INSPIRATION: This

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope."
-Jeremiah 29:11

I am a believer that everything happens for a reason. This is often a difficult philosophy to embrace, especially when seemingly bad things occur. In many ways, my life is proof of this scriptural passage.

First, I was deathly ill when I was first born. I was baptized in the hospital because I wasn't supposed to make it home. At the time, doctors couldn't even identify my illness. But, I survived.

Many parts of my adolesence, especially being picked on during middle school (but who wasn't?), taught me many lessons about treating all people with respect and dignity.

Much of my athletic career set me up for becoming the first athletic director of Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School - from getting cut from the basketball team, to joining the wrestling team (both in high school), to walking onto the football team at the University of Notre Dame and actually seeing the field. Even my first two years in coaching at St. Petersburg Catholic helped to shape my vision for what athletics should be in middle and high schools http://www.bmchs.com/canesathletics.cfm?subpage=743682.

My wife Emily and I grew up about 15 minutes away from each other in suburbs of Cleveland, OH. She went to an all-girls Catholic high school. I attended one of the three all-boys Catholic schools. We lived in dorms next door to one another in college and even had mutual friends. But, it took joining the Alliance of Catholic Education and randomly being placed in Florida for us to meet and become best friends and husband and wife.

I could go on and on about the connections between and among the many aspects of my life and how I have seen God's hand through them all. I haven't always been able to see It in the moment, but have been able to see Divine Providence at some point afterward.

It's what gives me the courage to believe that God has a plan for me and for all that is happening to me. He has plans for my welfare, for my future hope! It's not always easy, but trusting that God can take ANYTHING and make it work for His good is our challenge as believers. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans (8:28), "We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose."

In other words, I can see and I truly believe that right where I am in my life - no matter the storm, no matter the curve ball - is exactly where God wants me to be.

I can see and I believe that everything that's happened has led me to this...whatever this may be. 

INSPIRATION: Rise Up

As mentioned in my last blog, Rejuvenation, I mentioned the need for educators to find sources of inspiration during their summer break. As a way not only to rejuvenate myself but also to offer a source of inspiration to others, the focus of my blogs throughout the summer months will be inspiration.

For faithful readers of my blog, you may have noticed the short list of blogs that I myself frequent. Among them is a blog from Christian music artist Matt Maher (pronounced "mar"). Besides the music, the thing that draws me to Matt is that he is Catholic, and in a business where openly professing faith in a particular sect of Christianity - especially Catholicism - could have a detrimental impact on overall sales, his openness is daring. And what's more is that his knowledge of the Catholic faith is impressive. His songs have depth, many are based on Catholic theology and catechism or even Catholic prayers.

As a Catholic educator, his music can give a whole new meaning to praise and worship music.  

His latest single, Rise Up, is a song that uses its title as a rallying cry. Since receiving the album on which it is found for Christmas 2011, I have turned to this track multiple times throughout the past 6 months. Teachers must often rise up above their circumstances of being overworked, underpaid, unappreciated and underslept. Catholic schools must rise up above dwindling enrollments, limited resources and the opening of new charter schools touting a free "private" education. Teaching is difficult. Dealing with as many personalities / characters / family backgrounds / intelligence levels / etc. as there are students in a classroom is draining. Trying to lesson plan, grade, discipline, help with extra-curricular activities and communicate and work with families leaves little time or energy to do much of anything else.

Rise up.

Jesus tells us, "In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world" (John 16:33). Take courage. Fill your heart. Life is hard - even Jesus tells us so - but He has conquered it. We're playing for the winning team. No matter the score, no matter how low, discouraged, disheartened, or disillusioned we feel, rise up. 

Rise up.

Lambs will roar like lions. Prisoners will break their chains. The poor will find their treasure. Heaven is coming this way.

When life has got you down look at the One who has conquered the world...and rise up.   

Rejuvenation

As a principal, I am well aware of the dangers associated with students sitting idle during their summer break:

According to the authors of a report from the National Summer Learning Association: 'A conservative estimate of lost instructional time is approximately two months or roughly 22 percent of the school year.... It's common for teachers to spend at least a month re-teaching material that students have forgotten over the summer. That month of re-teaching eliminates a month that could have been spent on teaching new information and skills.' http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources/articles/keeping-kids-off-the-summer-slide.htm

Therefore, I am a strong supporter of summer programs designed to keep students engaged in learning. I would probably even go so far as to be a proponent for "year round" schooling, with smaller but more frequent breaks spread out throughout the entire calendar year, including the summer.

Ideally, students and families would take advantage of the summer not only to relax and rejuvenate, but also to participate in experiential learning through trips to other cities, countries or to places like museums, zoos, or parks and recreational centers. Visits to the library (or downloads onto eReaders) would allow students to read for pleasure (it actually is pleasurable!); therefore, such trips / downloads would be frequent. Students would be encouraged to venture outdoors, or outfitted with creative toys like Legos or art supplies.

Even though I am a proponent of fighting against the summer slide, I (along with just about every educator across the country) embrace the upcoming 8 weeks of summer "vacation". For me it will provide ample opportunity to plan for the upcoming school year - purchasing new text books and supplies, designing class schedules, revamping / refining policies and procedures, cleaning, doing maintenance work, updating computers / technology, and planning professional development opportunities for my faculty and staff. I can't imagine not having a break during which I try to accomplish these things.

But, probably even more importantly, the summer weeks provide me the opportunity to tap back into the wellspring of inspiration to accomplish what is oftentimes an emotionally, intellectually and physically draining job. I'll listen to music. I'll read (for both business and pleasure!). I'll take some time to be with my family. I'll sleep more. I'll exercise more frequently. I'll pray - for my teachers, my students and our school's families. I'll look for sources of inspiration anywhere and everywhere I can find them.

I'll replenish. I'll rest. I'll refresh.

It won't happen by sitting idle for two months. It can't happen by staying in school year round.

Even Jesus went off by himself to pray...to rejuvenate.

Blessings to all for a safe, relaxing, fun and rejuvenating summer! 

Magic Powers

The 8th Graders at Incarnation Catholic School created a class book while in 2nd grade (during the 2005 - 06 school year) titled, "If I Had Magic Powers..." In it, each student was given a two page spread: one for their explanation of "magic" powers and the other for their accompanying drawing.

Many of the entries were typical of 2nd graders,

"If I had magic powers everything I touched would turn to gold and I would be President of the United States."

"If I had magic powers I would wish every day was Christmas. People would get lots of presents and see Santa and his reindeer."

"...I would fly away." "...my dog would fly with me." "...I could zap myself into my guineapigs size. Then no one would be able to see us. We would be able to sneak into Busch Gardens and go on all the rides." "...I could turn invisible and scare people on Halloween. I could scare my cousin on Halloween, too." "...I would turn people into frogs if they're mean to me." "...I would make Star Wars real."

"If I had magic powers I would go to the Milky Way and visit Planet Peace. The aliens there would be called Twonkeys."

Others, though, took on a much deeper slant:

"If I had magic powers I would make it rain money, so I could buy food for all people."

"If I had magic powers I would make sweets healthy for us. I would eat doughnuts, candy and ice cream all the time. They could only serve that in the cafeteria."

"If I had magic powers I would make everyone happy every day. And every day everybody would stop fighting and be nice to one another."

"...I could buy a bike and give it to a child who doesn't have one."

"...I would make kids smarter so they can pass all their tests."

"If I had magic powers I would make everyone stop fighting. And I would make war stop, too."

As products of a Catholic School, these 8th grade graduates may not possess magical powers with the abilities to visit the home of the Twokeys or even eradicate poverty, but they do possess gifts and talents to make our world a better place.

They may not have Midas's touch, they may not be able to defy gravity, and they may not be able to make the junk food that we put into our bodies any less unhealthy than we already have. But, because of the benefit of a Catholic education, they have have an education rooted in Christ, so they not only have knowledge but also a moral compass. Being formed as disciples of Jesus, they have been fitted into a Mold that won't allow the world to squeeze them into its own.

Some day they will pass policy that will provide food for all people. Some will figure out a way to establish and keep peace. They will impart knowledge. They will care for those who have less than they do. They will work to make people healthier. They will spread happiness.

They will take the world that they will inherit from us and do what they can to make it better than how we gave it to them.

Even as second graders they had a sense that the world was in need of fixing. That in some way, it was broken and that they were being called, by Jesus, to use their "magic powers" to make it better.

As products of a Catholic School, they may not have magic powers, but they do have heavenly ones - and those are about as magical as you can get.    

Congrats, ICS Class of 2012. Good luck and God bless.

Thinking

"...for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
-William Shakespeare from Hamlet

Since beginning this blog in May of 2010, I have not had a month go by without writing at least one post. This, in and of itself, doesn't really mean much of anything. But, the thought of missing a month shames me into squeezing in an entry at the last possible minute. Again, though, missing a month isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's my thoughts about this omission that color it negatively.

In this way, our mind is an incredible tool. Our thoughts can overwhelm us to the point of being immobilized by fear, doubt and anxiety. Similarly, it is our thoughts that can approach any situation and see the cup as half full.

It's all in our perspective. It's all in our thoughts.

Knowing this should inspire us to view life's challenges as opportunities to grow. It should enable us to deal with life's problems as chances to work on things like patience, humility, ingenuity or even determination. Our knowledge of this mental trick, however, often escapes us. Our thoughts frequently get overshadowed by our emotions and feelings and instead of being able to view a situation positively, the storms of doubt come rumbling in and wash away our hope of optimism.

Or, sometimes our thoughts become so intense and multiply so rapidly that before we know it we are shackled with worry. Take the Syfy Channel's show, "Total Blackout". While I've not seen an episode, I understand the premise to be that contestants participate in games in complete darkness, not knowing whether the bucket into which they're placing their hand is filled with their worst fear or something else. Of course, the show is capitalizing on the power of our minds.


Jesus warns us about giving into such negative thoughts:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?" (Matthew 6: 25 - 27).

He goes on to encourage us:

"Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil" (Matthew 6: 34).

And yet we worry. We doubt. We complain. We act from places of emotion instead of thought. We think too much without being aware of our thoughts. We forget (which literally means that we are unable to think of) that nothing is either good or bad, but that our thoughts make it so. We live a life unworthy of our heavenly heritage.

The Buddhist tradition has a saying from Lord Buddha (from the Dhammapada) that illustrates the importance of thinking positively:

"We are what we think. What we are is the result of our thoughts. With our thoughts we make our world. Speak or act with an impure mind and trouble will follow you as the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart. Speak or act with a pure mind and happiness will follow you as unshakable as your shadow."

With our eyes and minds fixed on Jesus, the "leader and perfecter of our faith" we can do incredible things. We can "persevere in running the race marked out before us" (Hebrews 12:1), we can walk on water, we can move mountains, we can cure the sick, give sight to the blind, pick up serpents with our bare hands and be unharmed. With our minds fixed on Christ, we can avoid the traps of negativity.

We can adequately conquer the evil that is sufficient for its own day.

This takes effort. It takes practice. It requires patience. It takes consciousness. It demands faith.

As Catholic educators, we would do well not only to model this behavior but also to teach our students how to do it. A disciplinary situation is a chance to walk more closely with Christ. A low test grade is an opportunity to reflect on how effective a particular study habit was. A disagreement with a friend isn't reason to bag the relationship but an invitation to work on listening, discussing and problem solving. Receiving a deluge of homework is a moment to work on organization.

Focusing on positive thinking doesn't guarantee a trouble free or even stress free life. It won't have you bouncing out of bed ready to tackle the day's challenges! It won't make you extra money. It won't give you fame or even make you well liked.

But, then again, I suppose and should probably (if I take my own advice) think that thinking can make even these things so. We do, after all, make our world with our thoughts.

Think about making it something good.

Stand Up

The Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, Mr. Cory Booker, made national news recently after running into a burning building to rescue his neighbors.

Now, I am the furthest thing from political, and I do not bring him up to praise a certain party or herald a political cause or to demean or diminish the good work and life saving actions carried out by service men and women every day (police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, military personnel, etc.). I was impressed. I was amazed. I was inspired.

With no formal training and against the advice of his security detail, he ran into a burning building and rescued someone.


What made this action even more poignant to me was the fact that I shook hands with Mr. Booker once. He was the commencement speaker at my graduation from the University of Notre Dame's ACE Teaching Program in 2003. His address to us was so powerful (to me at least) that I not only remember the feeling it / he evoked in me, but much of the message. Well delivered and well-written, it was probably the best speech for which I've ever been present.

Since hearing his speech, I've kept tabs on Mr. Booker, watching his career from afar. Hoping that the passion with which he spoke was inspired by a passion within himself (or in other words, that he practices what he preaches), I've been excited to see him take on larger and larger roles as a public servant. I was affirmed in my admiration of him when I heard of this act of heroism.

He went into a burning building and saved a life.

Mayor Booker's commencement address touched on standing up for others, standing up for that in which we believe, and ultimately taking action to make the world a better place. The recurring phrase was "stand up" and it became the theme of his speech.

At the end of it, I stood. Everyone did. He received, as I'm sure happens often, a standing ovation.

His words were enough for all in the audience to stand up. We took action, even if for a brief moment, and stood up on our feet and applauded. How much more could and should we do to stand up as a result of his actions?

Catholic schools should be places where students learn how to stand up for that in which they believe. They should be places where teachers, administrators, parents and other adults practice what they preach. They should be places that move students to not just stand up but to go out and make the world a better place.

Because, while we have wonderful modern day models like Mayor Booker to emulate, Catholic schools have the Greatest Role Model Ever - Jesus. He went up to the top of the cross to save us all and His words and actions should inspire us to follow Him wherever He leads us.

Up into burning buildings. Into war-torn countries. Into poverty and ill-stricken lands. Anywhere.

Sometimes the first step isn't a step at all.

Stand up...and follow Him.  

(The following is a mash-up / found poem of Mayor Booker's 2003 Commencement Address and excerpts from The Legend of Baggar Vance by Steven Pressfield (1996) that I wrote in 2004):

STAND
Life is action

We cannot do otherwise than act

Even in choosing not to act we do.

We act.

Therefore, act with vigor.

Act without attachment.

Hold nothing back.

Strike and act without fear or forethought.

Do honor to yourself and to your station.

Simply act.

Stand up

And act.

Stand up and allow the destiny you once chose to choose you.

Chip away all that is inauthentic.

Allow its purity to emerge.

Let it reek of life- something wild and pure.

Fly with winged sandals on your feet and enter the spirit.

Stand now!

Take your place amidst something ancient and noble

Where great armies once clashed in battle

Blows thundering heavenward with ringing steel

Horses and men crying out in victory and defeat.

Simply act.

Simply do.

Simply be.

Stand up!

Stand and let all that you are shine in His magnificence

Let yourself burst forth from this stone

Let it come from that place deep inside yourself

That place that was there before you ever were

and will remain once you are no more.

He was with you on that ancient battlefield and He is with you now.

You are never alone. 

No sin, no lapse, no crime can make Him desert you.

He will never abandon you. 

For you never were then, nor will you be now, alone.

He is always with you.

Even when it seems as though you are drowning, in that hour remember Him.

He will preserve you.

Therefore, stand up!

Stand now!

And live!

Run

My daughter Elizabeth began walking, without the aid of a toy stroller, outstretched hand, or furniture of knee height right before Christmas 2011. In the three plus months since, she has taken to running. I'm a worried parent anyways; her first steps were, for me, coupled with nervousness and anxiety. What was even more nerve racking was that right after she took her first steps, we went on a two week trip up North to visit family for the Holidays. Stints in three different houses, none of which were baby proofed, luckily ended with neither Elizabeth nor myself any worse for the wear.

Fast forward to the end of February and Elizabeth can run. In being so able, my worries have also increased and accelerated. Elizabeth runs when she's excited (which is frequent). She runs when she's outside (which given the beautiful weather as of late has been often). She runs when she has something that she shouldn't (which is also quite often!).

She runs, and in being so able, she falls. She trips. She slips. She collapses. She takes turns too fast for her little feet and legs. She veers toward walls and doorways. Edges of tables and chairs jump out at her. And sometimes, she falls for absolutely no (apparent) reason. She gets bumps, bruises and just this past week, bloodied lips (thanks to a face plant on the sidewalk!). As she's learning how to run, she is simultaneously learning how to fall, how to put her hands out, how concrete is a lot harder than grass, how she needs to step over lips in doorways or subtle changes in the height of her walking surface. She's learning how to avoid obstacles, maintain her balance and when to slow down and take a seat.

As her parent, I have been learning how to both let her run and let her fall. I have been learning how to support her. When does she still need a hand to hold? When does she need picked up and held after a stumble and when should I give her some verbal encouragement? When do I ignore her tears? When do I help her get back up, dust her off and give her a pat on the tush?

I am learning how to surround her without smothering, how to support her without suffocating, how to simultaneously give her roots and wings.

I'm learning how to let her learn.

St. Paul, in his letter to the Hebrews (12: 1 - 2), alludes to how such support can be liberating:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.

We aren't able to "run" in any facet of our lives as we otherwise could without support. We aren't able to persevere in that "run" without support. With a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, we can do great things.

We can run.

Hopefully, my (and Emily's) parenting is allowing Elizabeth to run today and in years to come.

Hopefully, our Catholic schools are places where such support is also apparent, allowing students to run, too. Catholic schools should be places where students, teachers, parents, and administration feel so supported that they run. Catholic schools should foster a community of Christian support for all of its members to be their best selves. A strong community equals a strong school. Strong schools equal strong Catholics. Strong Catholics equal a strong Church.

What does a cloud of witnesses look like? Teachers reaching out to students and combining high standards with even higher support. Teachers treating students, colleagues and parents with respect. Teachers getting to know each student as an individual and taking an interest in their respective interests. Teachers making difficult phone calls before they become impossible conferences. Teachers basing instruction on assessment evidence and sound educational practices. Teachers modeling their teaching after Christ. Teachers teaching about Christ. Teachers being Christ.

A cloud of witnesses also looks like parents believing that their child(ren) are imperfect and being okay with this fact. Parents taking an interest in their child(ren)'s homework without actually doing it for him/her/them. Parents attending parent-teacher conferences, Back to School Nights, and Home and School functions. Parents setting up conferences out of concern instead of out of a chance to attack. Parents putting the safety of all of the school's students first and not just their own child(ren). Parents taking their child(ren) to Mass on Sundays and praying together as a family at mealtimes, bedtimes and any times.

A cloud of witnesses is a group of students who are committed to learning. It is a group of students that respect their parents, teachers, and peers; a group of students who do what is right. A cloud of witnesses is a group of students who hold each other accountable and stand up for others when they are getting picked on or even bullied. It is a cloud that takes pride in their school and understands their two-fold purpose for attending: salvation and education. It is a group who are open to being disciplined so as to become disciples of Christ. Students praying together and for each other.

Finally, this cloud involves administrators who are fair, consistent, visible, good stewards, accountable, firm, understanding, and committed to ensuring that this support is fostered and maintained by all of the various aspects of the school.

Of course, other members of the "cloud" exist - pastors, parishioners, school board members, staff, alumni, former employees. Basically, anyone with any connection to the school makes up this cloud. The bigger the cloud, the greater the support. The greater the support, the better the school...

Together everyone accomplishes more. "What we dream alone remains a dream, but what we dream with others can become a reality" (Edward Schillebeeckx). Individuals win games, but teams win championships.

With support and with a focus on Christ we can persevere in running the race, no matter what it entails, that lies before us.
We could move mountains. We could walk on water. We could run on water. We could do anything.

Because with a cloud of witnesses surrounding us we have roots, wings...and running shoes.