Family Affair

My wife and I traveled to Florida this weekend for the very special wedding of someone I have known since she was a toddler. Her father has been a mentor, colleague, and friend for many years and I was deeply honored to be part of their family's day. The conditions were almost perfect and  the details came together in a harmonious blessing for the couple and all of us in attendance as well.

The weekend carried another special blessing as I was able to spend time with many of my friends from Mainland High School. These are people that have been an influential part of my life for 30 years—first as a student, then as a co-worker, and ultimately as close friends. We have endured so much together in that time. We have shared high peaks of joy, deep valleys of sorrow, frustrating seasons of growth, and great life change. There is a history of rolling laughter, sweat equity, kind generosity, stubborn disagreement, and a shared passion for making a difference in our community. Together we have made a mutual investment in thousands of lives and most importantly in each other.

These people are family to me. We know each other—the good and the bad—and we love each other deeply. We have seen each other at our best and our worst while loving each other for the complete picture of who we are. There is a bond between us all that encompasses so much of our life history and is strong enough to unite us across the miles and years. We may not share bloodlines, but we have shared so many other parts of our life forging relationships that bring great joy to my soul. My heart is full from time together with these wonderful people and I am grateful our lives have intersected in so many ways.

Look Around

I loved teaching at Mainland High School. I struggled through it some in the early years as I figured out what I was doing, but soon discovered a passion for teaching. The classroom was a place of enjoyment for me (mostly), but the most powerful education was shared in other ways. I quickly discovered greater impact through non-traditional "teachable moments." These would present themselves in small group interactions, discussing societal events that impacted all of us, and one-to-one conversations in non-traditional environments. The key to taking advantage of these was to always be on the lookout for a time to share. My willingness to share and the student's desire to learn could be shaped through all of these apparently random moments.

Life is full of teachable moments even today. Our life experiences, relationships, and personal interactions are always providing learning opportunities. What we read, watch, and listen to can stretch us in new ways while causing us to think in deeper levels. Regardless of our age, all of life can teach us new things if we are willing to learn. Are we paying attention to the possibilities all around us?

An open mind, a desire to grow, and a willingness to put things into action are all that are necessary to take advantage of the teachable moments life provides.

Faded Crown

In high school I entered and won the "Mr. Mainland" contest during my senior year. It was a pretty big deal at the time even though it doesn't necessarily translate into too much today. The memories of that time matter more than the actual event did even though I didn't realize it until many years later. At least it allows me to share an old picture and have a good laugh at myself.

The funny part about something like that is that the actual awards from it didn't last long. The crown and trophy fell apart a long time ago and eventually ended up in the trash. I think there's still a video somewhere (VHS of course) that has the evidence of that night, but the footage is a little grainy. Somewhere in storage is a yearbook with other photo evidence, but even those pictures would be unrecognizable by most people. While the title of "Mr. Mainland 1989" was a nice bit to share back then it doesn't bring me much benefit today either.

It's not that the Mr. Mainland moment wasn't a big deal to me because it genuinely was at the time. Now I have an understanding of the temporary currency of those moments and yet still appreciate the value of it in my memories. I don't equate my present value with this past event, but recognize it for the happiness it brought then and the laughter and fond memories it brings now. It's still a part of my history, but it isn't the defining moment either.

That's a safe, healthy place to keep such events. We should appreciate them for being part of our lives without allowing them to be the defining characteristic of who we are today.

In Memory of a Great Man

Many of us lost a great man this week as Jim "Doc" Carlin left this world. Doc was one of my favorite, most influential teachers at Mainland High School and then became a colleague and friend as I returned to my alma mater to teach. His premature departure leaves a void that won't be easily filled even though the thousands he influenced will do our best to carry on his legacy.

Doc was a giant of man in physical stature and also in influence and intellect. While I have always loved reading it was his passion (and his deceased wife Betsy's) that spurred mine to greater heights. While "teaching" may have been his profession it was obvious that this was a calling for him and not merely an occupation. Even though it has been 25 years since I sat in his classroom, I can still see him gesticulating as he enthusiastically shared the beauty of literature and challenged our thinking as well. Doc worked tirelessly to shape us and open our minds to see the hidden treasures of books and most importantly, the life lessons they contained. His authentic desire to be a blessing was obvious to me even as a scrawny, immature senior and even more so as the years went by. 

He supported all of us in our endeavors and showed up at theater performances and athletic events to cheer us all on. While he may have come across to some as gruff, it was evident that it was truly love for us all and his desire to see us find our best. As fellow educators I was privileged to see another side of Doc as he stood up against injustices and fought for what was right. I watched as he refused to settle for the status quo and always persevered for the best for students, teachers, and our school. It was a reflection of his consistent character and concern for others. I always felt like I was part of his family and I know I don't stand alone in that sentiment.

He was passionately articulate, deeply compassionate, remarkably intelligent, and humbly gentle. I am grateful for his influence and greatly saddened by our loss. I am a better reader, student, teacher, thinker, and man because of him. Others may write and speak more fluently about him than I am capable of doing. Nevertheless, I knew that I had to do my best to simply fulfill what he always charged us with and "Put words on paper!" 

Thank you for everything, my good friend. Enjoy God's rest.