Thursday, October 28, 2010
A fellow priest from out-of-town visited today to see about starting spiritual direction. I myself, have been seeing a Spiritual Director regularly, ever since I began college. The practice has helped see me through the hard times, and discover God’s hand in both the ups and downs of life. When I worked in formation ministry, I regularly directed seminarians. This is the first priest that has asked me, and I felt honored and humbled. I’m hoping the candid conversations about prayer and the interior life will deepen my own faith.
In the school, I stopped in on Peggy’s 4th grade class to check out their Monster Workshop. With Halloween coming up, they had to write a story about a monster, then they had to design and build a child sized model. Their creations were made of cardboard, straws, cloth, milk containers and whatever else they could imaginatively use. I listened to their stories as they honed both their writing and presentation skills.
In PE class, the students were playing basketball. I couldn’t help try running the court with them, but was quickly reminded that my recovery is not to that point yet. I did later get on the elliptical machine in the Rec Center, where the motion of running was easier on my foot and leg. I’ll keep plugging away.
After school, the 1st – 4th grade awards for Honor Roll and Outstanding/Perfect attendance for the 1st quarter were given out. The students were more excited about the pens and mini-footballs given out as prizes than they were with the certificates. But all signaled a job well done.
I ended the day with supper at the Afra Home (1st – 3rd grade girls). They all showed me the Halloween costumes they will wear, and the pumpkins they painted for the home decorating contest. Leola decided to draw my “portrait” on a napkin, and before I left I had original artwork by Chassidy, Tamika and Allyssa as well.
You may have some very seriously talented artists there..of all kinds. You are contributing to their encouragement in many ways you don’t realize..
Keep up the good work.
I once had a learning disabled Ute Indian girl student who won in the New York City Schollastic Awards contest, poetry division.The prejudice in Arizona was sooo great, that I had to fight for it to be announced at the school or in the newspaper.
She wrote the story of her grandparents. No, I did NONE of the writing. She wrote it all in class without help. She later went to the top of her class, and out of Special Ed..and graduated with honors.
Just a littler bit of John Bosco..and a little bit of love..
Love and Prayers..
Mia and Bob