Love and hate

 Well, I just wanted to put a little well of refreshment out there in this desert.

 I had a very rough day substitute teaching today and I actually sat after school and read a book written by an inner city teacher with some writings from his former students about teaching and seeing these kids (who I had a very hard time "seeing" today).

I also read some of Madeline L'Engle's "A Wind in the Door" later in the evening and one of the themes of it (without giving anything away) is being Named.  Being Named rather than being annihilated.  Being Named rather than being nothing.  Sometimes I go to substitute teach without love and what I need most is love.  
Yet, I can't bring love and life if I don't get if from the Life-bringer, Love Himself.  I can try, but I will fail.  I need to know I am Named to Name others.  Love really does overcome Hate.  It can never be the other way around.

Here's a track that I just knew the chorus to and then found this online after I had been singing it (with my uke) a little bit ago.  Yes, creativity is very rejuvenating as well.

http://romadiluna.bandcamp.com/track/tree-of-life

The song is interesting to me because it is kind of hopeful without being hopeful.  I feel like it paints a picture of what our lives are like sometimes and it's true, we need to be taken to the Tree of Life (although that isn't just going to happen "when we gather in the sky"). I do believe that God's purpose is to bring his Kingdom of Life and Truth and Love even now because He is going to fully bring it here when he comes back.