Saturday, September 11, 2010
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Back in the Office
Admittedly, it isn't easy to return to the office after a six month sabbatical and a few weeks of holidays. Let's just say the office doesn't generate much in the way of inspiration or creativity like the great outdoors or travel does. It is amazing the ideas I have for interesting class topics or assignments when I'm mtn biking down single-track or rappelling off a cliff or exploring a new stretch of beach in new zealand.
My first office I had at the college was more of a broom closet and si I have to say having space, a window not only in my door but to the outside world is indeed an improvement. But I can't help but wish looking out the glass that I was somewhere else. But then again it could be worse - i could be in a cubical or a coffin and I hear neither are very conducive for your brain waves or pulse.
Now I will say you will have a much more upbeat & positive post when I get back in the classroom - that is where I best play & dream & inspire - oh and I actually get to do something called the dance of teaching & learning!
My first office I had at the college was more of a broom closet and si I have to say having space, a window not only in my door but to the outside world is indeed an improvement. But I can't help but wish looking out the glass that I was somewhere else. But then again it could be worse - i could be in a cubical or a coffin and I hear neither are very conducive for your brain waves or pulse.
Now I will say you will have a much more upbeat & positive post when I get back in the classroom - that is where I best play & dream & inspire - oh and I actually get to do something called the dance of teaching & learning!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Passion for Life!
When I watched this video I couldn't help but chuckle. This man's passion is for marbles! Really? Kind if hard to relate to isn't it? Sort of like Steve Irwin's passion for crocodiles eh? But there is something attractive about passion for people, passion for making a difference in this world? I love to teach, I love to explore, I love to share stories, I love my wife, I love my kids, I love my friends! These are all unique passions that I have and for me they definitely trump any love for marbles.
I just returned home after a 4 month escape to New Zealand & Australia! I had an amazing opportunity to witness the beauty of both countries but every waterfall & mountain paled in comparison to the people I met! I have a passion for life! For living life to the full! Abundant living! That is real passion and a worthy obsession I think...a love for God & for people! Some people have a passion for growing ear hairs - I'm going to stick with loving life, loving people & loving the Creator of the Everything!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
NZ Escape
Well - as much as I probably should have blogged about our time in New Zealand, I clearly have not. I've tried to journal daily but have refrained from posting it as I want to weave pictures with my words and maybe post it at a later time. There is only so much time a person has in a day and my focus for this sabbatical was to lead a more balanced life with friends, family & work. I think I've done very well in that regard. Yes there have been a few busy moments such as teaching at Capernwray, and a few busy spots of instructing at Totara Springs, but for the most part there has been a good flow to life.
Flow - I love that word. It connects with me in so many different ways. When we talk about flow in mountain-biking - we are referring to how well a trail rides. Is there a balance of up, down, left, right as you ride. I was mountain-biking yesterday in a place called Rotorua famous for its thermal park but we instead went up a nearby mountain filled with giant redwood trees and world-class mountain bike trails. Some of the trails really had a perfect flow - it helps when the trail is mainly downhill but it is simply bliss to get into the rhythm of a trail and enjoy the kms fly by.
Interestingly, the final trail we enjoyed did not have a good flow but it was an incredible workout. What threw off the flow? For one, lots of climbing and steep climbing, the descents were quite difficult as well - with nice little jumps to get air off of, but there was no real transition between the climbs & descents. If life is just up & down and now in between times - it makes for a very tiring journey! We need regular life. This connects with our spiritual journeys as well. If life is this chase of mountain top experiences with God versus incredible lows of separation from Him - we lose the intimacy that can be developed in the in-between times.
Getting back to our time in New Zealand - it has been amazing for our family to experience this journey together. So amazing mountain tops, some struggling times as well, but for the most part we've been enjoying life in the everyday. In other words, most of our time was not living life as tourists but trying to get into the here & now of culture here. Being a tourist is too tiring for an extended period of time anyway. There is a limit of how far one wants to drive in a week - especially with kids.
So many highlights of visiting inspiring places, places of beauty & awe, but what we will miss the most will be the relationships, the people we've come to know here. We are looking forward to our next 3 week adventure in Australia, another 2 weeks on the south island (where we get to be tourists once again), and I do think we are at the point of really looking forward to going home to Canada. May long weekend will be a celebration for us.
Flow - I love that word. It connects with me in so many different ways. When we talk about flow in mountain-biking - we are referring to how well a trail rides. Is there a balance of up, down, left, right as you ride. I was mountain-biking yesterday in a place called Rotorua famous for its thermal park but we instead went up a nearby mountain filled with giant redwood trees and world-class mountain bike trails. Some of the trails really had a perfect flow - it helps when the trail is mainly downhill but it is simply bliss to get into the rhythm of a trail and enjoy the kms fly by.
Interestingly, the final trail we enjoyed did not have a good flow but it was an incredible workout. What threw off the flow? For one, lots of climbing and steep climbing, the descents were quite difficult as well - with nice little jumps to get air off of, but there was no real transition between the climbs & descents. If life is just up & down and now in between times - it makes for a very tiring journey! We need regular life. This connects with our spiritual journeys as well. If life is this chase of mountain top experiences with God versus incredible lows of separation from Him - we lose the intimacy that can be developed in the in-between times.
Getting back to our time in New Zealand - it has been amazing for our family to experience this journey together. So amazing mountain tops, some struggling times as well, but for the most part we've been enjoying life in the everyday. In other words, most of our time was not living life as tourists but trying to get into the here & now of culture here. Being a tourist is too tiring for an extended period of time anyway. There is a limit of how far one wants to drive in a week - especially with kids.
So many highlights of visiting inspiring places, places of beauty & awe, but what we will miss the most will be the relationships, the people we've come to know here. We are looking forward to our next 3 week adventure in Australia, another 2 weeks on the south island (where we get to be tourists once again), and I do think we are at the point of really looking forward to going home to Canada. May long weekend will be a celebration for us.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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