Got the Itch

By -


It was in a classroom on one of the lower floors at John Jay High School in Park Slope Brooklyn.  We had to write a composition about an essay, or short story we had read.  I remember picking up my pen and putting it to the three holed paper - loose leaf paper, we called it.  I wrote something about enjoying what I read because I too wanted to be a writer.

That was a very long time ago.  My attempts at writing have filled these pages as well as those of Storehouses of Snow and Kingdom Bloggers.  I can't tell you how many times I've been told to write a book or how many times I have asked - should I write a book?  My analytic mind asks endless questions and never settles on an answer.

But I've got that itch.  I've got that itch to set my fingers to the keys and share my thoughts once again.  Will I ever write that book?  I don't know.  But I need to write.  I thought about a new blog but decided this one will do just fine - I'm still listening to the Sounds of Hope.

I'm a pastor now.  I pastor a wonderful country church.  Since I last wrote I got a doctoral degree.  So yes, it's Dr. Joyce now.  I guess I have published my first book - my dissertation on social media and Christian community.


When I graduated with my doctorate, my students
gave me these balloons and the dog.
Yes, I'm bragging but notice that
I'm the best teacher in the universe.

I got to hear students call me Dr. Joyce in classrooms at a Technical College. I recently resigned feeling the pastorate needed more of time.  I loved being a teacher and pray God will open up that door again.  I've seen adult minds expand. I've seen ideas light up the face of students.  I've laughed with them and heard them share their deepest secrets.

I wonder if I should have been a teacher all along.  I don't know.  I should know.  I'm old.  But perhaps one is never old if one is still exploring and learning and changing.

Exactly what thoughts will fill these pages, I don't know yet.  Come along with me.  Share your comments and thoughts.  I'm off on another journey. Join me.

Comments

  1. VirginiaJanuary 11, 2014 at 12:20 PM

    I've heard your wonderful stories about the students you've had in your classroom, I've heard the sadness in your voice for them, I've heard the hope that you have for them and I've heard how they thank you and praise you for guiding them and being such a great teacher. Don't doubt yourself my friend. You are truly gifted.

    So now God has moved you to a new teaching adventure, with wonderful people in a wonderful country church that you are shepherding. so don't doubt yourself my friend, just go with it. there's wonderful adventure of things in store for you .

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2014 at 1:17 AM

    joyce i am inspired everytime i read your writting. its so real . when u write i feel as if im on this journeys with you. you are truely a gifted writer just stay true to you. and again ur writing is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Please keep comments appropriate

Popular posts from this blog

Suddenly

By -
Image
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest…Luke 2:13-14a It was October of 2021. The sky was clear and the sun was shining. I was in Florida, walking on the beach. I could hear the waves break and the birds were everywhere. I don’t know what it is about the birds at the beach – they are beautiful and also annoying. They are aggressive and yet graceful. I was really enjoying the solitude of a walk alone on the beach – the beach is my most happiest place. I used to work in the mental health field and at times would do guided relaxation. While I have some discomfort with this idea, it was required of the job. It starts out with go to the place (in your mind) that you feel most relaxed and peaceful. Immediately I go to the beach. There have been times of anxiety in the dentist chair that I also use this technique and go to the beach in my mind. My phone rang disturbing my peace. It was my eldest son. He
Read more

I'm in the Lord's Army!

By -
Image
So much for the idea of writing about camp for a few days J … busy and stuck get in the way.  I’ve had lots of inspiration this week about other things too… but they sat, because I was going to write about camp.  Oh well, the week is nearly over.  Don’t you love the fact that every day is a do-over from the day before?  As much as I’d like to share my thoughts about some other things, or spout off about my latest insult or discovery, I think on this quiet Saturday morning, I will write about Camp Ashford Hills.  I remembered a lot about this camp experience.  I was a Sunbeam and Captain Johnson arranged for me to go to camp.  I remember I rode in a van.  Any trip that involved my sitting in a vehicle was a big deal.  We didn’t have a car.  We were quintessential NY’ers.  We took public transportation everywhere.  It was too much expense or hassle to own a car and have to move it for street cleaning, not to mention digging it out of the snow during the winter.  I remember t
Read more

Malla Moe, Tante Ruth, and Saturday Chores

By -
Image
Saturday morning after cereal out of a box while watching Popeye, Dudley Do-Right, Yogi, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and Bugs Bunny, I’d go to the kitchen.   Under the sink were the dust clothes to be used for my weekly chore of dusting.   I must have been in the First Grade at PS94 when my mother and father told me it was time to work.   I was part of the family and my contribution was necessary.   No more free handouts of money for candy.   I had to earn my money. Every week I would move the white elephant planter, the amber vase, the candy dish with candy for company only, and the furniture scarves to complete my job of dusting.   For my labor, I received 50 ¢ .   Candy bars were only 5 ¢, for that same 5 ¢ I could get three long pretzel rods or a candy necklace, some wax lips or even a box of candy cigarettes.   If I chose the latter I’d have to consume them all before I got home.   Sugary candy cigarettes were forbidden.  I might end up smoking. I still have that white elephant plante
Read more