Convergence of Thoughts

So, several things have got me started again.
First, the Leadership Team at my school read a fascinating (and easy-reading) book on business theory: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni. Second, I heard one of the most genuinely heart-felt sermons from Lakesha at the end of her internship, and read a blog about the same day's events by our 'regular' pastor, Jan. Third, I attended a staff workshop today on the 'four patterns of thought.'

Jan blogged about exorcising demons. I have come to believe that our biggest demon at Fairlington Presbyterian Church is also the first dysfunction of a team: absence of trust. Specifically, trust that each others' intentions are good and that we can be honest and open in front of 'the team.' This demon is being fed by our approach to the first 'pattern of thought:' identity. Specifically, 'what is FPC and what is it not?'

We have two somewhat distinct groups within our church community, with widely diverging views on this question. Some of us (myself included) are trying to find the common ground. I see the value in the old ways, having been raised successfully in them (thanks, Mom and Dad). I also see the desperate need for change as I observe those around me who were not successfully raised in those ways. I think I am not alone in this - far from it. Many of us are starting to see and feel the convergence between old and new.
But there are entrenched groups on both sides, who do not yet see the value of other positions. Some seem to view all things old as automatically inferior to the 'new way.' Others seem to regard all things new as unnecessary encroachments on the traditions that have fed them for so long. It is difficult to determine at first glance whether either group is truly motivated by the Holy Spirit, or merely by their pre-established worldview. Thus, the absence of trust that so plainly manifested itself this summer.

For the uninitiated: at some point this summer, a sign on church property was permanently disfigured. By whom? Don't know (and don't want to). This was, as Lakesha put it, deeply disturbing. However, there is more to the story. The vandalism consisted of adding the word "Church" to a sign that had been printed, "Welcome to Fairlington Presbyterian." This was part of a larger pattern in which the word 'church' disappeared from signage, bulletins, and other places where we declare our identity. Now, the web-savvy among us are well aware that we had an extensive dialogue about the various meanings and uses of the word "church" this summer. Personally, I disagreed with removing all reference to our community, worship service, and facility as a "church." However, I was in on the dialogue so I understood that the motives behind it were far from sinister. But this points to the fatal flaw in the dialogue: it was held mostly online (see: "all things new are autmatically better"), so a significant number of people were excluded by default. In hindsight, this is equally disturbing.

Now, it would seem that a silly thing like whether we include the word "Church" on our signs and in our bulletins shouldn't provoke so much angst. Certainly, I agree with the comment made elsewhere: I don't want to worship words. I want to worship God. So why all the fuss? Because this word cuts to the core of some people's identity. There are faithful people in our midst who genuinely feel that their identity within the group was changed without their consent. They came 'to church' only to find that, suddenly, it wasn't a 'church' anymore. That last sentence may sound silly in print (it certainly feels silly typing it), but it's real. Keep in mind - the word church wasn't just removed in connection to the building. It was removed, period.

So how do we exorcise this demon? It is only through thoughtful and prayerful dialog that we will overcome our absence of trust. All need to be heard, honestly and openly, with none judged unfairly. Decisions need to be made and explained carefully to build more trust, little by little. This is how we must forge our new identity together, not through the hasty subtraction and addition of words. It will frustrate type-A's like myself but we will persevere. I think we will be surprised at how easily people can accept decisions with which they don't agree, if that decision is made in the best of the democratic tradition our denominational heritage has to offer.

Most of all, through this whole process we need to be less hasty to question others' motives. This particular demon lies within all of us. We have been watching the speck in our brothers' eye, without seeing the plank within our own.

Believe it or not, I'm still alive. I thought I was about to surface but got pulled back under.
Blogging is a worthwhile way to express yourself but a little time-consuming.

Mini-blogs:
1. It shouldn't take a pending disaster for us to let our President have his pick for health secretary.
2. Glad to see Virginia is finally going to pony up for expanded and expedited Amtrak service.
3. Dreading the megaconstruction delays in Tyson's: Toll Lanes on the beltway, and metro extension. Looking forward to the results, sometime this century.
4. Excited to meet our supply pastor for Jan's sabbatical.
5. I shouldn't be up at 11:48 on a school night.

Electrictiy

Well, I'm back. Something had to get me going again.

It WASN'T turning 35. I feel my naps coming on a little earlier now. Alas, I rarely get them.

If you haven't seen this yet, you should:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY


Most commentators have focused on the crowd's (and judges') initial low expectations: wholly unfair, and based only on appearances.

I want to focus on something else: electricity. It's nice to see a skeptical crowd so easily won over by such obvious talent. It's nice to hear that talent from the most unexpected places. It's nice to see so many people, many of younger generations, that excited about an essentially classical-sounding piece of music.

It would have been nice to feel the electricity in that room, first-hand.

So Much To Say

And so little time....

I love teaching intersession. It's great to get to teach a different subject / grade for a couple of weeks, and go more in-depth. A major flaw in American education is that our system requires us to "cover" a lot of material, and cares little for real understanding. Standardized testing has only made this worse.

But to be successful in life, our students need to understand things. So, intersession gives us a chance to build broader background knowledge and deeper comprehension.

A lot of students in this country are gradually disengaging from their own education. It's telling that several years of focus on multiple-choice testing has not increased our high school graduation rate. So it's comforting to see that students do, in fact, still love to learn - when given the chance to do it right.

We can do it right during the regular school year, of course. And we're getting better at it all the time - the delicate balancing act between what politicians demand and what professionals know.

I just love this time when the balance can tip 100% towards the children.

Sunday

8:00 AM - AM stuff.
8:40 AM - Drive to church (thankfully a short drive)
8:50 AM - Warm up and practice for morning worship
9:30 AM - Attend discussion about Holy Grounds community in the church parlor
10:30 AM - Choir warmups and prayers.
11:00 AM - Play and participate in worship
12:15 PM - Go to Rockland's with Chris and Brooke for BBQ. Frequently consult phone for SU Basketball Info. Drive home via Harris Teeter for quick grocery shop. Finish watching SU game (go 'Cuse!). Start on Sunday Post.
2:30 PM - A nice walk outside.
3:30 PM - Naptime.
4:40 PM - Household stuff: laundry (3 loads), clean kitchen and bathroom, take out recycling, etc.
6:30 PM - TV time. Simpsons, Family Guy, and some TIVO to catch up on. Also make supper (mustard dill salmon, garlic mashed potatoes, peas, salad, girl scout cookies). Make lunch and get clothes ironed for tomorrow. Replace missing buttons on 2 shirts and 1 pair of pants.
10:00 PM - Early bedtime today.

Saturday

6:30 AM - still asleep.
7:30 AM - see above.
8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM - see above.
11:30 AM - finally getting up. Breakfast etc. Read the Post and skim the ones I didn't get to spend much time with this week.
1:00 PM - walk outside for a while, gym for half an hour.
2:30 PM - clean out inbox (snail mail and email) and deal with things that need dealing with.
3:15 PM - house cleaning for a little while.
4:00 PM - a little nap.
4:30 PM - get ready to go out. Metro to Kennedy Center.
5:30 PM - walk around Kennedy Center and enjoy the atmosphere.
6:00 PM - Eastman Trombone Choir concert on the Millenium Stage.
7:00 PM - meet up with an old acquaintance from the concert. Agree to meet at Elephant and Castle for dinner at 8:00.
7:45 PM - after metro and walk, decide to use GPS feature on new phone to locate Elephant and Castle. (I've been before but not from that direction.) LOVE having this feature on phone!
10:00 - Metro home well satisfied with food (and drink) from pub.
10:30 - Watch old British sitcoms on PBS for a while.
12:00 - Bed.

Friday

6:30 - Start again.
7:00 - Drive time.
7:30 - Staff Breakfast (a regular monthly one, no special occasion this time.)
7:45 - Kiss and Ride. (Last day! Won't have this again until May. :) )
8:15 - Morning Meeting, 6th grade.
8:45 - Teach 4 hours of music classes. Eat with a second grade class in need of support, and some of their 6th grade 'big buddies.' Find a crew to put instruments away for intersession. Do same for colleague. Get 25+ sixth graders who signed up for chorus (or might want to) into a meeting with the middle school director. Help try to figure out why most of the people who already signed up, aren't even on her list. Go to 6th grade presentation of Restaurant Concepts (an exercise in creative use of language for advertising).
2:55 - Dismissal.
3:15 - Go home. Stop at Macy's Ballston on the way for new shoes. Come out with shirt, cufflinks, socks, and tie as well. Thank self for single-handedly rescuing the local retail trade. Light snack. Gym for an hour. Charge and activate new phone (yay). Phone calls re: weekend plans. Get ready for weekend plans, wearing new shoes +etc.
9:00 - Nowruz / Uncle Bashir's Birthday party at "Aghan Restaurant" in Alexandria.
12:30 - Home and to bed.