Permission

At the mini retreat last weekend, the focus was encountering God. We drove out of the city, had two campfires, did Lectio Divina and the Resumen, worshipped, and went on a hike by the Brazos River. We also had a time of giving ourselves permission; I give myself permission to:

• laugh more amid the stress
• not take myself (and others) so seriously
• abandon some things that need to get done for leisure/boredom/creativity
• experience more peace
• not base my role [and success or failure] as a teacher on students' responses to me
• let go of trying to do things perfectly
• take some risks and be ok not knowing what the outcome will be
• fail and not feel shame about it
• open up more at school
• not worry and instead trust God and the wisdom He gives
• rediscover things that make me come alive
• be open to things I haven't even considered yet
• say no to good things