Friday Thought : How We Finish

The other day, while reading to one of my teacher’s class, there was a brief discussion over something being either short or long. So, I asked, "Why can't it be both . . . shlong?" 

From the corner of the room, the teacher’s sweet voice disrupted the silence, "Mr. Miller!" and I suddenly realized what I had said and quickly went back to reading.

This time of year, we are fully exhausted. Our bodies are tired, our minds are tired, and our tolerance and patience are tired. Our filters are exhausted. Even when we are filled with good and great intentions, we will make a few more mistakes than we should. Then we'd like. And although it isn't okay, it is also fully okay. 

We have five weeks left. In that time, we will make MANY mistakes - some naturally, others because we're at the end of the year. And I don't know about you, but it isn't pretty whenever I sprint to the end of the finish line. The goal has suddenly shifted from focusing on form to focusing on the end - on finishing strong - and my face contorts, my legs flail, and my neck and back arch way back. It isn't pretty, but it is my best.

And that's what I remember about those races, that I gave my best. Not how perfect I looked. 

In our last five weeks, when we are most exhausted and making unnatural mistakes, whenever possible, laugh them away, move on to the next task, or simply acknowledge it and make it right. We have a LOT to do still and many memories to make, and tripping up over the little things will only prevent us from finishing the race. 

However crazy we may look, in the final moments, may we run with all we have, up until the very end. Because it is almost here! 

And how we finish will define how we ran the race. 

That’s what I’ve been thinking about this week.

#doGREATthings!

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Friday Thought : Beyond What I Deserve (A goodbye letter)

“Do - GREAT THINGS!

Go - EAGLES!!!”

I am good at creating goodbyes, but terrible at saying them. 

So this is mine.

Some of you know the journey that brought me to Chief Jo, but many of you do not. None of you know the whole story - which is good! Because as my wife constantly reminds me, "The whole world doesn't need to know everything about our life." And she's right. 

What you should know, though, is that I never wanted to be an elementary principal. Chief Joseph was never on my radar. Until I needed it to be. 

There is a poem that I used to teach entitled, "To a Mouse," by Robert Burns. The 7th stanza reads:

"But mouse-friend, you are not alone

in proving foresight may be vain:

the best-laid schemes of Mice and Men

go oft awry.

and leave us only grief and pain,

for promised joy!"

It is a terribly sad poem, but also extremely accurate, because oftentimes the worst and most painful moments of our lives are when dreams and plans are plowed into the ground,  gone forever. Suddenly, we are lost, without direction, grappling for hope.

That was the condition of my heart and mind when I applied for Chief Jo - lost, and grappling for hope. 

And then I got a call from Ruth Uecker, and suddenly, I was an Eagle. 

The poem To a Mouse has stuck with me because it is so devastatingly true. It is also fully incomplete, for it misses the other side of life. If dreams crushed leave us only grief and pain, unexpected gifts give us life and healing. For it is the dreams and plans that are far beyond what our simple minds can imagine that come most unexpectedly, because we could have never imagined them. And that is what makes them so great. So beautiful. They are beyond what we could have planned, hoped, or dreamed because they are bigger, they are better. 

Losing Fort Benton was a grief and pain I will never forget. 

Gaining Chief Joseph was a reward and blessing beyond what I deserved. It brought hope, joy, redirection, calmness, and clarity to myself and my family. And I will never have the words to fully express how thankful I am to you.

But I will try:)

Thank you for welcoming me. For being patient with my deep lack of knowledge, and for holding me accountable. 

Thank you for allowing me to be me! For allowing me to fail (often) yet still be treated with kindness and respect. Thank you for allowing me to venture into strange ideas (like the Renewing of the Vows and filling our cups, to name a few) and embracing - most of the time😉 - my challenging of things that always were. 

But more than anything, thank you for working hard, supporting each other, being open and honest with me, and for DOING GREAT THINGS! We are mixed bag of personalities, strengths, passions, and philosophies, but we come together beautifully and love our students - our profession - in a way I have rarely seen before. Our students and community are so blessed to have you in their lives. 

And so am I.

Truly, thank you for allowing me to lead you these past two years. It has been such a joy, and I will miss you dearly. 

Enjoy your summer!

That’s what I’ve been thinking about this week.

#doGREATthings!

Give. Relate. Explore. Analyze. Try.

For more on . . .

Friday Thoughts : Blog