Spring Break Helps to Rejuvenate the Spirit

Proverbs 4:7 “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.”

Today school was out for spring break, so guess what I did? Guessing what I did shouldn’t be hard, for I have done the same thing for all 45 years that I’ve taught. I go fishing. It seems as if soaking my head in seawater is the only way I can get the chalk dust out that has settled there between my ears. Only the sound of waves can erase the bell ringing sounds I keep hearing every 50 minutes.

After teaching in middle school until spring break each year, the shrimp I’m using for bait doesn’t even seem to stink. It is good to get whopped by a wave that I can see coming instead of sixth-graders with a backpack rounding the corner in the hall. I saw some kids splashing and dunking each other in the surf and I almost shouted, “Keep your hands and feet to yourselves!”

It felt good to be out of school for spring break. I guess what felt best was not having to, or being able to, control anyone or anything but me. Most of the time controlling me is not all that easy, but it sure beats trying to control, direct, counsel, inspire, correct, redirect, encourage and communicate with a whole bunch of students.

But as much as I loved my spring break at the beach, I knew that when that first bell rings next week, I would be back, loving what I do.

But it did feel good today when I caught two keeper trout, one right after the other; to yell at them, “Keep running in schools!!!”

Dear Lord, I just would like to stop for a minute and say, 'Thanks for a nearly perfect life." I had planned a way different life for myself, but this is the one I got. I do have the wisdom to know that it came from You. Happy spring break, Father.