Stinken Snow!

It occurred to me the other day how much I just love snow. I thought of this as I was shoveling a sidewalk in Stroudsburg. One side of the house is always light fluffy snow…even if a bit wet. The other side is always heavy as 5th street slosh splashes up on it. Yet I love it.

I hear many people complain about the amount of snow, or for this year how often it snows, griping…muttering, yet I love it. I have suggested too many they move south….further the South Jersey. I have been envious of them for 2, maybe three years now as they have been dumped on by amounts not equaled since I lived there as a child. I suggest they move to Fla. Where if they get some snow, it is rarely greater then a few flakes. Some give me dirty looks, some just bemoan…yes just bemoan…and moan…..and…………..yes seem happy miserable as they complain.

They say its to dangerous to drive in, I love driving in snow. The new cars with these automatic straiten the car out gismos ruin the some of the fun. I still love skiing, sledding and dodging snow balls. Yes, I even still love shoveling.

But I love the white stuff. It is far better than dandruff or soapy foam, cleaner than the whitest of sheep, so clean and crisp looking.

I like it most of all for what it reminds me of…
Psalm 51:7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

It reminds me of what God can do, cleans us from our sin. Cleans us of all those times we have ignored God, and done what we have wanted. It is a gift, to remind us of the forgiveness God offers us, and has provided us.

Maybe, just maybe the effort to clean up the snow is to remind us, just a bit, of what Jesus had to do for us to be our Messiah.

His willingness to become a man.
His willingness to tortured and crucified.
His giving His life so we may be forgiven of our sins,

Maybe cleaning up snow after God whitens the ground isn’t so bad after all. He gives us snow to remind us what he can do for us and has done for many. It seems a bit foolish to complain about the snow when you see it as a reminder of the work of the cross done for us, no?

John A Miller

Drowning Unknowingly

Drowning Unknowingly

  I am not sure what grade I was in, maybe 2^nd or 3^rd grade. I was at my neighbors house down the street from mine, standing on a deck built to meet the top of an above ground pool, was tossing a beach ball back and forth with to older kids who were in the pool. I do not remember all that transpired. I do remember missing the ball, it going into the water and me reaching out for it. My reaching it was a mistake. I reached to fast to far over the pool and splash I was in the pool.

  I don’t know the depth of the pool; I do know it was deeper than I was tall. I immediately started the distressed swimmer response, which looks like a vertical dog paddle, kicking like I was riding a bike, paddling, arms awkward bent, fingers cupped, trying to get my head above the water. I was not succeeding, yet I was not afraid. I remember thinking why is this not working. Fear would come soon, as I the need to breath developed but the two other kids in the pool got to me quickly and lifted me to the surface. They, and the one girl’s aunt lifted me out of the pool.

  In the past few years I have thought about that event. I have wondered how much this is like not choosing to follow Jesus not learning to swim, and stay under his watch. Many others are drowning; some know it and are thrashing and screaming to be rescued. I am sure most are like me in the pool, my life was at risk, only they are not aware their eternal life is at risk.

John A Miller

1/20/12

I will Praise Him in Victory, I will Praise Him in Defeat

I will Praise Him in Victory, I will Praise Him in Defeat

  This is a long title, and yes it is not an original thought, but then again “There is nothing new under the sun.” That’s not a new thought either.

I will praise Him in victory; I will praise Him in defeat. This is the key sentence in the movie “Facing the Giants”. If you haven’t seen it, get it. I won’t explain more so as not to ruin it for those who have yet to see it. This sentence has taken on a much deeper meaning to Shelley and I in the past 24 hours.

  Yesterday was the doctors’ appointment we have been waiting for, expecting and hoping for a good report. The doctor examined me, not saying much but asking the usual questions told us a few things and then met us in his office. As he left the look on his face spoke what words didn’t.

  In the office he repeated what he said in the exam room, stating I had a new spot on the liver and on a lung, and a few more lymph nodes. This was not at all what we wanted to hear, especially then lung and liver, we thought there may be a problem with some lymph nodes but didn’t want to hear that either.

We were, well shocked. We made an appointment to meet again on Saturday to plan the next course of action.

Back in the car we sat, key not in the ignition. This was not what we expected, not what we wanted, not at all something to look forward to. We chatted a bit, then in a decision I made before Christmas, I prayed for I had decided to praise Him when declared clean, and praise Him if not. So I praised God, for what he had done thus far, and what was to come.

  Let me remind you, this is not what I or Shelley want, this is not fun, this is uncomfortable, hurts at times and is just plain in the way of what we want, yet we want what God wants. I could give all the whys and such, bit will limit it a but.

1.     God designed and made me, he has a plan.

2.     He adopted me as I was and made me what I am today. He calls me son.

3.     He promised to be with me always, not perfect health, riches or any greatness here on earth. He promised to be with me always. That is an eternal promise. I will always be in His presence.

4.     I have been reminded constantly of the story or the man blind from birth. In this story Jesus’ disciples asked whose sin caused this. Jesus said no ones, this happed to show God’s glory. Jesus healed the blind man.

I do not like being one who has cancer, I love being in God’s presence, knowing he is with me.

To God be the Glory.

His Grace is sufficient.

John A Miller

1/18/11

Too Many Tails

Tattle tailing is a time honored tradition of little kids, sometimes with adults as well. When a child on my bus raises their hand it takes my eyes off the road and the brain is not as focused either on the driving. In the end most of the raised hands amount to… nothing.

I have rules on the bus just for tattle tails.

The person you are telling on must be hurting you or another student.

You must kindly ask the person to stop. “please stop you are hurt me.”

If the child does not stop I want to know about it.

After it is dealt with

Forgive the student hurting you even if they do not apologize; holding a grudge on some one gives that person power over you.

The offending person needs to apologize.

Choose to be friends; yes friendship is a choice, besides being enemies is no fun.

Always

Worry about your own behavior first.

Never try to get some one back.

After I gave these rules I began to wonder, do I follow them?

John Miller

1/13/12

The Big Help

The Big Help

My K-2 students worked very hard to help me this year. I would look in the mirror and see a hand raised with a look of desperation on the student’s face. I would ask what they wanted, and suddenly they could not talk loud enough to be heard across the bus. Something that was not a problem 5 minutes before. I would find a safe spot, pull over the bus and go to the student, most of the time the student was desperate to show me a peace of trash on the floor. Then others would raise there hands to do the same. I realized, eventually, they were just trying to be helpful when in reality they were distracting me from driving and keeping us from getting to there stop on time.

In their attempt to be helpful, the run was made worse, though to them it looked good and right. They were helping in the way they wanted to, not how I needed them to help.

How often have I done that with God? Really, I do not want to know it. I bet though, I need to know. 

John A Miller

Repeat Performances

The beginning of the school year I always consider as the training retraining time for the students as well as myself. This year I noticed when I would correct one student, immediately after other students and often the one corrected would do what I had just corrected the one for. One day as I was getting annoyed I wondered …”Is this how God feels with me? Am I any different?”

Be Afraid...

About 3 years ago I acquired a new bus run with k-2 students. It had been about 10 years maybe less since I have bussed any of this age group. Not really the age group I specialize in. Apparently I can be a scary person J for several people I know who have worked or work in grade school situations told me to speak gently and smile when I deal with these younger grades.

I started out that part of my run doing just that, explaining what I need them to do, doing so with a soft tone to my voice, friendly and with a smile. After several weeks of doing this there was little to no improvement on the bus. Yes I had even held them accountable in a soft kind voice, working with discipline within the bus that is available and writing up students, explaining why. I never had to write up these age groups before.

I finally decided to pull over the bus and give them a bit of a talk. Finding a safe location, I did this, got up and faced the students with a smile. I got their attention after several friendly requests to get quiet. I told them how I looked for and received advice on how to get them to do what I needed them to do. I was to smile, be friendly, explain what I needed, and to hold them accountable. I told the students how I have used it for several weeks, yet the bus behavior had yet to improve. I then used what my wife calls my counselor face (I was a camp counselor a couple years worked in summer camping for 7 years full time, and have volunteered or worked at the same camp for many years since then), put an edge on my voice and raised it to a firm, no nonsense level. I told them since the kind friendly voice didn’t work I was going back to what had worked for me before. Yes, I did scare some. The students steadily improved on the bus from that point on.

John A Miller

Two From Down under

I was standing on the edge of the power line at the camp I worked at, with Nature Joe and two guys from down under, one from New Zealand and one from Australia. I could only glimpse the sky as we walked across the border into the wilds of Streamside.

We stopped just inside the tree canopy to get our eyes adjusted, and to give some instructions for the down under two. No talking as we walked, we needed to be as silent as possible. Feel your step before you put weight down on your foot for the step, there were to be no twigs or braches stepped on. Finally guard your face from long hanging branches, they scratch.

Almost a third into the woods I finally heard the padding of feet. About half way in I whispered to Joe I heard something, he whispered back he did as well. A whisper can seem so loud in total quiet. I told him I thought it was the bobcat, he thought the same and we decided to walk further in. I soon realized my time was about up, and the bobcat got no closer to us. We told the other two what we heard and told them we would try to find a clearing, and hopefully see it with a flash light.

We got to where we thought there was a clearing, tried to figure out about where to aim the flashlights and turned them on. We were in a clearing…about ten feet deep, maybe fifteen at its deepest. Unfortunately there was a solid wall of rhododendron all around the clearing. Not bobcat to be seen. I was a bit frustrated, I don’t know how the other 3 felt.

We turned the flashlights of then stayed in place to readjust our eyes before we went back to the camp center. Then much to Joes and mine surprise the bobcat padded right towards us, this totally surprised Joe and I. We motioned to the others, waited until we thought it was close enough then turned on the flashlights again. There it was in the beam of the lights. He looked at use, for a bit, either sizing us up…food or no food, or as a cat, just curious. It turned away showing its bobbed tail and walked away from us. I don’t remember hearing its soft footfalls as it went away. We were pretty excited talking about it on the way back.

The two from down under admitted to thinking we were making it up until they finally heard the footfalls right near us. They heard nothing until then. I believe Joe and I heard it only because we had trained ourselves to hear such things. What do you hear?

John A Miller 

1/10/11

Soft Steps

  The power line that cut through the camp I worked at is an unofficial border to me, an unofficial border into the wilds of camp. Looking by moonlight through this line seeming so bright compared to the darkness of the trail on the other side. Maybe 100’ of scrub brush, weeds and an access road. I always hesitate there on my night time hikes; the darkness of the trail ahead always has a certain foreboding, not being able to see past that darkness does it. I never had any problems on that side of the power line. In fact I always saw or heard the bet animals over there. For the longest time it was a guarantee of at least hearing a bobcat there.

  I start to cross the no mans land of the power line, stopping to look up. The power lines were visible against the night sky. A dark blue pierced by bright stars and a much brighter moon, fading away the dark of the night. The pause was long enough to see several of the brighter constellations and a faint milky way. Two of my favorite constellations, the dolphin and the arrow are to minor in brightness to be seen in the brighter moon. I lingered looking up a bit longer, always hoping to see a meteor. The only moving lights in the sky were the airliners on approach to New York and Newark city airports. Staying one more moment to look at the night sky pictures and maybe, just maybe a meteor, then started walking. I never get tired of looking at the starry sky. I almost decided to stay and keep looking up.

  I continued across this border stopping just inside of the tree line, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness under the canopy of the woods. Soon the trail becomes brighter, easy to see. I don’t know why but a worn trail always and lighter grey then the dark ground around it at night. I had a flash light for the “just in case” but this was not the time for it. A walk through the woods always requires more than sight, requiring sound touch and even smell. At night time it is even more important to use all the senses.

  The trail was finally bright enough to follow, almost aglow in the darkness. I started my slow walk. I don’t want the critters of the woods alerting each other about me. Especially one very loud bird, some day I will know what type of bird it is. Another reason for the slow walk is to avoid low hanging branches. Never hurt myself yet from one, but they are annoying to walk into and it is all fun and games until someone pokes an eye out.

  After a few minutes of the slow walk I heard a gentle padding of footsteps in the woods to my left. They were to light to quick for a bear or deer, no pushing of brush for raccoon or other low walking critter and coyotes weren’t a thought back then. I couldn’t be sure it was bobcat but thought it was. By this time I had seen several and heard them. It soft stepped back and forth many times and around me, never getting close though.

  There is something unnerving about being watched, or studied by something you know is there but cannot see; only hearing it. I wondered if it was trying to decide if I were prey for it or not. Maybe it was just curious.

  After some time I had to leave. I was actually a bit sad about leaving. I was so focused on the soft steps it was almost meditation. I always wonder about my focus. Some things seem so hard to focus on, some things so easy to focus on. I do not like being able to stay focused on nature, my art, most books, people, yet it is so hard to stay focused on scripture and prayer. Why is it so hard to focus on a section of scripture, to meditate on it, chew it until I know it, until it is fully a part of me that I conform to it, to pray without being distracted or falling asleep? Some day, I will do both.

John A Miller 1/10/11

Lessons From, “Listen to the Squirrels”

  In listening to the squirrel did not miss what they were saying, but where they were referring to. Read the “Listen to the Squirrels” and you will know what I was referring to. What I missed was the use of sight, touch and hearing. Not that I didn’t use them, but I missed what they were saying. I wish I could have used the sense of smell as well. I have yet to smell a bear coming, but I know one who can. I decided I have to some how learn these smells.

  I was set to hike to see animals, walking slowly, carefully listening and watching, carefully walking to see animals, touching was not even a thought. I was focused on the other senses, but missed most of the story before me of two bears grazing throught the woods. I wonder what else I miss and have missed when II was fully paying attention. There are far bigger stories I may have missed. I saw the rocks rolled over and the logs torn apart, claw marks visible. I missed the opportunity to use the tactile sense when I saw the bear scat and used really just sight. I heard the squirrels, yet missed the full message. I missed allot of the obvious.

  When I saw the size of the rocks turned and the logs shredded I knew it was a bear, I caught only a part of the story. I missed whether leaves or other debris had blown into the hole left by the over turned rocks and logs. I knew the scat was bear, but missed not knowing how fresh it was by not be willing to take it apart, or touch it at all…YUCK!... yet I missed part of the story by not touching it. I heard the squirrels, yet missed where they were warning applying to me as the only predator they might be worried about.

  How often do I miss a whole story assuming it was all about me or that I was in my own world, not watching the created world? I missed parts of the story, I was so focused on my search for critters, I missed the whole story of the momma and her cub, a story that got me within 30 feet of serious injury or death. I have wondered how many stories I have missed or misunderstood, being focused on me, stories of friends, family, the woods and God. Wow missing God’s stories, that is sad. Missing these stories because I did not train my focus, not touching, refusing to get personally involved, by not hearing the whole story, thinking it was all about me anyway.

 Matthew 22:34-40 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Listen to the Squirrels

Listen to the Squirrels

  One of the experiences I have had more of recently is being a passenger on my bus more than a driver.  This has allowed me to talk with my students far more than as the driver. In November I had the opportunity to chat with a student who loves nature, loves seeing animals, but complained he never saw any of them. I told him to listen to the squirrels and they would tell him if he was walking to fast.

  His response was, Huh? How can you tell what the squirrels are saying, obviously confused, and yes, it was by design that I confused him. I wanted to continue the conversation.  I explained, “Squirrels are a security system to the woods.” They alert the woods to predators with a very loud obnoxious chirping and for lack of better term, their howl. Man is considered a predator. If you walk the woods so slowly they do not react you are walking slow enough to see animals.

  I continued by telling him the story of two bears I saw several years past. I was spending the afternoon walking the woods about 2 miles from my home. This walk had purpose, to see critters. Now to see these critters, and watch them, walking slowly is the best way, slow, slow, slow, and slow. Again I was attempting to walk so slowly, the squirrels wouldn’t notice. I was hoping to see and watch deer, coyote, even bear, with out them noticing me.

I got onto a game trail and started following to the wetland in that area, looking behind me on occasion, deer have caught up to me in the past. Making sure I stepped on no twigs or branches, not even crackly leaves, the squirrels started their chatter 2 to 3 hundred yards ahead of me. I did not understand it, why were they hollering at me? Walking towards those bratty squirrels I soon found large stones turned over and old rotted logs shredded. I immediately knew there was a bear through here, and I decided it was there last night. After twenty minutes(less then 75’ of walking) I came upon a pile of bear scat, to big to be anything else, I thought, then a  big bear. I put my hand over top of it, not touching, yuck, to feel for any heat coming from it to help confirm them thought it was through the night before. No heat coming from it confirmed my thoughts, it was through last night. This was way cool, almost as good as seeing the bear. So after this evidence I decide, no worries” concerning the bear. After walking a bit more than an hour I crossed a small stream, and broke very slowly through some thick underbrush. To my right I saw a black shadow, my pulse quickened before I saw it was what I thought, a bear. It was about 30 feet away from me, and had no idea I was there. My heart pounding, amazed the bear couldn’t hear my heart, I thought, “To cool”. I saw another black shadow to the left, when the bear had his head down sniffing and munching I slowly turned my head and saw a second black shadow much bigger than the first by far. My heart pounded much louder, and I thought, “Not cool, a momma and a cub.” I stood totally still; the bears were a great motivator. I stayed that way until the slowly grazed there way through the brush out of any view. Slowly backing up, then after I felt some confidence I walked very quickly back to my car. Since then, I listen to the squirrels much better, then the words the woods show. The young man listening then understood, and thanked me.