{"id":3198,"date":"2017-05-23T09:00:19","date_gmt":"2017-05-23T16:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/insideout.insidewp.test\/?p=3198"},"modified":"2017-05-23T09:00:19","modified_gmt":"2017-05-23T16:00:19","slug":"its-been-a-good-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abbotsfordchristian.com\/insideout\/2017\/05\/23\/its-been-a-good-run\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s Been a Good Run!"},"content":{"rendered":"

As I see the runway steadily approaching and becoming clearer in the distance, I find myself contemplating the landing less and less. I\u2019ve lost count of the number of times I\u2019ve been asked, \u201cSo how are you feeling about your retirement?\u201d<\/em> or something similar. This is a very difficult question and one, truthfully, that bears a variety of answers.<\/p>\n

Over a Lifetime<\/span><\/h2>\n

On the surface, I won\u2019t miss (I think) the mundane, day to day jobs that are both necessary and cheerless. Every \u201cjob\u201d has them and they must be done but they are not really part of the challenging and highly rewarding mission called \u201cteaching.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve shared with some that it will be strange, (possibly difficult) to drive past the ACSS campus and not pull in to begin a day of constant interaction with students. It will be very strange when, in several years, the majority of people in the building will have no memory of me.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve worked at ACS for most of my life. I was a student here. Most of my memories are connected to this place. When I was younger and knew everything, I was sometimes dismayed that older teachers stayed as long as they did.<\/span><\/strong> Why didn\u2019t they make room for newer, more current (less old) teachers? I think I understand why some of them didn\u2019t seem to want to leave.<\/p>\n

Agents of Change<\/span><\/h2>\n

The face of education is changing. This is good, I think. I smile or sometimes shudder a little when I consider some of the practices that were common in classrooms when I started teaching.<\/p>\n

I think the biggest difference between now and then (sounding old now) is the increased time that we spend questioning our methods. Why do we do what we do? Does it work?<\/p>\n

Is there a better way?<\/p>\n

Parents can take much comfort in this constant review, revision and exploration.<\/p>\n

The search for better ways to facilitate student learning will result in students being agents of change in a world that increasingly needs the efforts of creative, collaborative and loving Christ-followers.<\/p>\n

Uncluttering my life <\/span><\/h2>\n

There are some things that I would like to pursue. I am still passionate about most things relating to education. There are some volunteer opportunities which may allow me to tap into this passion. I have some personal interests that I\u2019ve put on hold until I had the time to pursue them.<\/p>\n

Well, now\u2019s the time!<\/p>\n

There are some things that I\u2019ve put off because \u201cI\u2019m too busy.\u201d I guess they are on my list now as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Brenda and I would like to do some travelling. The usual things that retired people do. Part of me wonders if this is \u201chow it ends?\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hopefully not. Hopefully, this is how it begins.<\/p>\n

When I discuss this with people, someone generally mentions Ecclesiastes and I know its truth.<\/p>\n

I anticipate a time when Brenda and I can grow together in a way uncluttered by the myriad of events, tasks and trials that a career in education brings with it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Heartfelt blessings<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s fitting that I conclude with a word of thanks. Everybody does. \u201cI\u2019d like to thank\u2026<\/em>\u201d I\u2019ve worked here so long that I struggle to recall much of what I could call \u201cthe early years.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Normal thanks seem sort of inadequate.<\/p>\n

Sort of like describing the light show that plays on the side of a mountain on a summer evening as \u201creally nice.\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe you\u2019ll understand if the best I can say to the students, teachers, parents and everyone else that I\u2019ve worked with over the years is, \u201cThanks for your support.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Brenda and I have felt the prayers offered for the school and staff. We\u2019ve been blessed by your children and the trust and encouragement you gave us. If we have made any difference in the lives of students, rest assured that you have made vast differences (for the better) in our lives.<\/p>\n

Your memories will stay with us! Go with God.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a good run!\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As I see the runway steadily approaching and becoming clearer in the distance, I find myself contemplating the landing less and less. I\u2019ve lost count of the number of times I\u2019ve been asked, \u201cSo how are you feeling about your retirement?\u201d or something similar. This is a very difficult question and one, truthfully, that bears […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":157,"featured_media":3204,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,35],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-3198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrating","category-secondary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abbotsfordchristian.com\/insideout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abbotsfordchristian.com\/insideout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abbotsfordchristian.com\/insideout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abbotsfordchristian.com\/insideout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/157"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abbotsfordchristian.com\/insideout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3198"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/abbotsfordchristian.com\/insideout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3198\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abbotsfordchristian.com\/insideout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abbotsfordchristian.com\/insideout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abbotsfordchristian.com\/insideout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abbotsfordchristian.com\/insideout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3198"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abbotsfordchristian.com\/insideout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=3198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}