students
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A Christmas Story
Long ago, in a house miles away down an icy gravel road, a little girl listened to her parents talk about Christmas. From the muffled rise and fall of voices she could detect a note of stress, and an overtone of sadness, too. There wasn’t money for presents this year; the check hadn’t come in.…
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School Days
By now you may be saying to yourself, “This blog is called Stories for Humans. When will she stop dithering about with dry, dusty topics? Get to the stories!” And so I shall. The thing is, right now as I’m evaluating my life as a half-of-a-hundred year old ancient person, most of the stories I…
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Press Pause
Yesterday I had the privilege of participating in a webinar with some Christian leaders. The purpose was to share and discuss the importance of discernment in navigating the often troubled waters of life and the times we are living in. The title was “Wise as Serpents”, referencing Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you out as…
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The Shadow of Christian Nationalism
For a long time I didn’t pay any attention to the conversation around Christian Nationalism. The idea that a country could or should be governed by those who believe in Christ, to the extent that Christian values and ideals were written into the laws of the land, seemed far-fetched. Unlikely. Even, fanatical. Lately, it has…
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A Day in My *New Life
As expected, there are pros and cons of leaving the classroom and working from home. I started to write this post last week, but felt stuck for some reason, like a boat run aground. I had to wait it out until the tide came in again, and drew me out to sea. A perfectly grey…
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The Hiker
Imagine a fully-outfitted, weary hiker on a long and winding trail. A narrow trail that started somewhere long ago, in a place far away from here. The path became the way ahead, though it’s hard to say how or why the hiker’s tread now lands on this particular ground. Perhaps someone pointed the way, almost…
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Thanks Giving
Thanks You picked up the phone when I calledAsked about my kids, my lifeMessages decorated with hearts and flowers You looked up at me smiling as I taught,Encouraging a longer explanationNo, this lesson isn’t boring us Painted me pictures,Wrote me letters and left them on my desk,Brought me plants and mugs and candles, A cream…
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Was I Wrong About Covid?
A more accurate title would be “I Was Wrong to Think I Knew It All About Covid”, but that’s a long handle. I AM AWARE that writing this is guaranteed to cause misunderstanding. Perhaps some will say aHA! She finally admits it (I admit nothing) or Wow, I thought I knew her (this could be…
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Burnout
Burnout is a profound cycle of exhaustion and disconnection, often misdiagnosed as depression. It requires deep self-care and recognition of limits rather than just superficial fixes. Healing from burnout requires authenticity and rest.
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September
September is the favorite month of many people that I know. Not to be outdone, it is also mine. Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” -F. Scott Fitzgerald Stepping back from the classroom has meant being now inside the four walls of the trees, sky, road, and field. Not…
Stories for Humans 