that Fear is a liar and a false prophet, predicting things that may never actually come to fruition.
(if that sounds like you, buy and read the book that saved my life- http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw_3_14?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=running+scared+welch&sprefix=running+scared)
3. Work to Live.
I still have a little over 5 weeks left of summer and I've already begun ordering posters and organizing lesson plans for my classroom come September. I meander through the back-to-school isle and morn the loss of summer before it's over. Not because I want to, but because I'm a neurotic mess sometimes. I needed to be reminded this summer that I work as a teacher so I can live as Jenny. And there's no way in hell that Jenny would waste a little over a month on classroom stuff when she could be doing things she really wants to do.
4. God is a God of Resurrection
A word was spoken over both Rich and I this summer that reminded us of God's power. The person who prophesied over us let us know that the visions that we have allowed to die for the sake of pursuing what we believed to be God's will, can and will be resurrected. That destiny was written on our faces. That we were created for great things. Who doesn't like to hear that?
5. There's Power in Hope
Alright, I'm a nay-sayer. It's true. I say no to everything before even considering it as a viable option. But I've learned this summer that after you get numbers 1-4 down, hope is a powerful gift from God.
I have hope for this up and coming year. Hope that we'll have a house in which to open up to our family and friends. Hope that this school year will be better than last school year. Hope that when opportunities come knocking on our door, I won't say no out of fear and follow my husband's lead of being a faithful Jesus-follower. Hope that I now believe that God can be trusted. Hope that I'll remember that fear is a false prophet. Hope that I know that I work at this job in order to live- and that, perhaps, this will be my finale as a teacher of English in a public school. Hope that Rich and I will see the resurrection of some of our visions- and have the faith to step out on them.
It's going to be a great year.