Blogging Update: Buried Somewhere Underneath a Pile of Paper

Not to worry, I anticipate that very soon--likely this weekend--I'll be able to resume a regular blogging schedule.  Before ever entering the field of special education I knew of the paperwork and administrative duties that would come with it.  This past month has seen a mountain of paper and other school-related work pass my way.

Actually, I'm involved in a pilot program for a new state-mandated test designed for the most significantly disabled students.  It has been a learning intensive process, and I don't anticipate it to let up until the end of next week.  Perhaps then I'll even have some thoughts to share with you on something as mundane as NCLB.

I am mindful of the directions that you, my faithful readers, would like for me to go with my writing.  I'll certainly try not to disappoint you.  I believe that God is speaking to me about sharing a dimension of spirituality with you that I have not yet shared but that I have at least hinted at.  So, regardless of the other directions that life tends to push and pull, I cannot for long ignore this call I have to share my inner spiritual life with the world. 

This past weekend I spent a short amount of time at a retreat on the writings of Henri Nouwen.  How could one not help but be blessed by Nouwen, and certainly I was moved within to deal with my greatest struggles.  Again, special education and the burdens that it carries--even teaching in general--was heavily on my mind.

During the retreat I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with one of my fellow deacons--George--from the far other end of my diocese.  I shared with George my personal struggle of getting caught up with the difficulties that go along with being an elementary educator.  George helped me to remember that the foremost reason I chose special education was to make it be my ministry to those whom I felt needed love, kindness, understanding, charity, and above all else good old fashioned Catholic mercy.  "If it ever stops being a ministry first," he said, "find something else to do."

I was able to return to work this week with a renewed confidence that God was blessing my work, blessing the kids I serve, and blessing my co-workers.  I continue to pray for that blessing all around.

Later on in the blogging week I hope to begin uncovering the themes of receiving love and living forgiveness.  I feel somewhat qualified to delve into 12-Step spirituality as well, though I may challenge what you think or believe about 12-Step programs--though not to invalidate them in any way.  I believe that they are indeed a gift from God.

I leave you with a video I found on Ballastexistenz.  It says something to us about the dignity we afford others of being persons.  I try to teach that while there may be glaring inequalities in life, the amount of dignity that God gives us as persons is not one of them.

Comments

[Honora]

Very, very sobering video. I don't expect anyone but other LNAs to nod to this, but much of this could be spoken, if it could somehow be communicated, by so many in nursing homes who suffer from Alzheimer's damage, or at worst, from any sort of dementia. Out of all the folks I've ever cared for, I am one of the few who have never been hit or bitten..I have no doubt that it is because I know that all "un"persons are real persons, and my behavior, attitude, touch, patience and goodwill reflect that.

Burnout (understaffing? undertraining? not enough in-services?) in places where communication varies greatly is rife; even in my initial clinical training, I saw its effects, and bled inside for an 'unperson' who unwittingly laughed at himself with the staff..

May God (and His little child) forgive me for any time I may've walked away from someone trying to say something--or needing that defense.

As for sharing your spirituality journey, we look so forward to it all.

God bless you, rest you, ease you, and keep you stoked.

[PS]

Welcome back :-)

[Gabrielle]

Very sobering, indeed. I couldn't help but be reminded, by this, of the wonderful work of Jean Vanier and his helpers in so many l'Arche communities throughout the world.