Natalie Thinks

I’ve always been aware that when I say “I don’t have time for something.” I’m not actually stating a fact, I’m stating a priority.   I don’t regard that particular thing as important enough to ‘make time’ for it.   But recently I realized that there are a few more layers to the whole issue of time management. I’ve been wanting to make time in my schedule for writing.  It’s a priority for me.  So as I’ve had free moments I’ve thought, “Now I can write!” Not so simple. These moments are frequently just when I’ve come home from a tiring day of teaching and I have an hour before I need to make a 80km round trip to fetch my son from school, knowing that when I get home I still have to cook a meal, help with homework, listen to my children’s stories, chat with my spouse and get myself and my kids to bed.  At this moment I’m tired and my body rightly tells me that I need to take this hour to have a coffee, relax and allow my body and brain some down time. Most...

Jesus, please lead me to the place Where each day is holy; Set aside for You and Your kingdom. I want to know each moment Infused with Your purpose and vision. In my empty moments Please bring to mind those I can pray for. In my busy moments May I consciously serve others, my family, my colleagues, my customers, my friends. Grant me times of godly rest Enjoying the beauty of your creation and the inspiration of a creative spirit. Keep my busy times in line with  Your purposes so that they may not consume me. And lead me beyond my circle of comfort  So that I can bring justice and mercy in Your world. Amen.

I always seem to get so many more hugs and cuddles from my kids during the holidays. Hugs are the family equivalent of ‘stopping to smell the roses’, and holidays give us just such an opportunity.   I’m particularly blessed to have long stretches of these with my job as a teacher. The mornings are the best time of all. Just this morning my three-year old son woke next to me at about 7am (he had crawled in during the early hours of the morning) and said sleepily, “What are you doing here, Mommy?”  Next he wanted to know, “Where is Daddy?” “At the office.” Pause. “Mommy, does Mr. Frumble have a house?” (Richard Scarry character) Once I had answered this to his satisfaction, he wanted to know, “Can owls talk?” What a precious conversation this was to me!  Next followed the game with has become our holiday ritual these two weeks. I am addressed as ‘Mommy Chicken” and must hug and nurture my baby chicken.  He will crawl into a ball and then prompt me, “Momm...

Are kids more whiny (whinier?) today?  I’ve been teaching for four years now and this group takes the cake.  And honestly it wears me down.  Each lesson begins with my pet peeve, someone walks in and asks, “What are we doing, Natalie?” “Wait, I’ll tell you all when everyone is in and seated.” Then if I introduce anything that requires a modicum of effort (anything other than reading our setwork) I’m met with, “Aahhh! Do we have to?”  Talk about a downer!   Over the past few years I’ve been told by various children on various occasions that my lessons are varied and that we get more done in my lesson than in other subjects.  So presumably my lessons are fairly interesting and time is well-used.  Heavens, some children have even enjoyed my lessons!  But this class regularly threatens to dent my confidence in my teaching abilities.  The lesson is an exercise in motivation; I feel like a running coach running alongside exhausted runners...

A quote, doing the rounds on Facebook recently, has been making me think.  The author states that purporting a particular religious view and especially one that claims a personal God and a particular path, is the root of violence and the antithesis of love.  The writer claims that to hold a religious viewpoint creates an ‘us and them’ mentality which leads to division, instead only ‘love’ should be pursued.  It sounds quite noble, but isn’t the writer doing the same thing he accuses Christians, Jews and Muslims of? Is he not in fact saying, those who believe in a personal God are wrong – they are are narrow-minded, they must think like ‘ us ’, our view of love is broader and better! The fact is we disagree. We are not all saying the same thing. Christianity is not saying the same thing as Islam or Buddhism or Atheism or Humanism, or whatever belief or non-belief someone may espouse.  There are many different views on life and death and destiny.  However ...

Having just turned 40 I received a lot more attention than I have in, say, the last nine years.   This led me to muse on what makes birthdays so special.   Of course it starts around the age of three – I recently observed this with my youngest. He went through the birthday somewhat taken aback at all the attention but has spent the next six months reliving it and anticipating the next one! It’s the attention we receive that makes us feel so good.   Our friends tell us how special we are.   Acquaintances and distant family members suddenly phone us and want to know how we are and what we’re doing.   We get given gifts, treated with cups of coffee or freedom from some of our usual chores.   We get shielded (mostly) from unpleasant news, arguments or tiresome tasks.   We feel good.   We feel special.   We feel recognized.   We feel loved and appreciated. And so, I wondered, what would the world be like if we treated each other more like b...