Author: Caroline

When I'm not riding in the backseat of my Grandpa's restored vintage car "Mable," I'm doing other things like... rising to most adventure occasions my husband proposes / chasing our toddler around Brooklyn / enjoying neighbors, strangers, and friends / making countless trips to the laundromat / writing for various publications and for personal reflection / loving and serving our local church / cleaning the bathroom / hosting small and big crowds in our home / meeting up with a friend for coffee / thinking Vocation is my strange frenemy. Though I have worked and existed in many stations/places, I am convinced that each day has good work to be done and that I am equipped and prepared to do that good work. This blog explores the tension and the intersection of a constant vocational call - to good work, neighbor love, and living in the kingdom come. My favorite things are coffee and creating and laughing (preferably with company). I love to listen to sermons and read biographies and make tea before going to bed.

Leaves in the Winter

Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. That’s how I would describe this day.

You might remember my pitiful posts from a few weeks ago, trapped inside without electricity or sunshine. Well, today is different – MUCH different. The sun is out and showing all its glory against the pale blue cotton sky. Even the birds seem to find cause for chorus this afternoon.

I finally finished the painting project in the kitchen. Actually, it had more to do with starch and fabric than paint. I saw this idea Christina used in her living room and decided I would try a variation here. I am so glad to say it worked and we love it! The seasons aren’t here quite the same as Iowa, so a daily reminder of changing leaves is refreshing.

Well, well. This week has flown by almost as fast as the motorcycles at the gate. I’m pushing through these last few weeks with a new teaching approach, refreshed perspective for purpose, and daily in wonder at the gift of life.

I’m following John Piper’s sermons via video each week and as we make our way through John, my heart is full of gratitude. Not so ironically, at the same time I am studying Beth Moore’s, “Jesus the One and Only” devotional. I’m getting to know Jesus – the person. How strange to think that Jesus wandered around as a child, questioned adults about things as a young man, and watched his siblings fight.

I am gearing up for this week and I’m excited to see what the Lord will do. Here’s a bit of what might show up on the blog.

Life of the Party
So, a very long time ago I was going to write about something that happened at the fall party. Now, I’ve waited long enough to just make it a double and write about the Christmas party we had on Saturday as well.

Gift-giving
Even though I’m not shivering in below zero temperatures, I still see all the crazy “Christmas” holiday decorations, advertisements, and ridiculous light displays. There’s even a Santa train that goes up and down the boulevard. How is Christmas about the giving?

At the Cinema
So, our family has a lot of traditions at Christmas. Watching a few movies is usually one of them. Christina’s favorite is — well, I’ll just let you read about that this week!

Problem-Solving
I’m doing a unit (believe it or not it’s IN the textbook!) on critical thinking and problem-solving. I’m trying to get them to make connections with real-life… instead of always relating things at school to school, I want them to open up about how we daily have problems that need solving… especially in our relationship with God.

Grab Bag
Who knows what this will be!!

This Christmas is difficult in weird ways. Actually, we’re trying really hard to make it feel like Christmas, without cold and snow and family. I think we’re doing a pretty good job, but I can tell you I am eager to step off that plane in Omaha to greet a couple bound for a little farm in southwest Iowa.

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New Honduran Horizon!

Click here for the new edition of the Honduran Horizon.

These last few weeks have been such a whirlwind. I’m still wondering how time can seem to stand still each day and whisk by each week. Sometimes I feel like I’ve just arrived and other days I feel like I’m at home.

My heart is broken for my students, many who are searching for something that will fill up the holes in their lives. For some it’s drinking, for others it’s friends, and still others turn inward when life turns cruel. I have learned, though, that love is not soft. Love is a very sturdy object, anchored in Truth and pointing to Hope that does not disappoint. Try explaining that to a distressed student who just received a detention for talking in my class… again.

My heart also breaks for the broken humanity that greets the morning in this country. Children, women, men, mothers, daughters, brothers, graduates, schoolteachers… poverty knows few boundaries and brings humanity to dreadful ends.

Today, after a rough run-in with 7th and 8th graders, I found myself (the Counselor) being counseled by our Dean of Students. I suppose he saw I was a bit depleted. What started out as a good idea (fundraising competition for the women’s shelter) turned into students’ decision to stop at nothing to win. Every opportunity we see for blessing, Satan sees an opportunity for sin. Our enemy will always send his legions to frustrate the plans to bless others.

May our hearts always break at broken humanity. I’m no less broken than these students and these battles should always, always send me to my knees.

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In the News

Last time I wrote about someone in the news, it was my brother Samuel. This time, I’m so excited to say it’s my school…and we made the 24-7 prayer website news based in the UK.

Read this article and rejoice with me in the blessings of His glorious grace!

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delightful surprise

I walked into my office after a break yesterday and found a plastic package sitting on top of scattered papers, ungraded quizzes, and cold tea. It was addressed to me, so I ripped it open to find these two gems of books by Joel Rosenberg.

They were sent directly from the distributor, so I’m not sure who my secret saint is, but I am superbly glad to have fiction I can jump into. What a delight this week will be! I was just talking with two good friends/mentors from my home state not too long ago about how they were starting their own little book club with his books and I envied a bit the idea of coffee and conversation over some challenging fiction. I can’t wait to catch up with them!

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so regular a day, it came

so regular a day, it came
absent majestic procession,
void elaborate flairs
and articulate expression

the trumpets were silent,
without pomp of parade;
without anticipated celebration
or beautiful serenade

so regular a day, it came
to blind eyes and deaf ears;
nestled in among ordinary,
adoring eyes with salty tears

a dull, shameful ache
I can’t bear to hide
the thought of the glory
wrapped in poverty’s thick side

though the earth was still,
the humble moment forgotten,
the bold beginning of new life
of the One and Only begotten

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ruined

Here I am, feeling a mix of Walden Pond, hippie, gypsy, dusty road, crisp lempira bills, the tantalizing smell of fresh bread baking, disgust with things material, these keys under my fingers, the sunset view from this thatched-covered rooftop.

It’s not supposed to make sense.

Have you ever felt inextricably bound? Have you ever felt you simply couldn’t do without ______ (you fill in the blank) in your life? After a couple days in Copan Ruinas, home of the ancient Mayan civilization, my sleeping philosophy is quite alive. So, here I am on this thatched-covered rooftop, typing away my thoughts on life while the little town buzzes many, each with their own story.

Right now, I’m reading two more Elisabeth Elliot books. The first, “Slow and Certain Light” has been both challenging and punctual. It seems to leaves question marks in my life where I was satisfied with periods. The second, “The Shadow of the Almighty” has left me feeling a bit depressed about the progress of my pilgrim journey. The things Jim Elliot thought about and wrote about make my faith seem very small.

But, the sun is setting now on this little town of Copan and tomorrow I’m going to leave my ‘ruins’ here (get it – Mayan Ruins) and start new.

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Secret Life of Bees

Last week, amidst almost constant power outages, I was searching for a good novel to drink in with my endless cups of tea and decaf coffee. My roommate lent me, “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd and within pages I was hooked.

I fell abruptly into the room of an awkward adolescent who was dealing with trauma too great for her tender spirit and just kept turning pages. I met the brokenness with a dull ache for all things wrong in the world. The loud, bold anthem of “justice rolls down like a mighty water” fought against the things little Lily faced in her family, culture, and within herself.

But, as much as I resonated with the brokenness seeping off the pages, I couldn’t help but hurt most for the proposed solution, a confused picture of religion.

Now, I finished the book in three short electricity-absent days, so you must understand that I do appreciate the cleverness with which it was written. Every time I turned the page, I seemed to rub shoulders with one of the characters and resonate with their search for meaning and most importantly, hope.

Lily, the main character, is forced to look beyond her circumstances, prejudice, tradition, and her own fears to find something that’s worth living for. She ends up in a delightful, loving, bright pink home outside small-town Tiburon, South Carolina. From the remnants of her little, broken life, we see a splendid new girl emerge.

I struggle, though, because in the end I see Lily just as lost as in the beginning. She has found a place where she feels loved, wanted, and treasured. But, I can’t say that she has truly found hope… a hope that does not disappoint. She ends up putting her trust and faith in this idea of virgin Mary – seeing her in everything and believing she protects and guides. But, I know that no one – not one person – is found to be without sin, even Mary. And to put our hope in a human will certainly lead to disappointment.

This post is shorter than my true thoughts on the subject, but I have a funny feeling that the more I write the less sense I will make. So, I invite your thoughts – for those who have/have not read this book. What do you think of the message woven throughout the pages?

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A New Kind of Thanks

I so cherish the thanksgiving traditions of my growing up years… family gathered together from all across the countryside to celebrate the many blessings. Even if I tried to hide it in my adolescence, I loved the closeness created in the crowded room, stomachs full with Aunt Jill’s infamous mashed potatoes, Aunt Shirley’s stuffing, and hearts glad with conversation.

Well, this year I am enjoying a new tradition. We met last night with the staff to give thanks for the blessings of the past year. I’m still learning, but sitting down with Hondurans and listening to visions of justice and change made me think about the clash of cultures at the first “thanksgiving.”

I know it’s completely cliche, but I resonated a bit last night as I listened very closely to the inflections of my Honduran brothers and sisters. I continue to pray God will prepare the way for greater understanding in the language as well as the culture. Because He is moving here, where his creation is crying out for redemption.

I am so very thankful for who God is, and the more I see of His creation, the more my heart is to bring Him praise!

What are YOU thankful for today?

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