Healer

Healer thy name is Insel Mainau.  

Delight hedged out the year’s difficulties.  Renewal rejuvenated sapped resources.  Comfortably cool, sunny weather replaced cold and rain.  Clear skies banished the grey.  Yesterday was the antithesis of this past year.

What happened?  Though gradual in coming, the full impact of renewal culminated yesterday.  Once the year’s responsibilities diminished--first the end of German class and that homework, then the completion of a Bible study and those assignments, then inching up to final exams meant reduced lesson prep which transitioned into exam prep, then exams and grading, and finally the awards and graduation ceremonies led into the final closing out process. Two weeks ago that lessening of demands removed the constant responsibility.  

Debbie and Pat appreciating the fragrance

Though summer is here, total freedom is not.  Over the summer we have duties connected with the school--work to be done as we are the “cleaning crew.” Though there is a maintenance staff (“hired” like the teachers) for ongoing functioning of school buildings, dorms, and equipment, that does not involve the routine cleaning, deep cleaning or painting.  We each are responsible for two work weeks for BFA and six weeks of academic related work--lesson planing, training, attending mission required events, and the like.  However, it is freedom compared to having additional work every evening. 

Imagine my pleasure of “having” to read short stories, poetry and novels, considering how to approach units--for ENGLISH, not science!  Not only is the content pleasurable, no longer having daily classes removes the pressure, a double delight.  Yesterday, a totally non-school related day was the capstone.  Three of us took a most pleasant day trip to a botanical garden about two hours east of here--Insel Mainau, an island in an expansive lake. The weather was PERFECT (not a word often associated weather here), comfortably cool, clear and sunny.  Sounds of lapping waters along the shore’s edge soothed as we walked in, fragrance of roses wafting through trees and conversation and laughter relaxed as we strolled, and then mingling with those two a huge Crayola Box of color splashed across the landscape, painting an enchanted day.  This was truly God’s therapy for my soul

To capture the memory I purchased two small reminders...plants: a lavender for its fragrance and a lotusblume for its delicate, yellow and orange flowers dripping along long tendrils of green. Now that I have the fragrance and color, only the softly lapping lake waters are needed.