Labour Day week-end. The unofficial end to summer for millions of kids, teachers, school administrators, parents, grandparents and all who took the time to rest, relax, ponder, refresh. Many supervised, cared for, and experienced vacation memories with family. Now is the time for getting ready for change and new beginnings. Things definitely change after labour day. I think the old notion of not wearing white after this day has gone out the window! But some things will always remain the same. Students getting used to new teachers and routines. Teachers hoping to have good influence with new students in academics, social awareness and assisting in developing ever-inquiring minds. Parents’ routines return after a summer of flexibility. Grandparents who have been child minders now sit and have an extra cup of coffee and thank God they had the energy to be with and know their grandchildren over the warm summer months.
September has always been like the start of a new year even though we all know calendar wise, this is not the case. Just like New Year’s resolutions, we plan ahead and want to start anew. Are you ready to go? What things have you been planning for the coming months now that “summer” as we know it has ended?
I passed a field full of school buses the other day, sitting, waiting, cleaned, tuned up and ready to move. When my daughter was a child, she used to say that the buses were there sleeping for the summer. I must admit, however, although I have retired from the academic world, seeing those buses gave me a twinge in my stomach about the coming week. Actually I had two twinges. One was that sinking feeling that I always got when it was time to go back harkening back to my younger days. You know, that “I won’t sleep tonight” feeling. Not wanting to let the sun go down the night before school “trying to play outside until the very end” feeling. The other was one of anticipation and thoughts of new challenge and direction. One does not exist without the other. Trepidation, anxiety, caution and hanging on to the old is pretty familiar. But when we make up our minds that we are ready to move forward and let things play out and carry those uncertain feelings with us into something new, the two mesh together to create a blessing for you. Something different, something unexpected or something allowing growth.
Are you ready to move? Like the school buses, are you ready to hit the road travelling towards places of change, learning and new beginnings. There is no time like the present. What are you going to do after Labour day?
Where is your personal school bus taking you this year?
Jim Dunn
Thanks and Blessèd Blending
Please find my new book CrossWord Christian, Keys to the Puzzle of Discipleship by Jim Dunn available at the below locations
(Canada)
Available at www.novalis.ca
(USA) http://www.twentythirdpublications.com/
Or Toronto Bookstore:
Joseph’s Inspirational at
http://www.josephsinspirational.ca/
Thanks and Blessèd Blending
Jim Dunn
September 2, 2017