When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

While flipping through some magazines the other day, I happened upon several "Inspirational" items for sale. I usually skip right over these sections as they are often filled with gifty things- you know- candles with bible verses engraved on the front, "Smile, God loves You!" t-shirts, etc. I couldn't help but notice some of the items below. Check them out.
The ever-popular metallic cross yo-yo...

The always fun cross-shaped bubble necklace... and who could forget-
Your very own credit card with three-crosses.

The disturbing part of these items is pretty obvious- one of our most precious symbols of faith is being plastered across everything from Bibles to cheap toy trinkets made in Taiwan... and how about the cross credit card- who does not get the irony there?

What is most frustrating is that these items are being distributed by a company that has the word "Christian" in the name! If you slap the word "Christian" on it, many people assume it's harmless, good-- even wholesome! It's the same trick that food companies use on their products- "Organic- All-Natural"! Sure, instead of man-made sugar-- it's natural sugar! We feel so much better about purchasing THOSE products because they seem OK.

Why is it OK in American Christian culture to capitalize on our faith? In a time where religious wars are being waged and lives are being lost, how can we justify the way that we treat our own faith? We know what the OTHER side stands for.... what do we stand for? What do we hold dear?

Though I do not condone violence, it is interesting to see that there are some people in the world that are willing to die for their faith. It was not that long ago that there was rioting in the middle east because Mohamed was depicted in a comic strip cartoon. People were severely injured, and even killed because they were enraged by how their most precious figure was being treated in the media! We can easily flip on the news and think, "These people are extremists, they're crazy- it's a different culture... poor people". We can approach these images with pitying hearts, or we can turn thoughts to our own faith- How do we treat the symbols of our faith that are meaningful?

We spend our time worrying about the obvious abusers of Christianity- demeaning music, movies, television, public figures, etc. When are we going to wake-up and realize that the most dangerous yet quiet sources of destruction are the people, companies, books, etc. that claim to be Christian, but are truly in the business for the All-American buck. Don't even get me started on the "Christian" product industry. It's like that old song, "Every thing the world can do, we can do better"... Who needs Christian Tae-bo? How about Bible Mad Gad or Bible Video Games?

We can stop this phenomenon by refusing to shop at those stores, and by having open discussions within our Christian communities. Let us live with a reverent and thankful heart for our Jesus who paid it all. Did Christ sacrifice his blameless life on a cross so we could slap it on a ceramic mug? I think not...

When I survey the wondrous cross,
on which the prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride...

Chai Thursday

Ahh... Chai Thursday. I look forward to this day every week- the day that chai is only $2.00 at Brooklyn Bagels. Randy I usually make a "chai run" right after Wyndham goes down to bed, and race home just in time to watch "Grey's Anatomy"... Warning: don't watch it unless you are prepared to get addicted!

Anyone who is the parent of a toddler knows that bedtime usually requires advanced preparation and several carefully followed routines in order for everything to go smoothly.


Our Nightly Schedule:
6PM: Dinner
6:30PM: Clean-Up/Crumb dance in high chair
6:45PM: Dance/Singing time in the living room: Includes "Body Song" and scarf dancing to "Old MacDonald" (Thank you elementary music education)
6:50PM: Clean up time/Daddy starts bath
6:55PM: Wyn's nightly naked streak through the house
7PM: Bubble Bath
7:15PM: Wyn and new friend, "ba-bee doll" pick out a book to read
7:25PM: Prayer, kisses (Joo-Cee kisses), and pooh bear and elephant tuck-in
7:29PM: "Wash" the green binkie one last time before inserting into mouth (don't even ask how that tradition got started)
7:30PM: Nigh-Nigh time

As we creep out of the darkened room, giving our final goodnights, we are already half dressed to leave with the car running. Often,we screech into Brooklyn Bagel's parking lot, and even though they are almost completely cleaned-up by the time we get there, they always mercifully hand over two cups of chai. Mmmm... the cinnamonny goodness:)

I always have an awkward flutter in my stomach when we drive up. One look into the restaurant, and you can see the dark-haired Thursday night worker giving the "don't you know we close in 5 minutes look".This has become such a common routine, she often leaves the chai materials out until after we leave.

Tonight, I went on a chai mission alone. When I pulled up, I breathed a small sigh of relief when I looked in and saw that there appeared to be a new worker behind the counter. It was a man, and more importantly, a man who had no idea who I was... my secret late night chai identify was safe... at least until NEXT Thursday night.

My relief was only momentary as around the corner came the dark-hair Thursday night girl. Apparently she was training the new guy... probably giving him the low-down on all of the annoying regulars that come in begging for late-night coffee.Lucky, she frothed my yummy treat up in a flash, and I reached for the cup fully prepared to get out ASAP.

"So, he finally put a ring on your finger" the dark-haired Thursday night worker said....
"I'm sorry, what was that?" I said as I turned back.
"I see that your boyfriend finally put a ring on your finger after all this time", she said again.

I couldn't figure out what she was talking about, and then it hit me-- after almost 2 years of frequenting Brooklyn Bagels, she thought that Randy and I had been dating, and were finally ENGAGED! I giggled and said, "Actually, we've been married for almost 5 years".

"Really?!" She said in total shock. "He always comes in here with a 'love-sick' look on his face. You know- the kind of look that guys get when they are totally in love. You can just tell. Wow. I just thought you guys were dating. Most couples don't seem that into each other... at least couples I see in here".

Woa. Was I talking to dark-haired Thursday night worker- the one I was just SURE hated me? I could now see that her name was "Laura" from the embroidery on her shirt. Besides the fact that she was talking to me, was she saying that my husband actually looks like he's in LOVE with me??? Woa.

"That's interesting that you would think that. We feel so old and unromantic anymore. For example, it's Chai and Grey's Anatomy night tonight. We have no social life to speak of at the moment... we are each OTHER'S social life right now".

She laughed and assured me that everyone has a "routine". She told me to say "hi" to my boyfriend for her as I turned to leave.

2 Things I learned on this memorable Chai Thursday:
#1: Always talk to the people that serve you- you might be surprised that they DON'T hate you...
#2: After 5 years of marriage, a child, and a move into my parents house, Randy still has the same forlorn depressed look in his eye for me that he had when we were dating...

What is it about getting a compliment on your spouse that makes you go, "Man you're hot!".. ?
Chai Thursday... how sweet it is...

Mrs. Ross Rokes

Being an elementary music teacher definitely has its ups and downs. Today alone I tied about 4 soggy Hello Kitty shoelaces, nursed 3 bloody noses and some bloody teeth back to health (I had recess duty... when will winter end?), and hugged a student who stopped by just to say, "Good job on your class yesterday Mrs. Ross.... you know... teaching and everything".

One thing will remain true about education for the rest of time:
Kids are FUNNY.

Here are some of my most recent funny kid faves:

Hat Day 2007- All of the chubby-faced kindergarten students file by into my classroom wearing their caps and baseball hats... the most memorable hat of the day? One of my kindergarten students wearing a hat that claims,
"I Luv Bikinis"....


Me: Who remembers how many beats a quarter note (Mr. Ta) gets?
Student Answer: My dad just put new carpet in our basement...


Me: These tiny little bells are called the Glockenspiel bells! Can everyone say "glockenspiel? Be careful not to spit! These bells were made in a country called"Germany"....
Student Reply: Hey! My grandma is from Germany!
Me: That's cool!
Student Reply: Wait... actually... I think she's from New JERSEY.


Dear Mrs. Ross, Music is:
Marvelous
Unstable
Special
Imposable... (yes- you read that correctly)
Cool

Music Rokes! I love you Mrs. Ross! You Roke!

PS: For those of you who don't understand what "Roke" means... Roke= "Rocks" in kid spelling.

Joy Comes in the Morning

About 7:50AM each morning, I pour some cocoa in my travel mug, give Randy and Wyn a goodbye kiss, and crunch ever so carefully to my ice covered van, hoping not to be clobbered by a falling icicle the size of Texas. The bittersweet beginning to a new day.

I have to say, as much as I appreciate my current 7-minute drive to work, I actually kind of miss my 30-minute trek to my previous school in Grand Rapids. The drive gave me time to relax, listen to some news and focus in on the day ahead before my time was consumed with kids and people.

7 minutes is definitely not enough time to do much of anything accept slurp down my cocoa (which almost always burns at least the first row of my taste buds off), and listen to a few minutes of cheesy Christian radio... which I find myself strangely addicted to....

What I DO find myself doing in my brief icy-breathed time in the car is gearing up for the worst- Who will annoy me today- What new challenge will I encounter next- What student will challenge my patience today? I'm not proud of it-but as mentioned in a previous entry, I have been in a funk- in desperate need of perspective... and frankly... a nice tropical vacation to help me recover from this Vitamin-D depriving weather!

I have been noticing another trend on my daily jaunt to work. It happens at about 7:55AM each morning, right after I pass the community church on the left. I come upon a boy walking to school. He looks to be around 3rd or 4th grade, is always alone, is about 3 feet too tall for his navy blue snowpants and looks as if he doesn't have a care in the world.

What I love more about this boy, is the fact that he wears black moon boots to complete the ensemble... I'm talking moon boots folks. He must have inherited them from a relative who was an 80's fashionista, because these are the real deal.

Funnier yet, is the fact that he wears his sagging backpack on the front of his body, with the corner of a heavy text book peeking out of a tattered hole. It's as if he is about to birth an 8th grade algebra book right there in the middle of the road!

I decided to name him... Weird, I know, but he's become a normal part of my morning routine, and he is no stranger. "Maury Moonboots- nice ta meet-cha", he'd say:)

What I love most about Maury, is that on most occasions, I see him singing. Always to himself, and always loudly. Again- the carefree thing. Though it is obvious to see that his clothes don't fit, and from what I might guess, doesn't plan on getting any new ones in the near future, it doesnt seem to matter a bit. He just sings and walks and sings and walks. Wow. Perspective.

I'm not talking about the whole, "Wow- I'm so thankful for all of my STUFF, because some people don't have as much STUFF as me. Poor poorer people". I'm talking about the kind of perspective that makes you go- "Wow. God is good, and I am aware of His work in this world thanks to Maury Moonboots".

I once looked in my rear view mirror after I had passed a singing Maury and saw him slip on some ice and make a very ungraceful awkward fall into the side of a snow bank. It took him a minute to get up, but when he did, he went about his business plodding along in his gravity-defying boots. As soon as I could see that he was OK, I began laughing. I laughed all the way to work... and am still laughing even now.

Children of All Ages!!

It is official: Wyndham is a KID. Not a baby- a bonafied -100%
All-American KID.

On Saturday night, Wyn had her very first Happy Meal from McDonald's (complete with a My Little Pony Treat- also known as "Poh-NEE").


Then it was on to the Shrine Circus, complete with Tigers, Camels, "El-phants", Clowns and Acrobats. Wyndham would not even stay in my lap she was so excited. This girl has no fear of loud music or lights. It was MOM and DAD that were on the verge of seizures every time a new act came out!


She even got to ride her first shetland pony... to the tune of $6!! Wow what a rip-off. Oh well. It was all about the memory-making!!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

March 2nd is Dr. Seuss's 103rd Birthday!
To celebrate, the 7 Kindergarten classes at my school performed a dramatic interpretation of "Green Eggs and Ham" complete with foxes, boxes, goats and boats.

3 Favorite Memories of this landmark day:

• Watching a student in the front row doing the "pee-pee dance" only to stop and laugh at Sam I Am during a "pin-drop moment"... Have you ever watched a child laugh... All wrinkly-faced and innocent? Love it...
• Leading my kids through songs that have words like "Goosemooseburger" and "Wuzzled Wheat". Dr. Seuss is the poet laureate of children's literature!
• When the music for "I like to Eat Green Eggs and Ham" came blasting over the PA- one of my esteemed kindergarten performers shouted "Oh no! Not THIS song!" Hey-- at least he's honest.

Is this really my job? It's like I've died and gone to muppet-heaven sometimes...

Ignorance is Bliss...

It has been said that ignorance is bliss... and in many ways, I suppose it is true. When we aren't aware of situations around us, whether by choice or circumstance, we can avoid the harsh realties that could potentially change our lives forever...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I have been in a "mood" for the past several weeks. So long- I think the mood is now a "funk" and has stretched from weeks into months. Teaching elementary music in addition to trying to balance motherhood and marriage, has been the most challenging life experience I have ever had. Though I truly love teaching younger students, I often am teaching in the library, hallway, and wherever else they can find an empty room as I am one of those "nomad" teachers- practically a teacher on a cart if you will.

Every teacher has unique burdens to bear, but what can I say? The violins are playing my song... I have been in pity-land for a greater part of this school year. While I know that many of my concerns and frustrations are completely founded, I have been in my own little world- mainly concerned about myself, and how terribly inconvenienced I am when I am asked to be flexible.

I'm ignorant to everyone but me... maybe not blissfully ignorant... more... disgruntled and ignorant.

One recent dreary day, I drug myself into a friend's classroom to discuss an issue I was having, and secretly, to get a little sympathy about how hard I've got it. Before I could even get into my sob story about the challenges of teaching elementary music, she began telling me how tired she was... how very tired, and very down she was.

This teacher is normally very optimistic, so to hear her come right out with this statement gave me immediate reason to pause. She went on to tell me that she is overwhelmed by the amount of students she has this year that are dealing with poverty, dysfunctional family structures, terminal illness and abuse... more specifically, sexual abuse. She relayed in confidence, some horrifying stories of incest, physical abuse, and drug addiction that some of her students are facing each day.

I stood there in her empty classroom, completely stunned by what I was hearing.

So the kid that inconveniences my day by being disruptive and rude--- is being abused?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I have a student who is as cute a bug, funny, charming.... and naughty... constantly naughty. This particular student talks about 3 decibles louder than the average person, and from time to time... gets on my last thread of a nerve! I have actually asked his classroom teacher if he has ever had his hearing checked, thinking that if I can't keep his "lips zipped" during class, at least we could bring the volume down into a tolerable range!

Little did I know...this student... this student is one of the students. His hearing has in fact been damaged- along with his vocal chords. What could cause this kind of injury- and to such a young child?

Screaming.

The kind of screaming that happens when a child is being used- thrown into walls, and locked in closets. Screaming that damages the voice beyond repair... even at the young age of five.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I am no longer ignorant to this. In light of this knowledge, my world has grown bigger and now encompasses the pain of this child. My problems pale greatly in comparison. I'm throwing myself a pity party- but I'm the only one invited.

With knowledge comes perspective- What am I doing with my life that is enhancing the quality of this child's life? What I am doing each day to gradually unravel the lies that he has been told for the past five years? Why am I wasting so much time caring about WHICH room I teach in, and not spending more time caring about WHO I'm teaching?

God never promised that our journey would be easy- I know that full-well. While many recent Christian publications would have us to believe that we can have it all- our best life "now", wealth and happiness... I would wager a guess that they are allowing themselves to live a blissfully ignorant life. Ignorant to the pain, poverty and abuse that is all around us- Behind closed doors, and in plain sight.

We are all guilty of it. It's like being on a perpetual youth group outing. You know the kind:
Feel bad for poor people- Serve poor people soup- Stand aghast at the poverty stricken outcasts- Board the bus back to "normal land"- Feel bad about yourself for a few days- Slip back into self-centered coma that gets you through life.

I cannot- will not- allow myself to live that way anymore. Not when there are so many unmet needs all around us...

Lord Jesus- take my life- help me to take action against injustice and shine light in the darkest places. Help me not to live in ignorance, but to live with an awareness of the broken world around me. Please grant me a heart of compassion and steer me towards fragile souls in need of your love. You wore the chains so we could be free... You wore the chains so we ALL could be free...