National #LaughAtYourself Day (created after an embarrassing moment)

May 6, 2015 - AKA: #RideYourBiketoSchoolDay

I'm fortunate to work at amazing ES campuses where teachers get excited for kids.  They do what it takes to get their students excited about learning.  Even if that means showing up to school with a mini-scooter, classic retro bike, or even a double-seater on National Ride Your Bike to School Day! 

I show roll up in my husband's pick up with my torquise gently-used TREK bike placed strategicially in the bed.  I can't help but smile silently as I'm ready to capture the day in photo and enjoy these amazing people.  After checking in, I chat with excited front office staff and wait for 8:00 to come.

You can hear the excited cheers as upper grades line the front of the parking lot.  Butcher paper crinkles in the wind as first grade holds a big sign dedicated to the day.  Several policemen are in the front of a line of bikes, followed by teachers, and behind them, the entire first grade.  In this order, we will make laps to celebrate. 

My wheels start rolling, and this is by far one of the most exciting starts to the school day I've had all year.  I hear little feet and giggling behind me as the thought enters my tiny brain, "This is a kodak moment!"  Being the Instructional Technology coach on campus, I always have my phone attached at the hip.  One hand on the handle bars, the other stumbling to the camera app, I turn to see the canvas of faces.  Suddenly, my front wheel of my torquise TREK veers to the left.  I correct to the right, and before I know it, I am completely off balance.  I'm headed toward zealous kids who are at the front of the line.  "Watch Out...Sorry...Watch Out..." I yell as I take out three kids.  Yes I ran right in to three kids! I wind up inches from the parked cars in the lot.

Thought #1 enters my head, "Did I just injure sweet innocent 1st graders?" Then I look up to see them well on their way and completely happy as if nothing happened.  Though #2 rushes over me, "You're the worst role model EVER."  No helmet, phone in hand, steering one-handed in front of 1st graders who are well aware of their bike safety rules. Red flushes over my face.  The unbalanced move was slow mo...so much so, that NO ONE missed it.  I look up to see half of the well-entertained audience laugh with me (I preferred this response actually), the other half worried that I'm hurt.  The only thing hurt was my ego as I laugh out of embarrassment and wheel my bike back to the crowd.  

I left the day with three great things:

1. A priceless story - I could not have made this up!
2. A reminder of how some days, I just have to laugh at myself.
3. The power of being humbled and sharing my weaknesses with others. I will name this day #NationalLaughatYourselfDay as I was well aware of my human self and my weaknesses.  I have the tendendency to want to put on a pretty faucade, when really, I live in a body full of human limitations (physically, mentally, spiritually).      

Paul was humbled, and he both spoke and preached out of humility.  "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why I delight in in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecitions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Cor 12:9-10

I'm not comparing myself to Paul. Paul is making reference to very difficult persecution, while I simply whitnessed a little embarassment, but I do believe that there is power in humility.  On May 6th God reminded me of my limitations.  My testimony is my weakness, and God's strength in every aspect of my life.  The cleaned up pretty self that I parade in, may not reveal my dire need for God each day.

Real Talk

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a people person. Striking up conversation with friends, teachers, my cashier at the grocery store, has never bothered me.  I both blame and thank my dad for this.  We were that family that everyone knew was on the plane, if you know what I mean.  My husband now gets to live with a little of that angst to stir up the silence and be connected.  It's like the desire to know poeple, and if I'm being honest with myself, to be known by people, is in my DNA.  

My amazing husband jokes with me..."someday we're going to run out of things to talk about and all there will be left is the weather."  He knows this is not true and I always laugh because I know it is not true either (If nothing else, we can talk about me...joking).  In a sense though, there is some truth to what he says.  While I love striking up conversation about the weather, favorite TV shows, new restuarants, coffee, crafts, my dog, etc. I long for meaningful conversations.  I long for conversations about Christ, the creator and sustainer of life. Conversation about salvation and purpose.  While talking is second nature to me, talking about Christ is not always easy, and not because I do not want to.  I fear the roll of the eyes, the silence that may follow, or the possibility that I may not get an invite to the next get together if I get "all spiritual."

Truth is, as a Christian, my whole purpose in life is to know Christ and to make Him known.  In fact, glorying God is what I was designed for, and it brings true joy.  Paul emphasizes this fact in Philippians 3:8 "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."  In Colossians, Paul says that he will labor with all of his energy to "present everyone perfect in Christ."  In Colossians 2:2 he writes, "My purpose is that they  may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ."  Even when talking to believers, Paul's purpose is to encourage them in their faith and bring others closer to Christ.  Paul had some "Real Talk" in his day, and honestly, he must have truly loved both God and others to have this mindset.

Even non-believers understand the extent of the Christian's purpose.  In an interview, Pen and Teller said, How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?"  You won't find me yelling from street corners or picketing with a Jesus sign, but my prayer is that I'll believe this truth so much, that I'll share despte the pushback that I may recieve.  My prayer is that bringing up Christ in conversation will be natural, because Christ is not a section of my life, He is my life.  My prayer is that my friends Christian and not, neighbors, co-workers, heck, even the cashier at the grocery store and other passengers on the plane will know that I am a believer in Christ.  I've got a long way to go friends.