Sunday, May 30, 2010

Dashboard Dust--Everpresent

My school year is coming to an end this week. Growing up, I never realized my teachers looked forward to summers as much as I did. As excited as I am to be free of the responsibility of another year, this school year's end is bringing a whole new change. My husband and I are moving back to my roots--Allen Park, Michigan. I'm returning to the school I grew up at, to the church I grew up at, to many of the people I grew up with, and I'll be taking over the room of the man who first inspired me to be a history teacher.

This change inspired the title of my blog--Dust on the Dashboard. Have you taken a moment to notice that ever-present, ever-annoying dust that is especially nasty in the Michigan summer sun? I equate the dust to the many different avenues God uses to change me into who He wants me to be. The changes in my life are ever-present (and ever-annoying, as my sinful attitudes want to think) as the dust on my car's dashboard. I'll reflect on my life one day and think, "Wow, everything is great. My job is going smoothly, my house is in order, my students have been on track, and my husband is wonderful!" and then, God smacks me with a change. Just like when I clean the dust off my car's dashboard--it's clean for about a day, and then the dust is back.

All this "dust" has been challenging me. I have to be flexible to God's plans. God has moved Brad and me twice, going on three times, in our two years of marriage. He's blessed me with incredible students who challenge me everyday (in good ways!), and He's given me students who challenge my patience and love everyday. God's used many forms of "dust" to change me the past few years, and this blog will be the continuing account of the other forms of "dust" I'll encounter.