Like Preschoolers
“Ms. Schawn, I rode in my grandpa’s tractor yesterday!”
“I saw a butterfly in my yard.”
“My boogies were green and I couldn't go to school. Do you have green boogies, Ms. Schawn? Cuz then you can’t go to school.”
Preschoolers come running into Sunday school. They stop to talk on their way to their table groups, telling me the most important things in their lives.
“My dad played catch with me.”
“I ate dirt and it was bad.”
They gather for preschool large-group time that I lead. The bright eyes of 30 preschoolers are staring at me. Full of joy and hope, they are ready for 30 minutes of Bible fun!
This is the last large group of the year. I look at the sweet faces in the sea of kids and I am filled with pride. We have spent a year together, meeting every Sunday. We have learned five Bible verses. We can recite them as a group, thirty kids, saying words and doing actions, sometimes singing.
They are so excited to share what they know. They know the words well. It’s very possible that they have hidden these words in their hearts. I am thankful to have been a part of their faith walk.
Tiny hands reach forward, showing the numbers as we begin the last of the verses, Ephesians 5:1-2, set to song. We make the one with one finger and the two with the other. We scoop our arms up reaching, for the sky as we sing “Therefore be imitators of God”. Thirty pairs of hands rise in anticipation, then little fingers emphatically point to the ceiling! Unexpectedly, the thought occurs that they are imitating me.
I catch my breath. Suddenly, my eyes grow misty, overwhelmed by the innocence in the room. They follow so willingly. Every action, every word. Week after week, they have been imitating me. Without reservation. With abandon. Arms raised.
Now, marching. The song continues, “walk in love,” and I continue to lead, but my mind is in another place.
And I am humbled. Questions abound. Do I follow Christ this way? Am I unreserved in my willingness to follow him? Do I walk in love as Christ loved me? Am I worth imitating?
A morning with preschoolers can preach to your soul more than a Sunday sermon. They gave me a new insight into our memory verse.
Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
It’s a call to action. Imitate God. But when we consider how we do this, it seems less like a command and more like a natural response to a relationship. How do we do this? Just like preschoolers. Just like sweet, trusting children who follow with their whole hearts. Without reservation. With abandon.
And why do they follow so willingly? Why did my little preschoolers follow me? Because they love me. They trust me. They know that I am going to lead them in a way that is a benefit to them. They have not cognitively thought through this concept. They have not actively made a decision. Instead, they respond with delight to a relationship that I have initiated with them.
There is a reason that Jesus said, “To such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 19:14) It is not just that the kingdom belongs to little children. It does. But also, in them we see what it looks like to follow, heart and soul. The kingdom belongs to those who, in faith, respond with delight to a relationship that God has initiated with us. We follow and imitate Christ.
The verse ends with the beautiful reminder that “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.” What a gift! His gift of love and mercy works in our hearts. He loves. He initiates. Like the darling preschoolers in large-group, we long to imitate him!
Do I Need a Life Coach?
I am in the middle seat of the row on a plane bound for Salt Lake City when I suddenly close my book and look up. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. I look out the window, which the sleeping passenger next to me has left open, and try to settle myself. I had been engrossed in a book, sucked into the story, and I had not noticed the nausea rising until it seemed too late.
It wasn't the story. It was turbulence.
The plane bumps and jolts along. It is trying to decide whether it is a 2025 roller coaster or a 1925 Model T Ford on a farm road. With sudden drops that make your body fall but your stomach rise, and then a series of hard bumps to jostle all of your internal organs, I wonder how many other people are struggling. How long will it be before I can get back to my book?
I sigh and glance down at the back of the book, now sitting closed in my lap. There is a picture of the author. He looks like a nice, regular guy. I read a few words about him. He's an author and a life coach.
I look back out the window and begin to think. Life coach. I have very mixed feelings about this career. Get ready for a bumpy ride on a flight called "My Feelings about Life Coaching."
First, I feel like everyone is a life coach these days. I have two homeschool mom friends who are life coaches. I am sure they are great life coaches. They are both wonderful people, wonderful friends. But how did they become life coaches? Why are they life coaches? (Honestly, I should interview them so I can find out.) And why is this guy on the back of the book a life coach? He's an author. A fiction author.
When I think LIFE COACH, I think of motivational speakers like Tony Robbins or Robin Sharma.
Second, is it easy to become a life coach? Cynicism is never a pretty thing. I feel vulnerable admitting that I am somewhat skeptical about this career. (And if you are my life coach friends reading this, I am so sorry I have these feelings, and I hope you will love me anyway.)
Third, could I become a life coach? I mean, this is my gap year. Maybe it's something I should explore. Maybe I should try out.
Finally, do I need a life coach?
OK. I don't know these answers exactly. But during my gap year, I think a life coach would help me reflect on what I value most and what I want to pursue. They might have me take a giant sheet of paper and write all my hopes and dreams in colorful Sharpie markers. Then, I would probably write all of my skills on separate Post-it notes. Then, I could match my hopes and dreams with my skills, sticking my post-its all over my giant dream sheet. All of this would be done at a workshop with other clients of my life coach. We would stop for lunch and chat and laugh, and discover - surprise - we are connected in some way and can help launch each other's careers. After lunch, I would review my dream sheet and write down my five biggest takeaways from the morning. Then. I would think. I would think about which one I wanted to pursue first. I would circle it with my favorite periwinkle Midline highlighter and then pick a slightly contrasting color to write my next step. I would give myself one small, doable homework assignment to accomplish before my life coach and I meet again, probably on Zoom.
Of course, I'm not a life coach. I just made this up based on TV and movies. But, honestly, it sounds like a pretty good idea.
I glance around the plane. I look back down at the book.
I'm in the middle seat on this plane, and I am in the middle seat in life. I'm not going anywhere right now, on purpose. Life is a little bumpy right now, and if I think too much about it, I get a little nauseous. So, it's time to look up and take some deep breaths.
It's time to dream a little, think a little, and assign myself some homework.
First things first, pray! I'm going to pray about every detail, and invite others to pray too! You can pray with me. If you are on a crazy life journey, let me know. I'm willing to pray for you.
I don't know if I'll be any good at it, but I think I just became my own life coach.
It wasn't the story. It was turbulence.
The plane bumps and jolts along. It is trying to decide whether it is a 2025 roller coaster or a 1925 Model T Ford on a farm road. With sudden drops that make your body fall but your stomach rise, and then a series of hard bumps to jostle all of your internal organs, I wonder how many other people are struggling. How long will it be before I can get back to my book?
I sigh and glance down at the back of the book, now sitting closed in my lap. There is a picture of the author. He looks like a nice, regular guy. I read a few words about him. He's an author and a life coach.
I look back out the window and begin to think. Life coach. I have very mixed feelings about this career. Get ready for a bumpy ride on a flight called "My Feelings about Life Coaching."
First, I feel like everyone is a life coach these days. I have two homeschool mom friends who are life coaches. I am sure they are great life coaches. They are both wonderful people, wonderful friends. But how did they become life coaches? Why are they life coaches? (Honestly, I should interview them so I can find out.) And why is this guy on the back of the book a life coach? He's an author. A fiction author.
When I think LIFE COACH, I think of motivational speakers like Tony Robbins or Robin Sharma.
Second, is it easy to become a life coach? Cynicism is never a pretty thing. I feel vulnerable admitting that I am somewhat skeptical about this career. (And if you are my life coach friends reading this, I am so sorry I have these feelings, and I hope you will love me anyway.)
Third, could I become a life coach? I mean, this is my gap year. Maybe it's something I should explore. Maybe I should try out.
Finally, do I need a life coach?
OK. I don't know these answers exactly. But during my gap year, I think a life coach would help me reflect on what I value most and what I want to pursue. They might have me take a giant sheet of paper and write all my hopes and dreams in colorful Sharpie markers. Then, I would probably write all of my skills on separate Post-it notes. Then, I could match my hopes and dreams with my skills, sticking my post-its all over my giant dream sheet. All of this would be done at a workshop with other clients of my life coach. We would stop for lunch and chat and laugh, and discover - surprise - we are connected in some way and can help launch each other's careers. After lunch, I would review my dream sheet and write down my five biggest takeaways from the morning. Then. I would think. I would think about which one I wanted to pursue first. I would circle it with my favorite periwinkle Midline highlighter and then pick a slightly contrasting color to write my next step. I would give myself one small, doable homework assignment to accomplish before my life coach and I meet again, probably on Zoom.
Of course, I'm not a life coach. I just made this up based on TV and movies. But, honestly, it sounds like a pretty good idea.
I glance around the plane. I look back down at the book.
I'm in the middle seat on this plane, and I am in the middle seat in life. I'm not going anywhere right now, on purpose. Life is a little bumpy right now, and if I think too much about it, I get a little nauseous. So, it's time to look up and take some deep breaths.
It's time to dream a little, think a little, and assign myself some homework.
First things first, pray! I'm going to pray about every detail, and invite others to pray too! You can pray with me. If you are on a crazy life journey, let me know. I'm willing to pray for you.
I don't know if I'll be any good at it, but I think I just became my own life coach.
Endings and Then What?
What do you do when the work you have poured your soul into comes to an end? When the project of your dreams is completed? When the passion you pursued comes to its conclusion?
What do you do when you have spent your life, yes your LIFE, in pursuit of one thing, and it's over?
I can tell you how it feels.
You celebrate, but inside, there is a hollow ache. Right in the center of your being. A tangible hole. An unexpected flow of grief hits. Waves of sadness grip your heart as your mind cries "It's over. I don't want it to be over." So, you smile all the smiles, you cheer all the cheers, but, alone, you cry tears that don't seem to release you.
There is no going back.
This is where I am. I have graduated my last homeschool student. All of the plays, games, lessons and school events have ended. All of the time planning lessons and pouring over books is finished. All of the teaching and coaching has come to an end. It's over.
What is next?
I could get a job. Finding something to do is not the problem. The real struggle is finding something that will fill my soul. People say, "Pray about it," and, oh, I HAVE been praying. Praying and Praying. At some point, prayer needs to turn into action. Otherwise I will be praying about what to do for the next twenty five years!
I am 50 years old and I am starting fresh. I am seeking my next life goal. I am seeking a new purpose, one that is as meaningful as the first. Yet, I don't know where to begin.
Like a night hike in the forest, I cannot see very far. The trees seem tall, but the surroundings are slightly familiar. I have done this before. Once, long ago, I figured out what to invest my life in. I was much younger then. More invincible. More unstoppable. Still, I have done this before. Once upon a time, I found my way through the trees. Though this is not quite the same forest, the feelings are familiar. I am older now. More experienced. More cautious. Yet, the process may be the same. Little by little, I will find my way.
Maybe you have come to a turn in the road, a life change: new baby, new job, new location, new something. Maybe you too are at the end of something. You might be wondering, too.
Where is our confidence when everything is changing? In the One who does not change.
I read verses like Micah 3:6 - "For I am the Lord, I do not change." and verses from "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" float through my mind and ease my heart. "Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not. As thou hast been thou forever will be."
I am looking and listening for opportunities around me. I am praying. My hands are open. I know I will take action steps to try some new things. As I take action, in my heart and soul, I will wait on the Lord. I will remember Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord: be strong, and let your heart take courage ; wait for the Lord!" You can take this verse with you too.
And I will find my way...to my new life goal. My calling.
What do you do when you have spent your life, yes your LIFE, in pursuit of one thing, and it's over?
I can tell you how it feels.
You celebrate, but inside, there is a hollow ache. Right in the center of your being. A tangible hole. An unexpected flow of grief hits. Waves of sadness grip your heart as your mind cries "It's over. I don't want it to be over." So, you smile all the smiles, you cheer all the cheers, but, alone, you cry tears that don't seem to release you.
There is no going back.
This is where I am. I have graduated my last homeschool student. All of the plays, games, lessons and school events have ended. All of the time planning lessons and pouring over books is finished. All of the teaching and coaching has come to an end. It's over.
What is next?
I could get a job. Finding something to do is not the problem. The real struggle is finding something that will fill my soul. People say, "Pray about it," and, oh, I HAVE been praying. Praying and Praying. At some point, prayer needs to turn into action. Otherwise I will be praying about what to do for the next twenty five years!
I am 50 years old and I am starting fresh. I am seeking my next life goal. I am seeking a new purpose, one that is as meaningful as the first. Yet, I don't know where to begin.
Like a night hike in the forest, I cannot see very far. The trees seem tall, but the surroundings are slightly familiar. I have done this before. Once, long ago, I figured out what to invest my life in. I was much younger then. More invincible. More unstoppable. Still, I have done this before. Once upon a time, I found my way through the trees. Though this is not quite the same forest, the feelings are familiar. I am older now. More experienced. More cautious. Yet, the process may be the same. Little by little, I will find my way.
Maybe you have come to a turn in the road, a life change: new baby, new job, new location, new something. Maybe you too are at the end of something. You might be wondering, too.
Where is our confidence when everything is changing? In the One who does not change.
I read verses like Micah 3:6 - "For I am the Lord, I do not change." and verses from "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" float through my mind and ease my heart. "Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not. As thou hast been thou forever will be."
I am looking and listening for opportunities around me. I am praying. My hands are open. I know I will take action steps to try some new things. As I take action, in my heart and soul, I will wait on the Lord. I will remember Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord: be strong, and let your heart take courage ; wait for the Lord!" You can take this verse with you too.
And I will find my way...to my new life goal. My calling.