Silence

It has been ten weeks since I have written anything on this blog. Silence.

Here is a thought for you: Much happens during times of silence.

Think about that for a moment. In this electronic format, while this keyboard has been silent, class has pressed on. In the sophomore classes, in addition to the massive change of personnel in my afternoon classes, we have explored the strengths of poetry: word choice and the interpretative power of presentation. Now, we are exploring personal beliefs as we engage in an intense writing environment. In the freshmen classes, we continue with the reading process and couple that with the analytical skills of identifying the core literature elements: plot, character, seting, theme, and point-of-view.

Since I've last written, we have celebrated four holidays [can you name them?], we've had two students involved in serious accidents, and MANY changes in the political realm [pay attention, things WILL affect you].

And yet, silence. Silence does not necessarily mean cessation. Things still happen. In fact, silence allows for more focus -- to recognize the enormity of activity, to hone in on the big picture, to see more of our minute existence.

So why do I bring this up now?

Because I needed a break from the fast pace of the routine. I needed silence. I needed a moment to hear myself breathe. An "Aha" moment where I realize that my life is busy, not slowing down any time soon. [Yeah, that was a fragment, so what?] That "Aha" moment led to the realization that it is all right to have a stack of papers nine inches high that need to be graded, it is all right to not have the calendars in the classroom updated, it is all right to take a moment for me in the middle of the mundane insanity. It is perfectly acceptible to live out the seventh habit.

Silence.

A whisper, "Pause, reflect, take a moment to charge the batteries."

The interesting thing about silence . . . it never lasts. I've had my moment. Now it is time to get moving again. Let's make some academic noise! Are you ready?

*****UPDATE: ADDITIONAL COMMENT*****

So I write about this thing called "silence" with the hopes that things will go back to normal -- whatever that means. I thought that maybe I'd be able to get caught up on grades by now and that my momentum would pick up a little bit in the classroom.

What I am continuing to learn is that the best made plans are the ones that will surely change. I did not expect the weather to be what it is -- to have as many snow days as we have had. I did not expect my home computer to go out and be without one for four days. I did not expect my wife's car to experience "problems." And most importantly, I did not expect the bold reality that the human body is frail; manifesting itself in my wife's back, which decided to go out Friday evening; and, in the middle of my soccer clinics, her uncle comes into the gym to inform me that he has just taken her to the emergency room.

When I mentioned the break from the routine I was not expecting THESE things to be a part of the equation. I guess there is another lesson here that I need to learn. MY schedule must remain open to the persistence of life. Silence may be golden, but it does not follow the golden rule.