My Creative Neighbor on Zoom
My neighbor across the street always dresses in elaborate costumes with fun Zoom backgrounds when he’s teaching or attending faculty meetings. He’s hilarious! I mean, wouldn’t you want to listen to a lecture on acoustics from him aboard the Millennium Falcon or in the Hobbit world? For the Vikings end zone picture, I tagged the […]
And We Shall Find Nests
It’s my favorite time to walk and discover the marvelous little bird nests all over the neighborhood. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved bird nests. I cannot adequately describe the sense of joy and wonder in finding a nest and, most importantly, the little egg inside. My oldest daughter and I walk […]
The Strength We’ll Need
All morning, I pray that God strengthens me by the power of the Holy Spirit to respond with wisdom and steadiness for whatever might come. And I realize my greatest source of strength: God’s word. My soul sings this morning when I read Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, […]
Happy Little Blooms
A Special Invitation to Prayer
This Thursday, I invite you to join a Facebook Live event (April 9 at 9:00 PM EST). The event is called “Be Still: An Invitation to Prayer in a Time of Crisis”. You can read more here: https://www.cru.org/mycampus/bestill/?fbclid=IwAR0pi-87i3bVhik8ZRyIRRQq9M7z-N54NtKPTMAV2LMYidzoWNGsqQGJeqk
Keep Trying New Things
With my adventure in online learning, I continue to try new things. I produced video recordings of essay commentary in addition to written feedback (just for fun). I also tried things I might do in a residential classroom like and in-class writing on Zoom. We all wrote for five minutes and shared our work if […]
The Practices We’ll Surely Keep
I ask my students what they’ve been learning most about themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss how much–despite all the fear and sickness in their particular communities–they enjoy the simple pleasures of a daily walk, a nap, a meal with their families, and the connections with siblings they wouldn’t otherwise see. Some talk about […]
The Verbs of Philippians 4:4-9
My husband told me of something he began to consider as he read Philippians 4 yesterday. Of course I was delighted because his insights centered on the strong verbs of Philippians 4 as opposed to the one weaker verb. I’m not sure of the technicalities of translating all the verbs in the Greek, but I […]
Sustainable Teaching: An Update
After realizing the exhaustion of teaching virtually, I’ve learned some things. I’m too tired, and I don’t know why. As my wise friend stated yesterday, online instruction involves all the work and intensity of teaching without the joys of in-person relating. It’s not rewarding in the same way for some reason. It’s a shadow of […]
The Certain Things
In a time of so much uncertainty, I take more delight in certain things. I note how the Weeping Cherry will bloom on schedule. I see the evidence against a stormy sky. Tomorrow, we may see those fleeting blossoms, certain in their transience.