I must be crazy abandoning the option of taking the Montessori training while I was in college.
Being a new immigrant with limited English skill, taking the regular E.C.E. course was enough hurdle for me. Thinking about the straight discipline of Montessori, down to every movement was enough to make me sick to my stomach. So, out the window it went. My freedom was more important.
Fifteen years later, I regretted, I lamented. I didn't know creativity and enjoyment of life work better alongside with discipline. What other people miss in Montessori discipline may be made up by working hard on a sport, an instrument, a dance class etc. Inorder to do well in all those things, one has to follow strict discipline and play within the rule before one can be good enough to apply creativity.

Now I see Montessori or discipline as a dance of life, children do well dance through life according to the rhythem that is built into their hearts. Others flounder. It is because Montessori has a wholelistic philosophy and mission which others so lack and fall short. It place the highest value on a human soul and the endowment of life which is so full and complete, not to add on, not to recreate, yet to be unfold through discipline. One can sob reading through Dr. Montessori's books as to think what the world have done to our children without discipline.

Don't let the past keep us from being where we could have been. If we are honest with ourselves, we all have failours. Focusing on other people's failour can only distract us from forging ourselves forward..............to let God help us to be a better person and to make this world a better place for mankind. I can think of the example of young Joseph in the Bible. He was sold by his older brothers to become a slave in Egypt. God was still in control when Joseph kept His law in his heart. God turned the table around and Joseph was made great. So often God subject a person under harsh realities to refine his character. Those who refuse to face up to it require no character. Afterall, God says, 'Vengence is mine, I will repay'.

Young Scott Dicky gave a sermon on 'work' on Sunday. I must say he has more wisdom than some of us who are approaching retirement.. ........that 'work' is not defined by 'pay' or 'no pay'; it is a service to God no matter what we do and a wonderful place to see God at work. Work transcends the realm of a daily hohum experience if we approach it with a seeker's attitude, looking for divine intervention, be it a change of my own attitude or others, little miracles sprinkling here and there. Rapture of joy for new breakthrough.

Three people shared their personal experience after the sermon. I enjoyed them all, particularly Myra Ottewell's who is a rather young retired teacher, who has the passion of making a documentary of the the black and white folks of her native land Mississippi. God engineers different people across her path when her idea was conceived. and that it blossooms into to a full scale project with professional help from PBS (www.mississippiremixed.com). Life is no more exciting than when we know that God is working alongside with us cracking all the impossible codes.

It will be exciting to see the documentry, to understand how God intervened through history.
How truth triumph over hyprocracy of religion which Jesus detested so much.

John is without a job title now that he is done with Alpha. Yet I know he is working to prepare for the next advanture which we know not what yet. God is faithful. Income tax is not a hurdle this year. School is filled this month. Hit the figure 7. This is probably the highest I can get until government drops the support next year.
Side walk is still an issue after we showed up at the council meeting. Can't believe they are so blantant to write off the majority's wishes. Thank God, he knows the answer. It is good that Babara talks about what we can get out of this struggle even if sidewalk show up at our driveway. For in him there is no failour.