Becoming Ms. Frizzle

Every single time I hear about sharing burdens I remember the song "Lean on Me." The song tells those listening to find a friend to lean on in the hard times. It reminds everybody that friends can help carry your burden. BUT, it left out a key verse. The missing verse should have said that in addition to sharing your worries and troubles, share your joys and happiness.

Sometimes the strongest lessons are the ones that hurt the most. Tonight somebody loved me enough to tell me she wanted to share in my joys, that she had been my burden bearer for too long. She was absolutely right. I have been selfish. I have passed along my troubles, withheld my excitement, and offered neither a shoulder nor a shared laugh. It takes incredible strength and bravery to confront a friend. I am reminded of Neville in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. At the end of the story, Dumbledore awards Neville points for standing up to his friends saying that "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."

We are all familiar with the benefits of unloading our baggage on others-it takes the weight off of our shoulders. I think, however, we overlook the power of sharing our joys. Joy is like love, the more you share, the more you have. It doesn't diminish what you already possess, rather sharing allows joy to grow and become bigger than possible when in solitary confinement. Also, friends want to delight in life's greatness, they want to be witness to all that Life is offering you. Sharing the gift of joy makes bearing burdens easier.

For those of you with whom I've shared only my burdens, I am choosing to share my joys (we'll call them the mountains amidst the valleys) with you today.

1. I've been blessed with 3 incredible job opportunities this semester which will prepare me for my goal of becoming a teacher. I am tutoring 7th and 8th graders at a local middle school. Each day I leave that classroom I have a smile on my face no matter the behavior of the students. They bring me joy. They make my heart smile. I also have the daunting/exciting task of rebuilding the college ministry at Covenant Presbyterian Church. I look at it as a challenge in realm of pioneering. I've begun to see progress in the short 3 weeks which I have been employed and I know that it is God doing amazing work for His kingdom. My third job is the one that challenges me most, but also makes me grow the most. I have the terrifying role known as substitute teacher. I have yet to experience a subbing position that didn't leave me beaten at the end of the day, but today I choose to find lessons to be learned. I am learning, as a future teacher, to respect those brave souls who will sub for me. I am learning to strike fear into the hearts of my future students lest they treat any sub poorly. I am learning to be flexible (probably the most difficult of those lessons for this Type A).

2. I am finally being poured into at church. This semester I discovered a group called the Quarter Lifers at the Methodist church I attend and have fallen in love with their fellowship. I am being challenged. I am being fed. I am being led. God is so good! We're currently reading Blue Like Jazz for our book club and I am being challenged in my faith every week. This group is not afraid to ask the "scary" questions, they are not afraid to make me feel uncomfortable in my own skin. They are fierce.

3. No school=free time to read. This semester I have already read Wild at Heart and Captivating in which I learned heaps of information about my heart and the hearts of the men that are around me. I've learned that I'm running from the One who I should be running toward. God is passionately pursuing a real, deep, and intimate relationship with me, yet I'm running away! Recognizing this is the first step in healing. The second step I'm taking is...(see number 4)

4. I've made a true commitment to myself and God that I will for the first time in my life read my Bible cover to cover. I am currently half-way through Exodus and I'm finding amazing insight every day!

5. I have some amazing friends who have shouldered more of their fair share of my burden. They have listened, and listened, and listened some more. Hopefully they are reading now to share in my (previously) hidden/hoarded joy.

I am reminded of The Secret Garden (for some reason I'm filled with pop-culture references today). The joys in our lives are like gardens filled with beautiful flowers, and if we hide the keys to our gardens we prevent ourselves from seeing joy in others. So, I challenge you to join me in unlocking your garden, becoming vulnerable, and sharing the wonders that God has given you!