And that has made all the difference

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

--Robert Frost

This post began as thoughts on the recent snowfall here, compared with the tornadoes in my hometown. But as I was thinking today, I realized that there are far more important differences that begin with a simple choice.

I love "The Road Not Taken". Something about it speaks so clearly to me, and has since I was in junior high. Every choice is like a path. You cannot take both. We can walk our own path, or we can follow after God. Maybe our retelling with a sigh can be a sigh, not of sadness or regret, but of thankfulness and joy.

I have made some choices that some thought didn't make a lot of sense, but have truly made all the difference in the end. Joining band was a "random" choice, but it was so good for me emotionally and spiritually. Going to China twice, not a financially prudent choice, but a life-altering one. Even if only looked at from a purely secular standpoint, I have had the chance to change the opinions and stereotypes of 130 junior highers about China. I can awe young children into listening to me because I've been out the United States. But in the end, I had the priveledge of seeing one of my friends come to Christ. THAT has made all the difference in this world and the next.

I love good music. I love listening for the distinctive moods and colors of a piece of music. I have very little knowledge of music theory, but I love music. The colors and pictures a well-performed piece paint in my head stay with me for a long time.

This weekend, I had the opportunity to see the Maranatha Symphonic Band on tour. They did a great job. I loved being able to hear the songs that I loved playing in band from the audience. "In the Bleak Mid-Winter" was good. One of my favorites ever. I love the clarinet solo at the begining, the way the music sounds like a cold winter morning. I love the background of the arrangement. I also enjoyed the "Russian Sailors' Dance" and "Mansions of Glory", an arrangement of "My Jesus, I Love Thee".

In some ways, I miss it. I loved playing good music and traveling with good friends (for free, mind you). Meeting new people was fun as well. Ah, such wonderful adventures we had. Midnight trips to Valley Forge, pseudo-Catholics helping with National Government papers, a pet mouse on a bus, conspiring to hide a newly purchased engagement ring... What I don't miss is the getting up early for a 7:10 class. Or the required attendance at football games for pep band.



The funniest moment of the weekend, other than "inspirational socks", was when a young child, probably my niece, said quite loudly "Uh-oh" during a "grand pause." Hilarious. I'm not certain, but I think even Dr. Townsend laughed at that one. Obviously the pause was a bit too long. :)

Recent Favorite Quotes

After reading a series of books filled with wonderful quotes from various sources, I determined to put together a few of my favorites.



If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.



Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.



God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.



Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You, too? Thought I was the only one."



Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.



The above are from C.S. Lewis.



You're confusing what is important with what is impressive.- L.M. Montgomery



The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page.- St. Augustine



When I get a little money, I buy books; and if any is left, I buy food and clothes.- Erasmus



Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.- Mark Twain

Religion in America

As I was searching for something worthwhile to spend my evening watching, I came across a PBS special. God in America. Interesting. So as I was checking out the website, I discovered a quiz on religion. I took it, and the results deeply bother me. On a basic quiz of knowledge of the major religions in the US, the average American missed HALF! And the worst part, Atheists and Agnostics scored the best, barely beating Jewish and Mormon respondents.

The biggest problem I saw was not that Evangelical Protestants,which includes a wide variety of people with varying levels of commitment to said religion, know the most about Christianity (but still got the pants beat off them by the Mormons). My biggest problem is that only 23% of all Americans, regardless of religious affiliation, know that a public school teacher can have the Bible read in class as literature. Well for heaven's sake why not! We can, and usually do, bring in examples from the Qu'ran and other religious texts! If we are to have true religious freedom, we must allow it. To allow the others and NOT the Bible is religious discrimination. Equal time is not required, as different classes may have different foci.

I did look further at the group's work and some of the questions could lead to errors in the response. Some were a bit too vague or leading. And then on a few questions, you would certainly run the risk of the respondent not wanting to sound "bigoted." Since we bandy that word around so much.


To check the percent per group answering correctly: http://features.pewforum.org/quiz/us-religious-knowledge/?q=16

For the Official summary:http://pewforum.org/Other-Beliefs-and-Practices/U-S-Religious-Knowledge-Survey.aspx?src=rkq-sidebar-b

Recent Thoughts on Education

I've just finished a book with a highly convincing argument on how to fix the ills of the American educational system. And it is not to throw more money at the schools, which is in direct opposition to many politicians today, including the gubernatorial candidate endorsed by the teachers' union. The answer has been staring us in the face for years. It is the idea of year-round school.



Now, as a teacher, I must admit, that idea is less than thrilling, but then a longer year means more hours... But the research presented looked at the gains per economic strata on reading tests given at the end of the school year and then again after the summer break. Those whose parents can afford the tools to keep children learning in the summer, do better. Is that such a revolutionary idea? I think not.



This book also analyzed how diligent effort is required for excellence in anything, from music to computers. The author's claim is that 10,000 hours of practice are required before one can be truly great a task. Even a moderately talented musician who practices that much will be supremely talented by the end of that time. His example? Bill Gates had a very unique opportunity to put in probably that much time on computers as a junior high student. He was an expert by the time he graduated high school.



So really, all any of us need to be a "Great" at something, is a concerted effort at it. If I tried to be good at math, I would be. It is not just IQ that determines success. It is your own personal determination to be great.



In another, unrelated topic, I finished my three week sub position as a teacher's aide today. For the most part it was bittersweet. Some of the kids are so sweet. But then there was one who was percocious enough to ask, "When are we getting our real teacher?" For all he knew, I was the real teacher. At lunch, some of the teachers were commenting on students saying rude things to them. They all really liked mine.

For the first time in over a year, I find myself back on this blog. I do not know what compels me to this, as it was intended for a critical thinking exercise for teaching in China. Perhaps boredom. Perhaps a need to again be writing, for whatever reasons. It has been far too long since I have written anything but a thank-you note or a text. I have again taken up knitting. Poorly, and slowly, but knitting nonetheless. And still boredom.



I've lately been working at an elementary school as a teachers' aide helping kids with math and reading. I've mostly been teaching Kindergarteners to write their names. And supervising their lunchtime. I've been able to say, "No, we use our spoon to eat mashed potatoes" and "Put the potatoes back on the tray. We don't hold them in our hands." I feel I've become adept at herding cats... It's been fun. Helps keep the boredom at bay. Mainly because I fall asleep early.

I love feeling like I've accomplished something. Working with kids til they finally get it. Getting to the point where I can read their name on the paper. Getting to the point where the kids can understand what we're reading. Reading on their own.