Heather Holleman's Blog, page 63

The Light Overcomes

As I’m reading the gospel of John again, I realize the power of Jesus as “the light.” John tells us: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Jesus tells us: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

I love looking at the bright sun bursting through dark clouds. I love how the tiniest night-light or candle can scatter all the darkness in a room.

Whatever the darkness, we invite the Light of the World to overcome it now.

Expect It

My neighbor, who just returned from Paris, laughed with us about how every frequent traveler knows to expect “the travel test.” He said his family has learned that every trip will involve at least one difficult situation to test their character.

It’s not a surprise. They expect it. And ever since that conversation, I expect difficulty with a sort of joy knowing it’s a test to build character. The mindset shift to anticipate the test has even changed my definition of difficulty. Is a delayed flight enough of a test? Is a headache or an inconvenience enough? I’ve learned to raise my standards for what counts as my travel test.

Now, nothing seems quite as hard when you see a coming difficulty as a way to grow character.

Add In a Game

I’m learning about the joy of making things more fun. Today I used a “Spin the Wheel” game in class where the wheel displayed different skills we’ve learned all semester. When it was a student’s turn to spin the wheel, it felt so fun and reminiscent of something you’d do in a kindergarten class. The student would have to display whichever skill the wheel showed. I used https://pickerwheel.com/. Such a simple game added a bit of whimsy, chance, and competition to the day.

When I travel with my family, we bring the fun by making a travel bingo card of things we are hoping to see and experience. Each bingo card is randomized, so there’s a real winner at then of our trip. I used a free bingo card generator.

Life can feel hard and overwhelming. So remember to bring the fun!

 

 

I’m reading the book of Colossians, and I love reading Co...

I’m reading the book of Colossians, and I love reading Colossians 1: 9-14 again and again. It’s so wonderful to linger over and consider each word. Paul writes: 

“. . . Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

I send this prayer to a friend who is recovering from an emergency surgery. I pray she feels strengthened with power for endurance and patience today. I text this to a mom who asks for wisdom in raising her children. I pray that God will fill her with wisdom and understanding. I send this to a teen asking how to live in a way that would please God. I send this to a professor who wonders about heaven. I pray she thinks deeply about this inheritance in the kingdom of light.

Tomorrow, I’ll look at the next sentences. For now, Colossians 1 is guiding this day!

Well, More Snow

I gathered my winter hat and mittens to endure a snow storm today. 4 inches! Just when I was ready for spring! Perhaps there’s a blessings here.

The blessing might involve slowing down, praying a bit more, and enjoying more long conversations with my family. Get out the teacups! Brings out the blankets! Turn up the heat! 

If anything, the snow makes me feel OK about staying in to grade papers.

He Is Risen!

Happy Easter to everyone! I pray it’s a meaningful day of reflection and celebration on the most significant event in history. What a day! What hope and joy we celebrate today and now every day as the resurrected Lord–the Living God–rises in our hearts.

Nothing else matters but this day.

Full Bloom

From Cherry Blossoms to Chocolate

Today I wrote so many things down in my gratitude journal. I highly recommend keeping one, and Easter weekend is a great time to begin! I’m so thankful for my students, Easter chocolate, turkey and cheese sandwiches, bird nest, little eggs, Easter baskets, and cherry blossoms. I’m thankful, most of all, for Jesus.

The Weeping Cherry Blooms!

A Gift Opens the Door

Whenever I feel like my class has lost its energy and students are all languishing–and that perhaps they’ve closed off their hearts to the joy of vivid verbs–I remember Proverbs 18:16. It simply says, “A gift opens doors; it gives access to the great.”

I needed the door to belonging, hope, and joy to open up in my classroom, and I needed access again to great students who sit there, exhausted and unmotivated. Would a gift do the trick?

I had to try something! And I kept thinking of Proverbs 18:16!

I wrapped up interesting Easter chocolates and tied the little packages with golden bows. It was simple and small. I chose frosting-filled Hershey Kisses and Waffle Cone Dove chocolates–both on sale along with spring-colored M&M’s. Armed with my spring gifts, I entered the early morning classroom and distributed my cheerful and unexpected present.

Delight! Fresh energy! Access again to the heart! Maybe it was the gift, or maybe it was the jolt of sugar, but we all seemed to come alive a little today.

“A gift opens doors; it gives access to the great.”

We have just a few classes left before the end of the semester, so I told students they should now come to every class–no matter how burned out, exhausted, or overwhelmed they feel–because you never know when a gift is coming.

On Friday, I’m bringing in the gift of Scratch Art paper to let students mindlessly and aimlessly doodle for 10 minutes as a wellness activity. These I also found cheap in large quantities. I had this idea from another professor who invites students to draw, go for a walk in nature, and sit and take deep breaths during long college classes.

We’re nearly home. Everyone needs little delightful gifts on the journey.