May

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.

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Friday Thought : Thank you for being brave

I am currently reading, Everything Sad is Untrue, by Daniel Nayeri, and this paragraph has really stuck with me these past few days:

“Does writing poetry make you brave? It is a good question to ask. I think making anything is a brave thing to do. Not like fighting brave, obviously. But a kind that looks at a horrible situation and doesn’t crumble. Making anything assumes there’s a world worth making it for.”

Education is all of this.

To all my educational brothers and sisters, thank you for being brave, for looking at the constant and continuous mess of life (and the lives of those you teach and serve), and for choosing to not let it and you and those around you crumble.

Thank you for being brave, for creating! And for assuming there's a world worth making it all for.

Lastly, a poem, from Everything Sad is Untrue:

That fly

Sailing

On a leaf

Of hay

On a sea

Of Donkey piss

Raised his head

A sea captain

"Obviously the best thing to be in that story is the donkey. But if not that, then the fly who is an adventurer of new lands and not a refugee. But definitely don't be the pee river. And definitely don't be the leaf, wallowing in it."

I'm not entirely sure how this applies to us all, but it seems encouraging . . . and brave. Ten points to the person who can provide a fantastic interpretation of the poem, as related to education. Good luck! And . . . . go!

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

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Friday Thought : Brick by Brick

I wrote this during my final days of living in China, over six years ago.

It still rings true today:

I took the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) home today, not the scooter, which meant walking this familiar road and past the pile of bricks pictured above.

Not only is this very "China" with the style of brick, the broom propped, and the fact that it's all in the middle of the sidewalk, but it was also very symbolic.

Because in the coming days, these bricks will build more of these:

Being a teacher can be tough. After years of building and investing, we often never get to see the finished product; we just lay brick after brick, day after day, in hopes that someday, our students will stand tall and strong, much like the building above. 

And at times, that hope can be exhausting because sometimes, it's hard to see beyond the pile of bricks. Sometimes, it seems, all our work and dedication are forgotten, even undone.

We know this isn't true, it just feels like it sometimes. 

But then, just like a bricklayer taking a break, we look up at a building and wonder at its beauty and stand in awe of its power. We find comfort in its shade and rest against its walls. 

In such moments, the diligent bricklayer who stacked brick after brick, day after day, is reminded yet again of the final product and the importance of the task at hand. He knows he will not paint the walls or be the first to turn on the lights, but he also knows that without this brick, and this one, and this one, the building will never be built.

He knows that if he does not do his part, his building will never stand.

Education is no different.

Year after year, we have been given the daunting task of growing and changing students. And although we may never see the completed project, we can be confident and thankful that right now, at this stage in the building process, we have been entrusted with this child, this class. We lay the foundation, build the support, and prepare the way for the next phase of growth. Without your efforts, there is no building! 

And every now and then, when they return to our classrooms or buildings, those students enter as adults, write us letters of encouragement, or reach out on messenger (like an old student of mine from China did this morning - see below), we are reminded that all those hours of laying brick was not only worth it, we would gladly do it all over again! Because we are educators, and we have the greatest - most important - job in the world.

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

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This, an email from a previous student I had in China, which I received today.

Hi Mr. Miller! I hope and pray you and your family is doing well, and that you’ve really found a home in Montana.

I am writing you today to let you know that I am about to go off to my final class of my undergrad degree and as I’ve reflected on my time in college I’ve thought about how I’ve grown and changed over the years. One of the biggest spots of growth over my four years (as attested to by professors and other peers) is my ability to observe stories and song lyrics and pinpoint what they’re ‘actually’ saying. Anyways, as I’ve thought about that I really have just been thinking about how that journey didn’t begin here at OBU but it began when you taught my Freshmen English class. I remember all those classes where I felt like I just wasn’t ever going to be able to look at a piece of literature, a song, or short story and be able to communicate what ‘it was all about.’ Yet, here I am nearly 8 years later as someone who really enjoys trying to discover another author’s perspective on the world. It is enriched my life deeply and just made reading more enjoyable. Truly, I thank you for building that foundation in me back at CDIS. Honestly, I had always thought about you as one who would left me with basketball and an athletic work ethic. Yet at the end of the day that hasn’t really meant a whole yet and what you did for me in the classroom is what I am TRULY going to carry for the rest of my life. Anyways, I felt impressed to share that with you and thank you for all the work you did with me in the classroom, even though it was nearly 8 years ago. I am certain you will keep changing people’s lives that way.

✌️

- Hudson Olmstead

Friday Thought : Willing to sit the bench

My daughter, in 4th grade Salvation Army Basketball.

The Golden State Warriors lost their first two games of the best-of-seven series against the Sacramento Kings. They won game three, however, largely because one of their starters and key players, Draymond Green, was limited in minutes.

So, for game four, Draymond offered to come off the bench.

Draymond "hasn't come off the bench in ten years," his coach Steve Kerr shared with the press, "But he came to me late after game three and asked, 'What do you think about me coming off the bench?'"

When a reporter asked Draymond, "If {Coach Kerr} had disagreed, would you have argued with him?" Draymond quickly responded “No” and smiled, "No. It was just a suggestion, to let him know that if {he} is mulling this decision, make it. It's totally fine."

Over the next few days, they ended up talking about it quite a bit. Steve Kerr provided reasons why he shouldn't come off the bench, with Draymond brainstorming reasons why he should.

One of coach Kerr's greatest concerns was how Draymond would feel. 

"Who cares how I feel," Draymond said. "It doesn't matter how I feel." What matters is doing what's best for the team. And for that moment, what the team needed from Draymond was for him to take a back seat and play a supporting role. 

And that inspired the hell out of his teammates who soon went on to win the next three games and clinch the series in a decisive game 7. 

All because Draymond was willing to set aside his ego, his pride, and come off the bench.

I love this story because it is a true and tangible example of what it means to lead, to inspire the people around us, and to succeed.  When we consider others as more important than ourselves, when we put the needs of the TEAM above our own, and when we consider what is BEST rather than what is best for me, GREAT things happen!

I don't know about you all, but for me, at times, this is very difficult to do. Largely because I want to be acknowledged! Selfishly, I want my hard work to be noticed and applauded and I want to know that I am making a difference. Sitting on the bench is literally me watching someone else do the work. And I hate that. 

Just like Draymond. But, just like Draymond, I need to continually remind myself that it doesn’t matter how I feel. What matters is doing what is right.

Draymond's selfless decision was a reminder to me of two things:

  1. When we focus on others and the TEAM's success, more often than not, we all win.

  2. Our impact is NOT based on our role or title but on what we DO with that role or title. For not only did the Warriors win the series, Draymond still posted a double-double, thus adding to his immeasurable impact on his team.

Do what is right. Even if it means sitting on the bench. And that has been a great reminder and more than a subtle conviction to me this week.

#doGREATthings!

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