Have you read anything good lately?

If you have read a book recently that you really enjoyed, let me know or pass it this way. (Notice the comment section at the bottom ... you can write in it!!!) I love reading my friend's choices of good books. It makes me feel a little closer to them.

Have you read The Shack by William Young? Everybody's doin' it! My friend Wendy from work loved it, and Michele Parry said I have to read it. So, I'm reading The Shack. I have Michele's copy. I'm on page 197 out of 248.

Mack is in the canoe talking to Sarayu. So far, I definitely think it's a book worth reading. Worthy of your time and thought. I might even read it again. I kind of skimmed pages 43-63 ... that's the tragedy that sets up the entire book. It's totally necessary for the book to be a success - one of the worst tragedies imaginable - but a little emotionally charged.

Something from the book struck me that I want to make note of:

Mack asks the Holy 3, "...Isn't one of you more the boss than the other two?..." and I love their response. "...Frankly, I haven't a clue what this man is talking about..." (pg 121) The concepts that follow made me think - God did not create a world with ranks or a hierachy... That was man's making. In my mind, I flashed back to studying the Old Testament, when the Hebrew nation asked God for a king, and He said no. They bugged Him enough, that He finally gave them one. His ideal of how human's work best is not one with a hierarchal order with an altimate "boss." (Interesting...how else can we live? How else can McDonald's be a success if we don't have a manager and assistant manager and workers...) The book talks about a circle relationship, everyone submitting to the other, everyone trusting the other. Not a LINE of command, but a CIRCLE based on relationships - trust and love and wisdom.

I think that is, in a way, what we tried to do in school at Plank North when 6 of us taught multi-grade 1st - 6th soooo closely together, coordinating everything we did with kids. And especially when we had such a great structure in place that we could then allow the kids to be a part of our circle. Trusting them. I think that is why the kids loved the team and learned so much. It was a structure based on a circle - the 6th graders were not "better" than the 1st graders. No teacher was the "boss" of the other. We trusted each other - submitted ourselves to each other. Man, I wish I could have gone through school in that type of atmosphere.

Then I see it again at Cazbah, where I now work. The CEO and president proactively attempt to make the business a culture based on trust and a circle - not a heirachy. It's amazing. The trust and respect that is projected is like I have never experienced in the business world. Far beyond people just being nice to one another. Everyone is considered very important. And in the visual - the circle - no "part" is more important than the other. All have to submit to the other or the circle is broken. I don't know how Charles (the CEO) at work knew to do this, but he is doing it - with the help of all around him. Very humbling for me to watch it - to see egos set aside for the good of others and the good of the business.

I recommend The Shack. Take from it what you will. I am enjoying this one a lot.

New Years Eve with Plank North Friends

Happy New Year!!

I pray that this year will be a wonderful blessing for you all.  I have so many great things going on in my life right now.   I can't believe it.  

Dr. Robert Schuller (Crystal Cathedral) once said that it isn't the bad things in life that bring people down, it's the lack of good things happening during those bad times that destroy them (my own liberal paraphrase.)  That has become true for me and so much more evident in the last 6 months as my life takes some positive turns. (example: working at Cazbah)

One bit of sunshine in my life is to watch the progression of Sue Rooney's relationship with her fantastic boyfriend, Peter Johnstone.  He is so perfect for her - it's obvious to outsiders as well as to them both.  Gives me such hope for my own future that God can provide blessings that are cookie cutter perfect just for me and Alex.  Well ... onto how Plank North people fit into this.

For my Plank North teacher friends and anyone interested in the nitty-gritty here is a paragraph of details ...  (feel free to jump over this part if you don't have a PN connection.)

About 18 months ago I saw Jane Cook (former Plank North Elementary School parent) at Klem North and told her about Sue Rooney (Professional and  fabulously gifted graphic designer and owner of Susan Rooney Design and Susan Rooney Patterns.)  We had been discussing the Cook kids (Jason and Monica) and it turns out Jason was as RIT taking courses in graphic design.  I gave her Sue R's number for Jason to make a connection.  Well, Sue Rooney's son is at RIT and knows Jason.  Jason Cook contacted Sue at some point to discuss an internship.  Months down the road, Sue R starts dating Peter - who has 2 sisters - Carol Dellavilla (Laura and Chris' mom) and Ann Schwatz (Katie and Tom's mom - I had Katie in single grade 6th grade about 15 years ago ... 1993 ... !!!!!) Dellavillas and Cooks are very very close.  When Sue R and Peter were at a family event, the Cook family (there because they are "like" family) realized the connection of Sue Rooney and Jason Cook and then me.  Small small world.

OK ... nitty gritty details are over..kinda.

So last night, Dec 31, I got to attend a dinner at Dellavilla's with a bunch of past Plank North students and parents.  It was so much fun.  It was like a reunion for me.  By the way, the food was to die for.  All the moms and kids wanted to talk to me and I wanted to talk to them.  We reminisced a lot.  Dellavillas, Cooks, and Schwatz's attended.  Laura and Chris Dellavilla were there as was Monica Cook.  They are all doing so well with their lives.  The kids seem so happy and productive.  (The photos above are ones I found on Facebook this a.m.  From left to right are Laura D, Chris D, and Frankie Carlevatti !!!!!) 

Last night was one of those good things Dr. Robert Schuller was talking about.  The families were so loving and affirming.  To hang out and talk with the kids brought me so much joy. What an incredible way to start the new year.  I am being surrounded in my life with incredible people who are so positive and balanced.  It is having an a wonderful affect on my spirit.

Hope to talk to you all soon in 2009.  Sue