Future Glory

     "What is patience?" asks Papa as we sit in the living room, gathered for prayers. A moment of stillness. A hand goes up, then another. "Yes, Daniel?"
     "Being content with, uh...wherever you are." He delineates a vague portrait of the word.

     "Hmmm. Content is a good word. Content with what, exactly?"

     Rebecca takes a shot, coloring the concept with her own experience. "It's [not] like when Mom's on the phone and I say, 'Hurry up, Mom!'"

     Smiles fill the room. "You're right," says Papa. "What else?"

     Jessie, just home from ballet class and lounging on the leather couch next to Ana, develops a deeper definition. Mom adds a thought.

     D.P. tries again. "Patience is conforming to God's clock."

     But apparently Papa is looking for a specific word.

     "Waiting," I venture. "Patience is being content to wait."

     He grins. I think I even see his teeth. "Good. Give an example."

     And so I do, and so do the others.

     We are selfish people here at the Hall house. We want things to be the way we like them to be. Now. None of us are omnipotent, and though we do influence the situations we find ourselves in, we cannot ultimately make the relentless brother or whining sister change. And so we wait. We wait for change. And as we wait we worry, because it doesn't make any sense to wait patiently, right?

     Hmmm. While waiting for a rock to sprout wings and fly away, a man worries, because he has never seen a wing-sprouting rock. (In fact, he knows that anyone off the street would assure him his wait is in vain.) But while waiting for change in the lives of Christ-followers, we don't worry, because we have reason to expect change.

     Future glory? Yep, that's what we're waiting for. That's what we expect. God will glorify, will purify His people. Our reason for patience is the promise of God.
     So be patient, fellow Christian. Laugh in the face of "Small Annoyance," and when "Great Suffering" comes to town, look him in the eyes and quietly declare that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Musings on the First Day of School (on the Second Day of School)

     Following is Daniel's journal entry written on the first day of school last year. I remember us all laughing at his creative imagery (he was 12 when he wrote it), and this afternoon, after he again read it to me, I thought it would make a near-perfect post for today -- the second day of school here at Heritage Halls Academy. Yes, the kids launched themselves into their respective grades yesterday, and our grueling autumn schedule was calmly and unquestionably revived. I must say we have been surprisingly consistent in our 7:00 rise time. (I am taking this opportunity to praise our assiduousness, before I no longer have justification for such homage.)

First Day of School

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

     Greetings!!! A new school year has been approaching all summer, but now, suddenly, I find myself plunging into the icy water of curriculum. It jerks me to a rude awakening as the cold shock forces me to accept the monotonous, hard, dull moments and to appreciate the carefree, laid-back attitude of the summer and long for Christmas break. Already I find myself hoping to burst the surface and take a breath of weekends. Although, as I exert my energy to swim the Olympic-size swimming pool of grade six, I find myself enjoying the exertion (a little bit) and thanking Mom for pushing me off the diving board. Alas! I must admit that there have been and will be fabulous droplets of time in the endless pool of learning (although they will be chiefly comprised of weekends). Indeed, I am filled with vigor to hold my pencil steady and suppress sloppiness.

Daniel