Incoming!

A beautiful wedding does not just appear out of thin air. It is a well-orchestrated event that is often considered long before the bride has even met her intended. Each detail is thought to be important. The bride has only one chance to make it perfect, and that is her goal, perfection!

Everyone anticipates the beauty of a wedding, but an overflow of mixed emotions may also be expected. It is a day of both laughter and tears. Some of the tears are a direct result of the unrealistic expectations that come with the planning of this day. Of course, with more details involved, there are more elements with the potential to go awry.

My husband, Jack, performed a wedding in which the bridal couple were to light a unity candle. This is a common tradition in many weddings. There is typically a candelabra with three candles. One represents the groom’s family, one represents the bride’s. The candle, in the middle, remains unlit until the couple comes to light it together. Each one takes the candle, representing their family. At the same time, they bring their candles to meet at the center one, which they light together, representing the unity of their families.

This is a meaningful moment in the ceremony, and the couple wanted everything to be perfect. They chose to use dripless candles, providing a sleeve around them, to avoid getting burned by candle wax. When the moment came they each started to retrieve their candle. The groom, inadvertently, pushed down on his. When he did, the spring mechanism was activated. It shot the candle sleeve through the congregation like an attacking missile. I half expected to hear someone yell out, “Incoming!” There was an immediate intake of breath followed by laughter. The sacred moment was ruined, but it insured that this wedding would be memorable for all who attended.

We might do well to remember, there is no perfection this side of heaven. And, often, we find greater joy in the flaws that show up as uninvited guests to a wedding.

Mathematically Calculate the Attention Span of your Student

Memory Series: Creating Interest/Attention Span/Layering on a Big Idea

1.    Creating Interest

2.    Calculating Attention Span

3.    Layering on a Big Idea

·       Create interest! If a learner is not motivated in the first few minutes, very little is likely to be accomplished. Timing is vital!  Think of a hook to draw the learner in. You want to create a level of curiosity. For example, if studying the Second World War, the day you initiate the unit, students might enter the room to the sounds of the McGuire Sisters or the instrumental renderings of Benny Goodman. By doing this, students are immediately curious and a mood has been set for the era that they are about to study.

·       Be aware of the attention span of your student. This formula should give a foundation for judging it. Attention span can be determined by age + 2, or functional age + 2. This maxes out at approximately age 18. Therefore, no one can be expected to listen with complete focus for more than 20 minutes. After the learner’s attention span has been reached, a brief mental or physical break can make a huge difference in terms of bringing the student back to the topic. Staying with the WWII study, after 18 minutes of lecture with a class of high school juniors, you might allow students to get in groups to read a newspaper report or a personal letter or diary entry from someone from that period. You might have pre-determined questions for each group to discuss after reading the short piece. The subject hasn’t changed, but students have moved (increasing necessary oxygen to the brain, thus greater focus), and through their discussions they now have some ownership in their learning. Once again, you are increasing the chances of long-term memory.

·       Layering on a Big Idea, that really captures the hearts and minds of learners, accelerates already good learning. For example, if a class is already interested in learning about World War II (Big Idea), then a historical novel set in that era will only add to the overall interest.

Remember, if one’s attention is lost, then memory is not really the object, because the student is not yet engaged.

Seeking God

Seeking You

It’s Sunday. After writing this, I will prepare to go to church. We have a fellowship of believers that I love. We have music to lift the spirit and preaching that is solidly consistent with the Word. I have no complaints. However, God, you call me to serve outside those walls.

In the past, I thought I knew what you expected of me based on the gifts that you endowed me with. But, now I question things looking through older, more experienced lens. I am now a senior adult. I am in a new season of life. I have less energy, and I feel somewhat lost in this constantly changing culture. I don’t know if I have a viable role. Have I any relevancy? My son says that I am naïve, and I don’t deny that. The harshness, often cruelty, which is now reported on the daily news, is more than my mind, my heart, can comprehend. How can I make a difference in a society that no longer resonates with me?

But, I have You. You see; You comprehend; You created me for relationship and service. Therefore, I am relevant. You continue to keep me here. You continue to give me opportunities. You have purpose for me; I must find it. I cannot find it alone. You show me, and I will try to follow. You will not call me to anything that You have not equipped me, resourced me, to do.

So, it’s time to go to church. Help me to worship You in truth. Help me see a little more, to understand a bit more clearly. Give me inspiration, give me hope, give me direction, give me passion, give me impetus. Give me direction and opportunity to do Your perfect will right where You want me to serve. Help me to paint a clear picture of You for others to see and worship.

It all goes back to You. It all goes toward You. This is why I will now get ready for church, to join with other believers, seeking You.

The Groom...Down for the Count

I suppose that whenever we try to bring great dignity to an occasion, we unintentionally invite a certain amount of turmoil into the scenario. Our lives are normally rather relaxed, so a particularly formal situation brings a certain amount of stress and unease. We begin to consider all of the possible things that we might do to ruin the event, and set our minds up to do that which we least desire.

Perhaps that is what happened at this wedding. The groom was particularly nervous. He was not accustomed to formal settings, and the whole event had unnerved him. He had accepted all of the plans in an effort to please his bride, but he was uneasy as he stepped into the church.

The wedding was carefully planned, and everything was beautiful. There were two elaborate candelabras set on either side of the bride and groom as they stood before the pastor to take their vows. As the minister asked the groom if he would take this woman as his wife, the groom, instead of answering, fainted. As he went down, he hit one of the candelabras and it was going down, too. The pastor had to make a quick decision, catch the groom or the candles? The groom hit the floor with a thud, but the church was saved from fire.

1940's wedding photo

After a few minutes of recovery, the groom returned to his spot by his bride. They made their vows, and they were married.

The moral to this story? When taking a step outside your comfort zone, just realize that it’s just a moment before you’ll once again be at ease OR maybe, just make sure there are no potential fire hazards around you when you go down for the count.