Emergency Lessons

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

—Matthew 25:13

He’s coming. And I've got to get ready. It could be any day now.

I have to be prepared. I have business to attend to—emergency lessons to write.

My daughter is due to give birth to my grandson. And as soon as I get the word, I’ll be jetting off in her direction as fast as my little Jeep will carry me.

But I have 150 students counting on me here at home. And it’s my duty to leave lesson plans for a substitute teacher. While I’m excited about the arrival of my new bundle-of-joy, I also care about my students and want to leave lessons that are relevant and meaningful—lessons that will enlighten and engage.

My administrator is also counting on me to be prepared. Leaving without leaving lesson plans would be falling short—the equivalent of my students not completing their assignment.

Jesus used The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) to explain the workings of the kingdom of heaven. The duty of the ten virgins was to attend to the bridegroom, to light the way to the wedding banquet. Five were prepared with plenty of oil for their lamps, while the other five fell short. The foolishness of the unprepared cost them entrance to the wedding banquet.

Our duty is to attend to the business of our souls, to be ready for the Lord’s coming. It could be any day now. And our assignment is to the light the way for others. Let us not fall short. Let us be prepared. May our lamps burn bright for Him. And may we share this urgent message of hope in relevant and meaningful ways.

Dear God, thank You for making a way for me to enter the marriage supper. While I’m excited for that joyous day, I also care for others and pray that they too will receive this blessed hope. Thank You for entrusting me to attend to the business of souls. May I not fall down on the job. Guide me to complete this assignment, illuminating the way for others. Amen.

How's your posture?

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

—Colossians 3:1-2 

“Feet flat…back straight…elbows by your side…fingers on the home keys…body centered on the “J” key…eyes on copy,” I reminded as I milled around the classroom monitoring my students’ keyboarding posture.

That was then—when the school of thought was that “proper” posture would result in greater keyboarding speed and fewer errors. But this is now—and things have changed. Most of my current students have been tapping on electronic devices since they were toddlers. They have their own technique down pat.  Some are faster at typing out a message with just two fingers than I am with two hands. To have them learn touch-typing at this stage would only result in frustration for all parties. As such, keyboarding class has become obsolete.

But when I did teach keyboarding, I covered my classroom walls with “Cartoons on Keyboard Basics” (published by J. Weston Walch). These cartoons featured Pretzel Patty, Peekin’ Pete, Side-Saddle Sig, Stop-and-Go-Sandy and several other characters whose keyboarding posture was substandard.

Too Important to Miss

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

—Ephesians 6:18  

“No!” Mabel stopped me just as I reached down to scoop up the scrap of paper from the floor, “Leave it there. It’s my reminder.”

“What? A reminder on the floor?” I laughed.

“Hey, it works. You noticed it.”

I had to admit she had a point.

How do you remind yourself of important things? Write them on the calendar, leave strategically placed notes, or make lists?

I’ve done it all. In fact, I’ve even been known to write messages on my bathroom mirror with a dry-erase marker.

Hey, it works.

But I’ve also been known to miss the important things because I’ve overlooked my reminder.

Scratch-Off Calendar

All the stages of my life were spread out before you,

The days of my life all prepared

before I’d even lived one day.

—Psalm 139:16

 

I already knew what was beneath, but still I watched closely as my father dragged a coin across the label, scratching away the surface. 

“Banana split.” 

“But where does he go to get his banana split?” my mother asked. 

“He doesn’t have to go anywhere,” I explained, “I have all the fixings in the car.” 

As I sliced bananas and scooped ice cream, I explained how the 30-day calendar worked, “Some days you win a surprise, other days a special message, prayer, or thought.” 

“When do I scratch off the label?” Dad asked. 

“First thing in the morning each day, but you have to give me till the end of the day to deliver. And no going ahead!” I laughed. 

Hoping my father would enjoy the anticipation of surprises, I created “Dad’s Lot O’ Surprises Scratch-Off Calendar” as a Father’s Day gift that would extend beyond the special day. And since I know my father has an affection for sweets, most of his surprises are sweet treats. Shhh! Let’s keep that a secret, though!