United

It's only Wednesday, and the Internet continues to provide a plethora of news stories about the doctor who was physically removed from a United Airline plan after the airline overbooked a flight.  What makes this story even more scandalous is that people recorded law enforcement dragging him down the aisle, complete with a bloody face and glasses askew.

Many questions and speculations continue to be posed about the incident, but what sticks out in my mind after seeing the video is this:  If everyone was so aghast at the man's treatment, how come none of the other passengers volunteered to take his place so he could get home?

(And before I get to the actual point of this post, let me tell you I can think of several reasons why: they were in shock at what they were witnessing, they didn't believe what was happening was any of their business, they were traveling with young children and couldn't afford to take United up on their incentives, this flight was the last thing standing between them and their homes.  There's probably a dozen more reasons to go along with these.)

But after seeing the video (and hearing that horrendous scream) several times, the thought dawned on me:  This is precisely what God did for us. He sent his son to live but more importantly, he sent his son to die for us.

When Jesus was nailed to the cross so many years ago, he volunteered to take my place.  He didn't want to see me (or any other, for that matter) miss our chance to go home.  Only instead of being forcibly removed from the flight, Jesus volunteered.  This action tells us that he valued you and I more than his own comfort, his own divine right, and more than his reputation.  He suffered so I didn't have to.

This weekend will be filled with activity.  Kids hunting Easter Eggs, Easter dinners, and Easter cantatas.  But please don't forget this Sunday will honor the One who was and is the Messiah.  Don't forget that He too bled for we could could make it home.  Don't forget that because of that great sacrifice, we can spend eternity with the One who loved us and created us.  We can spend eternity with Him.  United.

   

Playlist for the Week Before Spring Break

This week marks the last five days before that glorious pocket of time known as spring break for my school district.  Here are some tunes (along with YouTube links) to get you through the week:

• "Reveille" made popular by the Armed Forces.  Just a reminder to be up and at 'em.
• "Staying Alive" by the Bee Gees.  I'm not a big fan of the Bee Gees unless it's the Fallon/Timberlake sketch on SNL, but this song is so apropos.
• "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry.  And the best part is you can totally change this to fit your students' names. Not that I've heard, "ROBIN! BE GOOD!" more than a few times. ;)
• "Let It Go" from Frozen.  Confession: this chorus is sung daily in my room.  It's a reminder that it's okay to not lose your mind over little things.  Unless some one "cuts" you in line.  Then it's World War 3. And the linked version by Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, and Idina Menzel is precious.  And you can watch it with your class. 
• "Survivor" by Destiny's Child.  
• "Wide Open Spaces" by the Dixie Chicks.  Because after attending school since August with only 1 snow day, we pretty much each want our own zip code. 
• "Run the World (Girls)" by Beyonce.  The beat alone is enough to get you going.
• "For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder.  Science has proven it's impossible to be in a bad mood and hear this song.  
• "I'll Be There".  When your boss asks if you plan on coming in the Friday before the break, just send 'em this song. 
• "No" by Meghan Trainor.  Because you know it's gonna be every other word you say this week. 
• "I Want it That Way" by the Backstreet Boys.  For when someone dares ask you why.  (And don't hate on the Backstreet Boys.  You know they're awesome.)
• "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good" by Don Williams.  Not one wasted syllable.  Not.  One.
• "Ready to Run" by the Dixie Chicks.  I won't insult your intelligence by explaining it. 
• "Here You Come Again" by Dolly Parton.  Sing this internally when that one kid is by your side. Again. 
• "The Waiting" by Tom Petty.  Are there truer words than "the waiting is the hardest part"? Enough said. 

The ultimate hype song for back to school/last week/bad day:

• "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.  The first two lines sum up so much, don't they?

And since my name is Robin, this song will be my personal anthem come Friday at 3.  

Hope you have a great week!  And don't let the fun end-if I've left out a song we need to hear this week, let me know it the comments!

Love Lessons From Beauty & the Beast

Youth is wasted on the young.

Like gobs of other Americans, viewing the ads for the new Beauty And The Beast movie caused instant nostalgia.  Which was abruptly cut short when I head the terrible fact that the animated version was more 25 years old.  I know I've put on weight over the years, but realizing I had gained 25 years put me in a tailspin.

So here are some of the love lessons I learned at the tender age of 11.

• First appearances can be deceiving.  When we first meet Mr. Beast he's ...a beast.  With a major attitude problem. Don't write someone off without learning more of the situation. Give people a chance.
• Being good looking without compassion can be a serious no-no.  Gaston seems to epitomize the opposite of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.  He is not patient, nor kind.  He is definitely boastful. And proud.  And rude.  And he totally does not rejoice in the truth.  
• Love involves sacrifice.  Belle took the place of her father in the castle,  And lest we forget, the Beast took one for Belle at the end of the movie.      
• Love involves being vulnerable.  When the Beast was hurt and Belle was trying to nurse him back to health, he had to expose a physical vulnerability.  When he invited her to dinner he exposed an emotional one.
• Love involves being aware of your partner's likes and dislikes.  When they are eating, Belle daintily sips on her soup/porridge/chowder as the Beast wolfs it down.  When he realizes Bell is all but aghast at this method, he tries his own spoon.  But that does no good-it's hysterical to watch him try. 
• Love involves compromise.  After they realized they couldn't eat in the same manner they simultaneously eat soup the same way-by lifting the bowl and drinking from it.  It's the perfect compromise for the two of them.
• It's okay to try new things.  Remember the two of them in the snow?  And the Beast looking like a telephone poll wire because so many birds were sitting on him?
• The things you take for granted are the same things someone else is praying for.  Remember that all but abandoned the castle?  Beast had tons of books but no desire to read.  And Belle would read anything she could put her hands on.
• The Celine Dion/Peabo Bryson version of the song "Beauty and the Beast" is the best.  John Legend killed it on the new version, but their version is priceless.  You could even say "tune as old as time".      
• Brunettes can rock the color yellow like nobody's business.
• Take dancing lessons so you can waltz, fox trot, and do all those other kinds of dancing.  You just never know when you're going to be whisked into an immaculate, ornate ball room to dance the night away.  Thanks to the movie, the precedent's been set.   

So, world, here's the advice for the next generation of kids.  You can thank me later.