unPlanned

On this blizzard-y Tuesday evening, I just received a phone call from the principal that we will be having our third snow day in a row tomorrow. Hmm. What a change in plans from the week I was originally anticipating. Whatever you will, Lord. 

As I prayed a rosary and said evening prayer earlier, it dawned on me that yesterday and today have kind of been the weekend I did not have. For I spent Thursday-Sunday in Manhattan at the annual agricultural educators mid-winter symposium as well as performing bridesmaid tasks for a bridal shower and bachelor-ette party. It was several days outside of the normalcy that I have developed in this small town where I now teach. The lack of normalcy tended to put me a bit on edge, but also blessed me with numerous conversations and time with several beautiful daughters of God I am able to call my friends. A brief stop home and a trip to see Grandpa at the nursing home brought me back to my generally empty  yet somewhat homey apartment. 

Fortunately, I felt as though I used my time wisely, yesterday, walking to the post office, central office, and school. I managed to switch out the desk in my office and sort through all of the ideas that came from symposium, creating a to-do stack for the next time I return to school. Today was much different. While I started my day well, I soon found myself lying back in my bed for an extra three hours of sleep after having been awake for an hour. I really don't know where most of the day went. I'm assuming it was the promptings of God's grace for me to continue to read the book I began reading last night. My sister and I have a habit of exchanging good books we read, or just giving the other an extra copy. I acquire this book from Laura during the Manhattan weekend. I've read it in less than 24 hours - all 264 pages. Makes for a pretty good snow day. 

The name of the book: unPlanned by Abby Johnson. "The dramatic true story of a former Planned Parenthood leader's eye-opening journey across the life line." I'm always a sucker for hearing stories of how God is working in people's life. This story was no exception. In fact, I couldn't hardly put it down. And I didn't, until I had finished. 

Having only every attended one March for Life event in Topeka in January of 2010, the pro-life/pro-choice battle has never been something I've been keenly drawn to. I've never prayed outside of an abortion clinic, and have never traveled with the thousands who descend upon Washington, D.C. (a link to a friend's post about her experience) every January in hopes of revoking the Roe vs. Wade court case that made abortion legal in the United States in 1973. Even in attending the FOCUS Conference in 2010, I opted to attend a talk on fighting relativism rather than pro-life (it might even have been Abby Johnson giving the talk I passed up). Frankly, I see a larger battle than just the pro-life movement; a battle of love for human beings; a battle of good and evil, right and wrong, kindness and aggression. I'm not saying I won't ever stand on the front line of a March for Life. I'm not saying I don't pray for an end to abortion. I'm saying there is a deeper call to loving the whole person. To quote the book about the Coalition for Life: "They cared about each woman as a whole person - an eternal person - in the context of her family, her spiritual needs, her long-range physical and emotional health. They offered solutions that would enhance a woman's life over the long term." 

I'm realize that I face this battle of tough love with my students. I'm not there to solve situational crises with my students. I'm there to help them as whole persons - eternal persons. Pray, Lord, that I can be your instrument in their lives. 

I don't yet see why God called me to spend a majority of my day reading this book, or why this post has taken the direction it has. Perhaps He will shed more light on this topic in the coming days and weeks. Perhaps it is to grow me as a whole person - an eternal person. 

- Ever in aww of our awesome God.