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Thursday, September 11, 2014

We the people, will never forget.

“Never Forget." It’s a thoughtful phrase of solidarity that unites us all in compassion, care, patriotism, and love. A phrase that has an impact on Americans that makes us feel strong, brave, comforted in our shared grief and perseverance. We are “One Nation, Under God” and forever we shall be.

But today it feels inadequate. I live 30 minutes outside of Manhattan, 4 hours from our nation’s capital, just over an hour from Pennsylvania and work within one of the largest public institutions in our country. I was not met by a flag flying at half-mast, the day did not begin with someone calling for a moment of silence over the loud-speaker, there was no assembly, and social studies instruction continued without mention of the most impactful social, political, and economic event in our living history.

I look out at the 5th graders who are helping me learn how to teach and I realize how much I care for them even though I have known them for merely one week – even though I am their student teacher and not even the adult in the room who is primarily responsible for their learning and well-being. I don’t ever want them to feel what I did this morning on my commute while listening to a radio tribute through which people called in and told their stories of the day we will all “never forget.” I want them to know what it feels like to be in tears for someone they do not even know, because that shows that they posses an active capacity for caring and a heart for our shared humanity, but I never want them to be in tears because they feel overwhelmed by hatred that infiltrates without warning and takes root in the deepest parts of their individual and shared identities.

This morning a woman from New Jersey called into the radio program and recalled her trip to LA exactly one week after 9/11. When a resident asked her where she was from and her response was “New Jersey,” the person had nonchalantly asked, “Oh, so how was it?” How was it? “She had no clue,” the woman remembered, “It was like it happened in a different world.” I never want my students to embody a disengaged apathy with the suffering of humanity; of their fellow countrywomen and men nonetheless.

Thirteen years ago they were but a thought, yet three years later they were born into a post-9/11 America that was brave, united, courageous, and caring. They were born into a nation that was strong and hopeful. I want them to embody all of those things. I want them to know about the social and political factors that resulted in our country growing stronger in all of these traits because they need to know how to care for one another, they need to know the collective pain that hatred of this magnitude, of any magnitude, causes because ingrained with the knowledge of the past matched with their intellect, unique abilities and perspective, and their resilient attitude of caring for and holding one another up, they have power.

They must know that they are not powerless.

The generations that came before them have proved just that in their immediate response and in their collective, sustained remembrance and unity. They need to follow our lead but they also need to know that they have the power to take what they’ve learned from us and do better. Be braver. Be more loving. They must know that they can prevent and stand against hatred. In small ways everyday, they have the power to prevent evil and perpetuate peace. They have the power to work toward a world that is more inclusive, just, and loving.

Because as Steven Pinker is quoted on the back of my Chipotle bag, “We will never have a perfect world, but it’s not romantic or naïve to work toward a better one.”

Because…
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity…



Thursday, July 3, 2014

Nicaragua, te amo.

One year ago today I woke up with a song of determined hope in my heart that, against all odds, we would hit water in the stubborn ground of the village of Lomas del Pansillo; because I was not more sure of anything else than my uncontested belief that our God is a God of miracles.

One year ago today I was kneeling on Nicaraguan ground, with empty, mud-caked hands raised praying for God to shatter the earth below our feet.

One year ago today I was sitting at the controls of a drill rig humming, Hosanna, save us, because we needed a savior that day.

One year ago today I stood paralyzed, not knowing what I was feeling - the words to describe it still escape me - as we were told that the ground was unbreakable with the only drill we had available to us.

One year ago today I asked God to break my heart for what breaks His.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Weekly run-down

It's so crazy how time can get away from us. I feel like it was just yesterday that Sam and I were freaking out about how we were probably going to fail out of grad school because all we had been doing day-in and day-out was watching the Olympics. Honestly, I'm still not sure how any of my work got done those two weeks. Anyway, when I looked at my phone today and saw the date, I realized that the Olympics were one month ago. One whole month. Can you believe it?!

I feel like I much too often get so caught up in my daily activities and in mechanically moving through my weekly schedule that I forget to stop to think about all of the things I've experienced, both big and small. So I decided to put together this little run-down of my top 5 favorite things of the week. I've realized this is a popular thing in the blogging world so, why not try it?

1. CND weekly polish. Color: Tropix
 


I've been waiting since Christmas to get a manicure. Yes, you read that right. Christmas. My mom put a gift certificate for one in my stocking and I finally used it today! The reason I waited so long as because I had gotten a gel manicure a few days before Christmas and when I took it off it made some of my nails so brittle. That never usually happens to me! So, as a result, this one stupid nail kept breaking no matter how well I took care of it. Obviously I didn't want to go get a manicure just for it to be ruined the next day by a broken nail. Anyway, now that all is well I finally made it over to the salon. I planned on getting a regular manicure but when I got there the manicurist introduced me to a new kind of polish that is essentially a cross between regular polish and gel polish. It's made by CND and is a weekly polish that comes off with nail polish remover. No soaking and scraping like gel polish! I'll report back after a week about how the manicure is holding up, but so far so good. It has the shine and finish of gel but the maintenance of regular polish, and its supposed to last a full week without chipping!

2. Restless by Jennie Allen





I have the BIGGEST girl crush on Jennie Allen right now. I'm only about 50 pages into her new book, Restless, but it has already been the biggest blessing. Seriously, she has me on FIRE! When you read this book you'll sit there thinking, "Yes! That's EXACTLY how I feel." What's really cool is that every 30 or so pages there is a guided reflection section so you can really sit and dig deep into what you've just read. Seriously, read it. Because you were made for more. :)






3. unSeminary

This is the blog of one of the Pastors at my church. I love this interview with Sarah Bessey about how her relationship with Jesus made her a feminist. You can watch/listen to the interview or read the transcript here. I just ordered her book and it already came in the mail (thanks to free, two-day shipping with Amazon Student Prime. There's one plus-side of graduate school at least. Hah.) So excited to start reading it after I finish Restless.



4. Amazon Smile



Speaking of Amazon, did you know they just launched AmazonSmile? Now whenever you make a purchase on Amazon, a portion of it can be donated to a charity of your choice. Get started by going to smile.amazon.com and signing in with your regular Amazon account. It will prompt you to choose a charity by scrolling through their list of popular organizations, or you have the option of searching for a charity of your choice. Then, every time you go to shop on Amazon make sure you type smile.amazon.com into your browser instead of just amazon.com to make sure your purchase counts!

5. Stay, by Jimmy Needham feat. Lizi Bailey

Love this song. I needed the reminder this week that there is, in fact, a place where my fears have no voice at all. If clicking below to play doesn't work you can listen here on YouTube or here on Spotify.



Sunday, February 16, 2014

"There is something in the Olympics, indefinable, springing from the soul, that must be preserved."

It should be of no surprise to anyone who follows me on literally any form of social media or has interacted with me in the past week that I am completely addicted to the Olympic games.  I work it in to practically every conversation, I haven't seen an channel other than an NBC affiliate in over a week, and I recite off facts like I have been studying Olympic athletes and not American Politics for the past year and a half.

There is something that just gets to me every single time.

There is no one reason why I love the Olympics like I do. My overwhelming sense of patriotism aside, I often find myself cheering for other country's athletes, holding my breath for them just as I do for our own champions. Why? Because if the Olympics teaches us anything (although I think it teaches a lot), it is that we are all infallibly human. No country is exempt (except maybe the Netherlands in speed-skating, I mean WHAT is that?). We all have the capacity to be extraordinary, but we are not perfect. We can have perfect moments, perfect ten performances, but we also wobble on our way there. We go right when left would have been better. We step forward when we should have stepped back. To say that sports is the great equalizer is a bit of a stretch given the high cost associated with many of these Olympic events, but in other ways it most certainly is.

This is part of what is commonly known as the "Olympic spirit." The Olympic spirit is evident every day, when athletes from countries time zones apart embrace at a finish line or when a coach steps onto the snow to give a ski to another country's competitor. These things happen because these competitors know how hard it was to get here, because they got there too. They know the struggles and the early mornings. The pain and agony of defeat and the sweet taste of victory.

While many tune in to see their country dominate in a particular sport and follow the medal count like maniacs, we should feel privileged to be a part of this Olympic experience. To see not only superior athleticism, but to see such a pure display of the human condition. It is not just about winning, it is about showing up.

For two weeks, we get to see Olympians from various countries show immense passion and pride in what they do. We hear their stories, too, and we cannot help but be moved. We see their falls and their perseverance, and we can see ourselves in those moments. We are reminded in those moments, both the victories and the defeats, just how human we ALL are. Just how alike we all are, regardless of nationality.

Maybe I have never fallen after attempting a quad or been beaten by .01 seconds by a fellow skier, but I have been down, been counted out, or been just beaten out. I am almost certain you all could say the same. In those moments when your heart stops, and maybe breaks, when you avert your eyes and cringe at what is happening on the screen, when you become filled with overwhelming empathy for someone you've never met, never talked to, or seen outside of a television broadcast; that's all due to the fact that you can feel it because you've been there and my goodness do you know how that hurts. But then they get up, they fight on, the finish and you empathize again because you know that was one of the most important lessons you might ever learn.

In life you're going to crash, sometimes hard, but it's all about how you get back up. One mistake isn't going to define you, as long as you don't let it. (Jeremy Abbott, anyone?)

Overall, the Olympics are 16 days of life lesson after life lesson, all of which we would be foolish not to learn. The best you is possible, you just can never, ever, ever give up. Maybe on February 24 we will remember that we disagree with the politics of a certain country or that a certain country disagrees with us, but for now may we seize this opportunity to stand in awe of, and be inspired by what can be accomplished when we recognize our humanity and use it to pick ourselves and others back up when we fall.

Now, all that being said, I wouldn't be opposed to a few more medals for Team USA!

Clothed in awe, inspiration, and patriotism,
Sam

Thursday, February 13, 2014

So, it's Valentine's Day.

Yesterday while I was overseeing third graders decorate bags to hold all of the Valentine's they would receive tomorrow, I had an epiphany. I realized that in elementary school we learn something so valuable through Valentine's Day that we end up forgetting as we get older and supposedly wiser. 

We learn that we have more than enough love within us to give out to everyone we meet.

Think about it. You go to the store with your mom or dad (or whatever grown up takes care of you, as we say in school now) and stand in the aisle of boxed valentines carefully choosing two or three of your favorite boxes and examining the designs and messages on each one. Hmmm princesses, *NSYNC, or the Lion King? JT's blonde tips are horrendous so, hard pass. The Lion King ones aren't nearly pink enough for a proper Valentine's Day by my standards but nothing says love like Simba and Nala. Am I right or am I right? The saying on this Simba one is a little weird though, who would I give that one to? The grown up who took you to the store tries to influence your decision because now you're just spending entirely too much time deciding but you won't be rushed. This is important. You will put intense thought into it as you relish in the anticipation of seeing the faces of your classmates light up when they open your perfectly chosen card, sealed with matching, precisely wrapped sticker.

The seemingly crazy thing is that you probably put the same amount of work into choosing, writing out, and sealing each valentine. You're giving a little love to everyone in your class that day. Everyone. Even that one kid you want to choke because he trips you, steals your pencil, and makes fun of your crush. Maybe you give him your least favorite valentine in the box but you still give him one because you firmly believe that no one should get left out on Valentine's Day. Or you just do it because everyone else is doing it but regardless, you still took the time and put in the effort to give some love to all.

What a relevant and easy-to-understand example of how we should be living every day. Just how and when did we forget this?

Somewhere along the way Valentine's Day became about you and one other person. One other person who may be your significant other, one other person that you are trying to find before Valentine's Day so you're not "alone", one other person who broke your heart either long ago or recently and is the root cause of your Valentine's Day "loneliness".

Can we try something new this year? Or rather, something most of us have not done in a while? Can we make tomorrow about everyone? About loving everyone. About smiling at everyone we pass on the street, in the hallway, at the grocery store. About remembering that there are people who love you everyday and sometimes that love can bring you so much more peace, comfort, and wholeness than a romantic love can.

I'll be spending part of this Valentine's Day with a friend who I don't get to see nearly as much as I'd like to. I'm excited to catch up with her, hear about what's going on in her life, and learn how to love her better. I already know it'll rank among my top best Valentine's days ever.

I pray we can all love each other just a little (or a lot) more unconditionally tomorrow and every day. Because after all, what love really means is choosing to give someone your time and friendship, no matter what.  [[ Shout out to Liquid Kids for that one :) ]]

Clothed in love,
Kelly

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Anxiety, fear, & strength.

My alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m. and my eyes snap open. Alert, but not quite ready to go. Paralyzed is more accurate. From the minute I wake up my day's agenda starts reeling through my mind. Bar Method 5:30-6:30, shower and get ready, sub at middle school half day 7:55 - 11:30, eat lunch, drive to campus (pick up rechargeable batteries on the way), read and write short reflection for class 2-3, meeting with Priya 3-4, meeting in COP 4-5, class (stop and grab something to go for dinner first. Oh, and coffee, always coffee) 5:30-8.

Super organized, well planned out, nothing can go wrong. Right?

Monday, November 4, 2013

Music Monday: (sort of)

Today is supposed to be Music Monday. Well, I don't feel like writing today. Blogging is hard.

Sometimes I feel like I have nothing to write. Sometimes I feel like I have too much to write. Sometimes I feel like this just isn't the right platform for what I really want to write.

Then there are days where I spend four straight hours on a project proposal, rationale, and annotated list of 30 historical fiction books for second graders and feel like I get a free pass on being productive for the rest of the day. Unrealistic? A cop-out? Maybe. But that's my own problem to work on, and today is just one of those days. Yet since we're not exactly the best at this, (or maybe we're just lacking in time... or ambition, no one knows) and we haven't posted in a week, I feel obligated to post now.

So since it is in fact Music Monday, here's my I-did-too-much-and-have-no-ambition-left-today music post of the week:

A cover of "Harbour Lights" by A Silent Film. (and in case you hate our cover, the original artist version is below :)

Check out the rest of the videos on the amazing Allie Tiangco's channel as well :)