I had never truly felt powerless until I moved to China. I always believed that with enough hard work, logic, and persistence I could conquer just about anything. (Yes, I am the daughter of engineers) However, those days are past. No matter how hard I work, how much logic I apply, and how long I try…there are some things I just can't do.
A Few Examples Come to Mind:
Crowded buses with frosted windows and broken PA systems = Lost
Large crowds yelling in Chinese = Overwhelmed
Watching a student struggle to communicate but unable to find the words = Helpless
Desiring change for my students = Powerless
But…in this crazy world, where I can control so little, I have discovered a beautiful truth.
I never was in control. I have always been…powerless.
As I realize my own inadequacy these words resonate in my heart,
"He gives strength to the powerless…"
Therefore, I will live each day knowing, "When I am weak, then He is strong."
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Falling for him...
This week's topic for Freshman English: Dating
I opened the class with a dating story from my own experience...
At my college during Alumni Week, we had something called GYROFAD night. (Get Your Roommate or Friend a Date) I did not normally participate in these things, but due to a scheduling conflict I was called in last minute to replace a girl on my floor for a double date. To protect the innocent I've changed the names, so we will say that Julie and I were going on a date with Chris and Tom.
Chris and Tom took us out for a nice dinner and then, in typical Chicago fashion, we went for a stroll along Navy Pier. (Now, I won't lie, the date was going pretty good up to this point. The men were nice, polite, excellent conversationalists, and good looking. What more could a girl ask for?) Navy Pier twinkled against the dark Chicago sky casting a soft light on the path as we strolled along with conversation easily flowing around us. I, of course, gave unwavering attention to Tom as he eloquently shared a delightful story with me.
(This is where the story ceases to be a good dating story and becomes a "what in the world did Lizzie do this time" story.)
Paying close attention to Tom, led me to not pay close attention to the dimly lit path. This dimly lit path happened to have a clearly marked construction hole. So, we were walking and talking and then...I fell. Not for him, but into the construction hole. Yes, I did. It was about knee deep which was just deep enough to leave me uninjured but completely humiliated. Tom rushed to help me up and checked several times to ensure that I wasn't harmed. Fortunately, my pride is on the inside so he couldn't see the cavernous wound it received. We then spent the rest of the walk sharing embarrassing and funny stories. Lucky for me, I had just added another to my long list and was able to regale them with many more events such as this one.
Moral of the story: Some women fall for attractive men…I just fall in front of them.
I opened the class with a dating story from my own experience...
At my college during Alumni Week, we had something called GYROFAD night. (Get Your Roommate or Friend a Date) I did not normally participate in these things, but due to a scheduling conflict I was called in last minute to replace a girl on my floor for a double date. To protect the innocent I've changed the names, so we will say that Julie and I were going on a date with Chris and Tom.
Chris and Tom took us out for a nice dinner and then, in typical Chicago fashion, we went for a stroll along Navy Pier. (Now, I won't lie, the date was going pretty good up to this point. The men were nice, polite, excellent conversationalists, and good looking. What more could a girl ask for?) Navy Pier twinkled against the dark Chicago sky casting a soft light on the path as we strolled along with conversation easily flowing around us. I, of course, gave unwavering attention to Tom as he eloquently shared a delightful story with me.
(This is where the story ceases to be a good dating story and becomes a "what in the world did Lizzie do this time" story.)
Paying close attention to Tom, led me to not pay close attention to the dimly lit path. This dimly lit path happened to have a clearly marked construction hole. So, we were walking and talking and then...I fell. Not for him, but into the construction hole. Yes, I did. It was about knee deep which was just deep enough to leave me uninjured but completely humiliated. Tom rushed to help me up and checked several times to ensure that I wasn't harmed. Fortunately, my pride is on the inside so he couldn't see the cavernous wound it received. We then spent the rest of the walk sharing embarrassing and funny stories. Lucky for me, I had just added another to my long list and was able to regale them with many more events such as this one.
Moral of the story: Some women fall for attractive men…I just fall in front of them.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Madness
What is something someone has done for you that might appear like madness to others, but not to you?
This question appeared as a challenge on Amy's blog. Go to The Messy Middle to read the original story. I loved the challenge so much that I brought my story back to my blog.
I ran my first mini-marathon in 2009. My brother had encouraged me to do it, and I knew it would be a good challenge. However, I never went over 7 miles in my training. Knowing me…I didn’t want to waste a good entrance fee so I decided to run it anyway.
My brother, Chris, came to cheer me on and I saw him at three points along the way.
Point 1 – I was confident
Point 2 – I was in pain
Point 3 – I was .5 miles away from the finish line and unsure if I could keep going
Seeing my pain, he didn’t hesitate. In his jeans and sweatshirt, he jumped across the line, joined the crowd and ran with me for the next quarter of a mile. He looked crazy…I know people thought he was mad…but I didn’t care. Without his voice saying, “You can do it. Just take another step, and another, and another” I wouldn’t have finished. His madness led me to one of my greatest victories.
What about you? What is something someone has done for you that might appear like madness to others, but not to you?
This question appeared as a challenge on Amy's blog. Go to The Messy Middle to read the original story. I loved the challenge so much that I brought my story back to my blog.
I ran my first mini-marathon in 2009. My brother had encouraged me to do it, and I knew it would be a good challenge. However, I never went over 7 miles in my training. Knowing me…I didn’t want to waste a good entrance fee so I decided to run it anyway.
My brother, Chris, came to cheer me on and I saw him at three points along the way.
 |
Point 2 – I was in pain
Point 3 – I was .5 miles away from the finish line and unsure if I could keep going
Seeing my pain, he didn’t hesitate. In his jeans and sweatshirt, he jumped across the line, joined the crowd and ran with me for the next quarter of a mile. He looked crazy…I know people thought he was mad…but I didn’t care. Without his voice saying, “You can do it. Just take another step, and another, and another” I wouldn’t have finished. His madness led me to one of my greatest victories.
What about you? What is something someone has done for you that might appear like madness to others, but not to you?
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Today's Freshman Lesson: Friends
On the chalkboard I wrote "Characteristics of a Good Friend." The students then came up with adjectives to describe their best friend:
Kind, patient, giving, caring, warm-hearted, honest, compassionate, respectful, thoughtful, gentle, unselfish, humble etc.
With the list of adjectives, each student excitedly bragged about their best friend to their partner. Afterwards I asked, "Now, are you all of these things to your best friend?" Silence...their shocked faces displayed their thoughts loud and clear. Did I really expect them to be all of those things?!?
But, how could I expect them to be what I was not? Tears sprang to my eyes as I looked at the list, for my best friend truly was and I was not.
Today's Life Lesson: Friends...Be unto others as you would have them be unto you…
Kind, patient, giving, caring, warm-hearted, honest, compassionate, respectful, thoughtful, gentle, unselfish, humble etc.
With the list of adjectives, each student excitedly bragged about their best friend to their partner. Afterwards I asked, "Now, are you all of these things to your best friend?" Silence...their shocked faces displayed their thoughts loud and clear. Did I really expect them to be all of those things?!?
But, how could I expect them to be what I was not? Tears sprang to my eyes as I looked at the list, for my best friend truly was and I was not.
Today's Life Lesson: Friends...Be unto others as you would have them be unto you…
 |
| I really do have the best best friend. |
Saturday, March 3, 2012
5 Activities that Make You Happy
Each morning, I receive an email that challenges me to do something small to improve my physical, mental, and/or emotional well being. Today's challenge: Write down Five Activities that Make You Happy. At some point this week, I'm supposed to complete at least one of the five activities. I won't bore you with all the mundane workings of my happy meter, but my 5th option seemed just a bit odd.
5. Figuring something out so that I can help someone.
Today, I checked quite a few things off my "beginning of the semester to-do list." Check, Check, Check! I then rewarded myself by watching The Blind Side. As I watched the amazing compassion of Mrs. Tuohy and the incredible persistence of his tutor, Miss Sue, I marveled at their courage and honor. My happiness meter registered a full tank as I watched these women invest in Michael's life and make a difference. BUT…a nagging feeling kept bubbling up inside because I felt that I was forgetting someone. That someone…was the science teacher. Do you remember her? She was the first to verbally give the tests to Michael. Throughout the movie you see her challenging her fellow teachers to look at Michael in a different light. She met him where he was and she worked with him…in a unique way, but in the way he needed.
She…Figured something out so that she could help someone.
As I struggle, muddle, and fuddle my way through my first year of teaching I often get discouraged. BUT, maybe teaching isn't so different from what I already love doing.
Maybe teaching is...
Figuring something out, aka figuring out what my students need, figuring out where they are, figuring out how I can encourage them, figuring out how they learn…
So that, I can help someone.
Teaching…One of the Five Activities that Make Me Happy...I'll do that this week.
5. Figuring something out so that I can help someone.
Today, I checked quite a few things off my "beginning of the semester to-do list." Check, Check, Check! I then rewarded myself by watching The Blind Side. As I watched the amazing compassion of Mrs. Tuohy and the incredible persistence of his tutor, Miss Sue, I marveled at their courage and honor. My happiness meter registered a full tank as I watched these women invest in Michael's life and make a difference. BUT…a nagging feeling kept bubbling up inside because I felt that I was forgetting someone. That someone…was the science teacher. Do you remember her? She was the first to verbally give the tests to Michael. Throughout the movie you see her challenging her fellow teachers to look at Michael in a different light. She met him where he was and she worked with him…in a unique way, but in the way he needed.
She…Figured something out so that she could help someone.
As I struggle, muddle, and fuddle my way through my first year of teaching I often get discouraged. BUT, maybe teaching isn't so different from what I already love doing.
Maybe teaching is...
Figuring something out, aka figuring out what my students need, figuring out where they are, figuring out how I can encourage them, figuring out how they learn…
So that, I can help someone.
Teaching…One of the Five Activities that Make Me Happy...I'll do that this week.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Driving Around the Rules
The State Administration of something or another recently cleared out all the little shops, shacks, and vendors along the road outside our school. While it did make the place cleaner, safer, and more sanitary…it left us without a place to buy our fruits and vegetables. *sigh*
However, the major fruit vendor has found a way to bend the rules…or should I say, drive around the rules. The police monitor the roads until 4:00pm to ensure that everyone is complying with the new sanitation rules. Then, around 4:01pm the fruit vendor drives his now-mobile fruit stand to the corner, puts down some stilts, and opens for business.
Do the police know about this? Absolutely.
Do the people know about this? Absolutely.
Am I happy about this? Absolutely.
However, the major fruit vendor has found a way to bend the rules…or should I say, drive around the rules. The police monitor the roads until 4:00pm to ensure that everyone is complying with the new sanitation rules. Then, around 4:01pm the fruit vendor drives his now-mobile fruit stand to the corner, puts down some stilts, and opens for business.
Do the police know about this? Absolutely.
Do the people know about this? Absolutely.
Am I happy about this? Absolutely.
Win-Win-Win
 |
| Fruit Mobile |
Monday, February 27, 2012
What's in a Name?
As an English Teacher, I am often asked to give English names to my students. However, you cannot simply look at a student and say, "You look like a Mark." For they will reply by saying, "Teacher, what does Mark mean?" The meaning behind the name bears much significance.
One day, a dear student announced that she would like to give me a Chinese name but she would need some information first. "What is the meaning of Lizzie?" she asked. I then explained that Elizabeth was my full name and it meant, "God has made a promise or promised." She asked me a little more, pondered it for a bit, and then left with a promise that she would come up with a name.
A week later she excitedly brought a piece of paper to me with these Chinese characters: 林恩诺
It took me a minute and then I realized, this was my name!
I repeated it over and over to get the tones right, "Lin en nuo…Lin en nuo…"
Below the name, she provided the meaning.
诺: God gives you a promise
恩: Grace
林: Family name…perseverance/lucky.
林恩诺: He gives you a promise of Grace.
Elizabeth: He has made a promise.
It does not matter whether it is my English name or my Chinese name, He still calls me by name. And, when He calls there is always an echo in my name saying, "This is the promise which He Himself made to us: Eternal Life."
Side note- For a little more meaning behind names, read the story in Luke 1.
Elizabeth: He has made a promise/Zechariah: He Remembers/John: His grace
One day, a dear student announced that she would like to give me a Chinese name but she would need some information first. "What is the meaning of Lizzie?" she asked. I then explained that Elizabeth was my full name and it meant, "God has made a promise or promised." She asked me a little more, pondered it for a bit, and then left with a promise that she would come up with a name.
A week later she excitedly brought a piece of paper to me with these Chinese characters: 林恩诺
It took me a minute and then I realized, this was my name!
I repeated it over and over to get the tones right, "Lin en nuo…Lin en nuo…"
Below the name, she provided the meaning.
诺: God gives you a promise
恩: Grace
林: Family name…perseverance/lucky.
林恩诺: He gives you a promise of Grace.
Elizabeth: He has made a promise.
It does not matter whether it is my English name or my Chinese name, He still calls me by name. And, when He calls there is always an echo in my name saying, "This is the promise which He Himself made to us: Eternal Life."
Side note- For a little more meaning behind names, read the story in Luke 1.
Elizabeth: He has made a promise/Zechariah: He Remembers/John: His grace
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)