Expanding

Since I am no longer a public school teacher, my life has expanded in ways I never imagined. My days are no longer constrained with a commute to and from work, restrictions imposed by strict standards surrounding the work of a public classroom teacher, or remaining within the confines of a building for 8-10 hours a day.

Though I thoroughly enjoyed all that I once did, I’m no longer doing that. So, I get to shape my days in a different manner. 

The other morning, after swimming and while basking in the warm, dry heat of the sauna at the health club, I had a conversation with an acquaintance, whom I know only in the context of the health club.  

Like me, she swims at 5:00 a.m. and attends the same yoga classes that I do. She knows that I am no longer a classroom teacher, but that instead, I am instructing more yoga classes, teaching adult swim lessons, and facilitating water aerobics at the health club.  

Expressing my interest in wanting to volunteer at the library as a tutor, I asked her if she’d ever volunteered there. 

“No,” she said, and added, “But I just love watching you recreate yourself.” 

“I don’t think I’m recreating myself,” I responded. “I’m just expanding myself.”

Opportunity to Enlarge

I am grateful for the freedom that I have to enlarge, stretch and broaden into more of who I am. There is more for me to do, and more lives I get to influence. But, I’m only responding to what the word of God says I get to do. 

Since we are never fully acquainted with the eternal God, God’s word inspires us to become better and better acquainted with God and his ways for us. 

Learning to walk by faith and live in concert with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control is never done. Everyday, regardless of our surroundings or who we are around, every day is a new day to practice allowing these virtues to flow from us and out toward others. 

Because God’s thoughtfulness and goodness is unlimited, we can always become more and more familiar with this goodness and kindness; receiving it for ourselves and extending it to others wherever we are and whatever we find ourselves doing. 

Why Bother?

Why bother growing? The greatest privilege of a lifetime is to be who God created us to be; unique individuals who keep growing, expanding, and enlarging in the ways of God.