“Since it is so likely that [children] will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.” (C.S. Lewis) I am a reader. Ever since I was a young child some of my best friends were books; few things make me more content than being surrounded with bookshelves heavily laden with richly bound volumes that are just waiting to have their pages opened to release the stories of daring rescues, impossible victories, and unlikely heroes.  It wasn’t until I reached my high school years that I began to watch movies and I soon noticed a pattern in the popular films: the determined nobody who becomes somebody by holding onto the vision of making a difference. Coaches were the favorites but some were military leaders, a few were pastors, and others were teachers. Yet the story I treasured the most, and still use as the North Star of my vision, is the account of Esther and her understanding that she was placed on the earth “for such a time as this.” You see, I have a story too.

I was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of three. My memories of those years of hospital visits, painful procedures, and chemo treatments are vague at best, but I do remember God assuring me of His presence and instilling in my heart, at a very young age, a firm belief that He is real.  I have never stopped wanting to share this conviction with the young people in my life; I want them to understand that they do not have to be adults to know that God is real and they can see Him active in their life – right now! Then I spent a year-and-a-half abroad in West Africa in my middle school years and it was during that time when Jesus placed a true burden on my heart for at-risk youth. At the time I did not have a clear vision for how He wanted me to get involved; I simply knew that they needed a second chance and someone to point them to Him. In my early college years I was deeply impacted by a summer farm internship in Switzerland. Not only did I discover how much I relished farming, I was also able to build lasting relationships with a couple of Swiss young people and it further confirmed to me that God was calling me to outreach for youth and young adults. Following the example of Mary, I treasured these truths in my heart.

In the meantime I continued working as a part-time veterinarian technician on the west side of our island, began to serve in the youth group at my church, worked as a life-skills companion to a disabled neighbor through Easter Seals, interned at a local Boys and Girls’ Club, earned a bachelor’s of science degree in family resources and a master’s degree in education, and became a middle school language arts teacher. The Lord has been my constant companion along the way, faithfully giving me the words to say, the creativity to teach, the patience to give second and third chances, and  the heart to love even the most trying and unloveable individuals. And now He has clarified the vision He impressed on my heart so many years ago. It is a vision that combines my passion for education and reaching the hearts of youth, with the love I have for farming and caring for animals.

The vision is a haven of love, hope, second chances, and learning for at-risk children. It will be a small working farm that partners with local schools to offer the opportunity for children to come to the country for hands-on experiences with animals, agriculture, trade skills, and other dimensional avenues for learning. These children maybe at-risk due to learning challenges, low socioeconomic status, or simply boredom that has led to a disconnect with the traditional learning environment that has resulted in social and behavioral challenges.  Through consistent interaction in this hope and love-filled atmosphere the children will begin to open their hearts to dream and be enthusiastic about their futures, thus motivating them to take their academics more seriously. And most of all, the most rewarding of all farming will be taking place: that of planting seeds of Truth in these lost hearts. As G.K. Chesterton so succinctly put it, “One sees great things from the valley, only small things from the peak.”   Yet for this to happen I will need to draw upon the leadership skills that I have been cultivating through my teaching years.

If I had been asked to describe myself five years ago I would not have included “leader” among my list of attributes. My voice does not rise too easily; I do not enjoy making tough decisions; and telling people what to do is not a favorite pastime. But now I am a teacher and whether I like it or not, I am a leader.  The students in my care look to me for guidance, instruction, and affirmation. They trust me to not waste their time and to protect their value as human beings.  They come to me with their burdens and to seek counsel on friendships or how to work things out with their parents. They ask me questions about things they don’t understand about God and want to know my opinion on the “big deal” issues that are always being debated in the world.  My students watch me as I interact with those in authority over me or with my coworkers; they observe how I treat their fellow classmates; they notice my walk with God and if I follow through on what I say; they are quick to spot any inconsistencies in what I tell them and what I actually do myself.

To be a leader I must be willing to learn. I have learned that I cannot force my charges to think or learn, but I can lead them to it by helping them discover their innate ability to do so. I have learned that I cannot make them be nice to each other, but I can lead them to kindness by showing them how good they feel when they cause someone else to smile. I have learned that I cannot demand respect, but I can lead them to a respectful attitude by assuring them that their future success in life is my passion. I have learned that I cannot change the world for them, but I can lead them to a path that will help them become world changers. I have learned that I cannot love God for them, but I can lead them to Jesus.  I have learned that I cannot be a leader on my own strength, but when I follow Jesus He leads through me.                                                                                    Edward E. Hale once said, “I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will.”   

Thank you for reading my story.

and tell me what you think:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/04/peter-fuller-fired_n_1077204.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk3%7C110149&ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

Our little state is preparing for the invasion of the APEC conference.  As we struggle to with the surging homeless population, the countless stray animals, the brutal cutbacks in education, and the merciless traffic, our president demands the tightest security and the highest quality of royal treatment we can’t afford.   Security cameras are being put up, only to be taken down after the conference is over.  Fully grown trees are being planted along the medians of certain highways, only to be removed after the conference is over.  Chainlink fences are being put up around the police stations, only to be pulled down after the conference is over. And entire freeways will be shut down for certain periods of time because the dignitaries will be moving from one side of the island to another. No consideration is given to the fact that the residents of the westside do not have an alternate route to travel from to and from their homes.

I also heard that Michelle Obama will be “treating” the dignitaries to lunch on Sunday.  She isn’t the one actually footing the bill, though; “her people” are – you and me.  We are also paying for their travel expenses, not just to events of state, but pleasure excursions as well.  We paid for the extra fuel when their dog, Bo, had to fly on a separate plane with his handler to join the family in Hawaii.  We have to suck it up and cater to their comfort at the cost of our hard-earned salary, our tightening of the belt, and our anxiety about the future. 

I know that our government is grossly top-heavy and that all of our politicians are wasting the money that hard-working citizens are required to send to D.C.  But it seems to me that the buck stops with the President. If he were to set an example of actually valuing the lives of American citizens by doing with less or footing his own luxury bills, perhaps the others would follow suit. The expectations of our leaders right now are those of a medieval monarchy where the serfs had no say and all the drudgery of catering to royal comforts; they are not those of democratic public servants, elected by the people to elevate the country and not themselves.

Last week there was a video on AOL News of a two-year old Chinese girl being run over by two different vans, while at least a dozen people passed by, completely ignoring her flailing, dying form. Eventually someone informed her mom who proceeded to hoist her daughter casually into her arms and take her to the hospital. The little girl was not expected to survive.

This video sparked tremendous outrage in China, where citizens are asking how this could possibly happen in their country. Some wonder if it’s because of an absent Good Samaritan law that protects citizens from lawsuits or expenses if they help a person in need. Others speculate that it has to do with the massive population of China which has prompted a one-child policy, leading to the abortion or abandonment of countless baby girls. In China, girls are worth less than boys.

I do not mean to compare people with animals, but my experience with the three little kittens that I am fostering has provided me with an ample supply of reflections that can be expanded to include life at large. One of these is saturation. It would appear from my tireless pursuit of homes for my little charges (e-mailing, Facebook messaging, texting, and approaching at least 200 people and posting them on Craigslist) that my state and probably the entire Union has been saturated with cats. People feel bad, but they’re just not interested in one more feline. Besides, if they really want a kitten they can go to the nearest pet shop or shelter to pick one out that has the exact coloring, fur-length, eye color, gender, personality, and size that they want.  Why bother to adopt a bland stray from who-knows-where?

And so it is with our world. People have become so consumed with themselves that rather than focusing on the one more good deed they could do, they focus on all they have done and how much it has cost them.  Love is tireless and sacrificial; when I list all the good works I have done for those around me I am doing it to pat myself on the back and to fill myself with the assurance that I am a good person. But then the focus is on me; in the meantime, someone’s life is waning on the street. 

Yes, the need in our world is staggering. No, we will never be able to help them all. Yes, our acts of kindness are mere drops in the bucket. Yes, in our estimation the number individuals in the world is as numerous as grains of sand.  Yet our Great Creator knows the number of grains of sand on our planet and the quantity does not make them any less valuable in His estimation. In fact, perhaps our acts of selflessness matter more to Him because the hopelessness of our cause reveals the genuineness of our hearts.  The world’s population may increase but we still have only One God – do it for Him.

I have a little story to share:

Once upon a time there was a neighborhood with several children residing in it. Jimmy was an industrious little boy who wanted to earn a few dollars  and he experimented with a variety of jobs: a newspaper route, a lemonade stand, door-to-door sales, garage sales, etc. Finally, he started his own yard maintenance business and it took off. Pretty soon he had a nice collection of regular customers and his college fund began to grow. He had plans for his future.

Jimmy had a few friends who watched him closely. Sally was inspired by his initiative and tried her own hand at setting up a little stand where she sold crafts, cookies, and other trinkets. She didn’t do too bad at this or babysitting and was able to set aside a few dollars. But  at the time of this particular telling of the story her business wasn’t quite as successful as Jimmy’s, perhaps because she hasn’t been at it for as long as Jimmy has.  Tom, on the other hand, applauded his friends’ industriousness but had no motivation himself. He preferred to play video games and munch on snacks during his free time.

Enter Cliff.  Cliff came from another town and was a few years older than our main characters. He observed Jimmy’s business savvy mind and Sally’s willingness to learn and apply from her friend. But when he saw Tom’s carefree attitude, Cliff sensed oppportunity. He began to befriend Tom and Sally and when the moment presented itself he put his plot into action.  “Sally, I don’t think it’s fair that Jimmy doesn’t share some of his success with you.” “What do you mean, Cliff? Jimmy’s a good friend and has inspired me.”  “Inspire you?” scoffed Cliff. “He should share some of his money with you. He sees how hard you work! Why should he keep it all to himself?”  Sally hesitated. “But I haven’t been at my job for as long as Jimmy has. He is there when I need him, but he has plans for his money. I don’t think he should have to give it to me just because I’m not making as much as he is.”

Cliff then turned to Tom. “And you, Tom! You don’t have anything! If Jimmy and Sally really cared about you they would give  some of their wealth to you. It’s not fair for you to have 2 successful friends and you don’t have anything!”  Tom started to disagree, but then nodded in assent. “You’re right,” he agreed. “I am a good friend to them. It’s my right to have some money too. They have some. Why shouldn’t they give it to me!”  Sally looked startled. “But Tom! You don’t do anything during your free time and Jimmy and I work hard for what we have. We’ll support you if you want to try a business but we shouldn’t have to just hand over our money to you!”   Cliff grinned as he saw Tom ignore Sally and start to ponder the suggestion that was now planted in his mind.  Here was someone Cliff could control.

OK. I’m sure you see where I’m going with this.  This is similar to what’s happening in our beloved America – the land where the American Dream states anyone can achieve what they put their minds to and work hard for.  It’s that Dream that built our country.  We have long been industrial, technological, ideological, and academic leaders in the world because our people were willing to work hard with nothing to stop them.  It’s no longer that way. 

Today our young people are buying the lie that the wealthy are the enemy because they have more than all the rest of us. They believe that the wealth should be spread around so that everyone has their fair share.  What they don’t remember anymore is that what each person works for is their fair share. If I work hard for my salary than it is my right to decide how it is distributed. No one has the right to force me to give it away, nor does the government have the right to tax more than is reasonable for the proper maintenance of the country.  If one business is not as successful as another, why do we punish the successful one through increased taxation? If one man does not work, than poverty is the wage he earned.

If financial success is rewarded with heavy taxation the American Dream will die and capitalism will be replaced with socialism.  It may sound trendy to say that all wealth should be eqully distributed and everyone should have their fair share, but the ones distributing the wealth will always believe that their fair share is a little more than what the general populace receives.

Yes, I believe people should receive a just wage for their efforts. That wage may be an empty belly for the man who doesn’t work or a million dollar bonus for the CEO of a successful company. Fair does not always mean equal and the painful lesson is usually the quickest one learned.  Young Americans need to give hard work the credit that it is due.

Loss, on a varying scale, is a daily occurrence in the routine of mankind. In a single day we can hear of everything from deaths in the thousands because of a natural disaster to the discovery of the body of a missing child  to the unexpected passing of a beloved pet. How does one appropriately manage the grieving?

I was pondering this more than usual over the past week. In a matter of days a pet rabbit died, a pet bird escaped, a friend’s dog died, another friend’s grandma died, and the usual slew of deaths and disasters filled the news headlines. I wanted to weep for my animals but it seemed a little extreme compared to the tragedies of lost human lives, or even a friend’s dog.  Yet I felt sad just the same and I was frustrated by the quandry of grief. How does one quantify loss?

I believe we grieve for two reasons: our loss and our appeasement. When a loved being departs from our life, for whatever reason, there is an immense void left in our hearts. The schedules, traditions, affections, security, and fulfillment that came from the relationship have been ended and we have lost a part of ourselves.  We grieve for our loss.  It does not matter if that loss was from a human or animal, we are empty just the same and therefore we must mourn.

Along with the loss, we may also be filled with regret or guilt for the times when we didn’t cultivate our side of the relationship. Perhaps we were disloyal, negligent, or even mean. There may have been innumerable opportunities to spend more time with that loved one and instead we chose to do our own thing. Now that being is gone and we don’t have a second chance to make things right.  We grieve to show how much we really did care and we grieve to assuage the pain of remorse. 

It is for these reasons that we often can’t, or don’t, mourn for days over the myriads of people dying across the globe every day.  We didn’t have a relationship with these people and though we regret their suffering, we simply are not physically able to grieve for them as we would our own family member.  The same is true if your fish and your dog die on the same day. There may be sadness over the fish, but there will probably be lengthy mourning about the dog. The relationships were different.

No matter who or what it is that is causing you to mourn today, do not let it distract you from the number one relationship in your life – the one between you and your Savior.  Yes, take time to weep, reflect, and relive the beautiful memories you made with the one who just passed.  Mourn your loss and grieve over the memories you never did make. But don’t stay there. Remember that God has your here for a reason and He left you on this earth a little bit longer than one who passed because He wants to use you to make this world a better place – in memory of your loved one and in honor of Him.

Death is unnatural; weep when it touches your life and feel sorrow when it touches the life of another. But use it to draw you and others closer to the One who gives eternal life.