On Monday morning at 8 a.m., summer break was over. Six weeks of freedom and rest and quietness had come to an end.
What people outside the teaching profession don’t know: Going back to school after the big break is like turning a switch. Within one minute you go from silence to full-on noise, from solitude to crowded hallways, from rest to total chaos.
One hour in and you feel like the holidays are already light years away.
This week has been hard.
Sore feet, messed up brain, tired soul.
All I could feel, when I feel into bed at night, was exhausted.
That’s not all what I want to feel. This can’t be it.
When we are stressed, we often lose focus and overlook the really important things.
In the midst of our busyness, there are these little moments of joy.
In the hectic of our task-driven lives, there are these beautiful encounters of human connection.
In the sea of faces, there are these special people who stand out in the crowd and surprise you.
Beyond the endless to- do lists there’s the gift of Sabbath and the promise that we are not what we do.
This is it.
This is what I want to learn in this new crazy year ahead of me:
Watch out for the essentials.
Pay attention to what’s hidden in the crowds.
Writing for Five Minute Friday today.
thisiskatha.com 
Thank you for those thoughtful words. I’d thought about being a teacher, but at the time (I was very young) I felt the schooling too insurmountable and costly. Now, I see God gave me my Bible study small groups, children, and now grandchildren to be their teacher. God is good. All the time. Bless you and your family in this year’s teaching endeavors. May you continue to find those hidden gifts in every day. Teresa K. Lasher
Teaching goes much further than the classroom! We need teachers everywhere, so go and share! Thanks for coming by, Teresa!
You are much braver than I! I trained as a teacher but never had the nerve to actually do the job. I pray you have a great school year. Best of luck to you. FMF #71 this week.
Thank you so much, Karen!