An Experiment with Tagul and a Poem

I'm enrolled in a class to earn a new credential: a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC).

Among other things, a school administrator should be a leader in using technology, so this PASC class includes some how-to sessions on using technology, one being TAGUL.

Tagul allows you to take a body of text and have it analyzed for most often used words. After some edit options, the result is a poster-esque rendition of key words.

The Tuscon tragedy is in the news and on the opinion pages. I thought it would be interesting to try Tagul's analysis on a recent Op-Ed piece by Franck Rich that appeared in the New York Times on January 15th. (After creating the cloud in Tagul... opps... I deleted it.)

Then I did more work; this time on a poem by Robert Frost. I suppressed words like the, and, etc., and added a link so that if you click on a word... it goes to an online dictionary. (Think of the possibilities for teaching a reading lesson to young students who lack all the vocabulary: an easy, visual, exciting way to access the text.) Cool.

Here are the results:

One Year Ends... Another Begins...

"When I started this letter, I didn't have anything to say. Now I am running out of paper, and need to stop." (A quote from my cousin Denny's Christmas newsletter.)

I haven't written much on this blog of late, in part, because I've been waiting for the dust to settle on a few issues close to my heart. Writing is revealing, and sometimes, one must wait to see how things will play out before commenting or reflecting. Musings take time to formulate. ;-)

I suspect, that like my cousin Dennis, I have more to say than I think.

First of all, I'm grateful that the contract dispute has been settled and settled fairly. It really was quite miraculous in the end, with the District bending to public pressure to offer a fair settlement that was readily accepted. (It didn't need to be that hard, but we were/are dealing with a hard woman.)

Second, I'm enjoying the process of obtaining a Preliminary Academic Service Credential (PASC) via the Orange County Department of Education ( OCDE). We meeting a Friday night and a Saturday day monthly for 14 months. I'm in about month four.  Besides the classes, there is outside reading and projects. I aim to live my life in the now, with an eye towards the future. It's too easy to sit and ponder the past. I'm a happier camper when I'm moving forward toward worthwhile goals.

Third, I'm grateful for the Christmas visit of family: my mom, my sister(s), extended family... and my son Joel, and daughter Danielle. Joel lives in British Columbia and has not been "home" in four years. (He is no longer a college student -- masters in hydrology -- and now has more time and money to fund visits home.) Danielle has finished up her latest adventures in leading youth crews in the forest of Oregon, and her work at a vineyard in Northern California. It's been wonderful to have the two adult kids home for 10 days plus. We've not only enjoyed spending time with them, but it's been great to see them enjoying each other as adults. These were golden moments worth waiting for.

Lastly... I'm grateful for some world-shattering news... my world anyways... my son-in-law recently interviewed for a position at a local college... and got an offer. He accepted and this summer, he will move his family... my daughter and four grandchildren to California. They will probably end up living within minutes of me, instead of half a country away.

When I heard the news... we had been waiting to hear since Thanksgiving... I cried. Some longings are so deep, so close to your heart that you don't even entertain them. They represent your deepest longings, hopes, and desires. They are not the must-haves, but the oh-that-would-be-too-wonderfuls. 

Some things break your heart, some things bring healing to your heart. 

As the one year ends, and another begins, I am both grateful and expectant. 

Now, I'm "out of paper."

(Pictures to follow!)

Something to think about...

Something to think about... 

(Created in class tonight, trying to learn Animoto.com.)

Something way better: Malcolm Gladwell: What we can learn from spaghetti sauce!




The key to happiness? Valuing the variability in others.

Too much fret... Let it be easy...

The same day I wrote the poem in my last post, I wrote the one that appears at the bottom of this post. On the way to work I usually listen to Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, California as he preaches his way through the Bible. I used to listen to J. Vernon McGee do the same. They share a lot of Bible verses and personal insights. Sometimes the verses resonate, sometimes the insights. This morning it was a bit of both. 

Chuck was talking about the life of the Apostle Paul. Paul was a man who let God call the shots. Paul was a man who walked by faith. In the end, all that matters, is being true to the call of God.

It's not about the impact, the assessments of others, or knowing your five-year plan. What really matters is knowing the will of God and doing it.

The simplicity of walking with God is summed up in a verse that used to hang in my house 25 years ago. It read, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Children keep it simple. And they are happy a lot of the time. They trust their Father's care and guidance.

Enjoy the poem!

(Pictures today were taken by my cousin Dennis, aka Pastor Dennis who comments often. Thanks Dennis!)

Called of God

God called a man to serve him:

he was on the road to Emmaus.

And along the way... life happened.

And then he was taken.

* * * * *

God called a man to serve Him:

he was a student in high school.

And along the way... life happened.

And still happens.

*  * * * *

And what was that call?

The same to both...

Simple stuff...

 

"Follow me."

* * * * *

"It's not complicated."

"Keep it simple."

"Walk with Me."

"Let it be easy."

I once was lost... okay... more than once...

Hello everybody! It seems like a while since I've posted. Things are calming down (except for the end-of-the-quarter flurry of activity). 

My front yard

The contract settlement is a relief to many in the district, and for sure at my school site. With that unsought "project" behind me... I've turned my thoughts and energies to other activities, including... I read another book: My life in dog years by Gary Paulsen.

In his book, Gary tells of some of the dogs who have made a lasting impression upon him. The book is dedicated to Cookie, a dog who saved Gary's life after he fell through the ice and sank. Gary acknowledges that all the accomplishments of his last 18 years are a direct result of Cookie's rescue. 

My front yard view: a park

A good reader often makes connections between a book and their own life. I sat at my desk I thought of my own "life savers," especially my wife Leslie, who  "saved" me from living in the past, from being alone, and helped launch my new career as a teacher. I am in her debt and in the debt of the One who brought us together. (We saved each other.)

The poem:

In a time of grave danger...

A dog saved a man

who then lived many years.

After 18 years... the man still remembers the dog who saved him... and gave him... 18 years... and counting.

Thanks dog.

God saved a man

who then  lived many years.

After 40 years... the man still remembers the God who saved him... and the people God used...

Thanks God.

Thanks people.

Miracles Happen

St. Patrick's - damaged by the "cold"

It is often said, “God moves in mysterious ways…”

What astounds me and fills me with awe is that God moves.  An old time prophet put it this way,

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”


It appears that a settlement has been reached between the teachers and district where I work. We’ve done negotiations, letter writing, speech making, protesting, campaigning for candidates, and some of us got together last week for group prayer.

St. Patrick's Rose

In Jesus’ day, he prayed, and once God answered with a voice from heaven. “The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.”


The state passed a new budget, another local district got results from “fact finding.” Lots of variables changed… it thundered? Yes.


Or was it simply that God moved?


All I know is that once what seemed to be impossible has come to pass: a fair settlement “magically” appeared. Or was it miraculous?


Personally, I’m going with miraculous. And I’m grateful to God… and to those He chose to use in mysterious ways to bring about this miracle.


What do you hear… thunder or the voice of God?

Bird of Paradise

Happy Thursday! (And Friday!)

Allured to the Vista Point...

Joshua Tree National Park

Allured...

Not content with the view from below,
I snapped a picture and made the ascent.

The trek long.
The path always upward.

The view?
Stunning.

Visionary.
Unspeakable.

Ample reward
for the allured.




(A truism I enjoy is this, "Show me someone who is bored, and I'll show you someone who lacks meaningful challenges.")


These days I've got my challenges: some imposed, some chosen. I'll endure the imposed ones, but I aim to enjoy the chosen ones. Some paths are chosen for you, some you get to chose. Regardless, the path is generally upwards with occasional vista points, and at the end... triumph.


Keep climbing!


(I wrote Allured last Friday in response to a photo over here. The picture on this post was of rock climber at Joshua Tree.)