Worshiping in Chemistry class

Chemistry is my most interesting class this semester. I had chemistry in high school but that was a long time ago and as I remember, it was quite easy to get the teacher off the subject. He was also my basketball coach and it seems we talked more basketball than chemistry. I'm glad to be enjoying chemistry this second time around.

This week we talked about making conversions between different types of measurements. One example was figuring out the actual cost of the gold in special $50 coins that are advertised for $19.95. The example we used turned out to be $18,350 per ounce.

A common conversion is between Fahrenheit and Celsius. Celsius is a scale that makes a lot of sense: 0º is freezing point and 100º is the boiling point for water. Fahrenheit was the first temperature scale and there are many stories of why Mr Fahrenheit set his scale the way he did. According to my professor he chose set 100º as the body temperature of a horse. He didn't think that negative temperatures were good so he wanted 0º to be on the colder end so he settled on the temperature at which salt water will freeze. (I tried to verify all this on the internet and it seems no one really knows why Mr Fahrenheit settled on his scale - but this explanation seems about as good as the others I found.)

Chemistry is about atoms and how the 100 or so elements in the universe combine together to form compounds and all the physical things that exist. It is very structured, predictable and orderly. In 1869 Mendeleev put the periodic table together based on the properties of the elements. He didn't understand why they behaved the way they did or the make-up of an atom but the table is still basically organized in the same way today. At that time not all of the elements had yet been discovered but he left holes in his table and predicted that they would be filled in time. Sure enough, those elements were discovered and we have gained a much better understanding of the makeup of atoms and how they form compounds with other elements. It's all quite amazing. My professor talks about the secret of the universe being valence electrons (the electrons of one atom that form bonds with another atom). As I learn more about how it all works, I'm again amazed at the wisdom of the Creator who put it all together and I can't help but worship.

March Madness

I'm glad I didn't have school this past week because I sure would rather watch basketball than study. I had big plans of working on the list of things that I'd been putting off until spring break but that didn't really happen either. I did get my taxes basically done and I prepared for Saturday tutoring during commercials on Friday afternoon. I did skip the late game and go to bed early since I had to leave the house shortly after 7 on Saturday morning to be able to ride the bus that picked up the kids. By the time the day was over at 4:30, I was more than happy to come home and just sit and watch basketball.

At the urging of a friend I filled out a bracket but I'm not doing very well. I had only watched a couple of games so I was basically guessing. A lot of my guesses have been wrong. But I expect that Richmond and Butler have wrecked havoc on most people's bracket. After watching them play, I'd be glad to see them go to the Final Four and one of them win it all. They just play the game right -- as a team with intense defense.

Tomorrow morning I need to get back to the books but for now it's some more basketball.

First day on the job

Saturday was my first day of tutoring and actually getting paid for it. Part of my role was calling the parents to confirm that they were planning on their child participating and to give them some details including what time the bus would come to pick them up. Those conversations gave me an idea of the home life of the third graders I'd be working with. One obviously speaks Spanish at home since his mother handed the phone to her husband. Two live with their grandmothers. When one mother found out we would be meeting in a church she made it very clear in her broken English that that wasn't an option. I handed that off to my supervisor as I'm not sure what the other options are.

Saturday morning we had some of the usual first day issues. Several kids missed their bus, more because the bus driver didn't actually stop and wait than because they weren't ready. The grandmother of one of the girls in my group called to say they came out of their building just in time to see the bus drive away. Hopefully that wrinkle will be worked out next week. I started with two boys who are in different classes at the same school. Later on two girls were added to my group for the day. For the most part they were motivated but since everyone was in one big room they were easily distracted. "Why do they get to play a game?" "Why are we eating lunch when no one else is?"... I think it would be much easier if each group had its own room but that isn't an option. They were attentive in the morning but attention waned after we ate. Hopefully I'll be better organized next week. Now I know better what to expect and what to be ready for. Being there from 8:30 to 3:30 seems like a long day especially on a Saturday. At least I'm not dealing with the kindergartner whose tutor said he spent the afternoon saying, "I want to go home."

Sorrowful yet always rejoicing

Last Sunday morning Aunt Suzanne entered eternity at the age of 50 after fearlessly battling brain cancer for 21 months. Here's an attempt to capture some of my thoughts and emotions.

Suzanne loved beauty. She always looked beautiful. She brought beauty and order to her home. Her warm smile and cheerful voice welcomed everyone to the parties she loved to have.  The food was always delicious and artistically displayed.

That beauty is now hidden from our view. We have the beauty of the gifts she gave. Her home is decorated in the same way, but now it feels empty, as if the soul is gone.

So we grieve. Her family grieves most deeply.

While we mourn, Suzanne is in the place of indescribable beauty. Those who have seen it ended up tongue-tied, grasping for ways to help us imagine what heaven is like. She's there drinking it all in, filled with awe, wonder and worship.

I wonder about the conversations she has had with Jesus and the wholeness that she now experiences. I wonder if Jesus has given her a part in preparing the wedding supper of the Lamb, that feast to beat all feasts. I wonder how long it will be before she throws a party for her family members from past generations to hear the stories of how God's grace brought them safely through the storms of life. I wonder if she has discovered the heavenly library and picked out a book to read and found a place to stretch out on the grass in the warmth of the sun that can no longer burn her skin.

Suzanne walked through the valley of the shadow of death without fear because she knew what is promised to those who trust in Jesus for forgiveness. She believed her Savior had a good plan. She trusted him to make something beautiful out of the ugliness of cancer. How stunning she must look in the elegant dress of her righteousness that increased as she trusted and praised her God in the midst of the storm! (Rev 19:8)

Through all of this, Uncle Steve has led his family in praising and trusting God. They have been living the words of the song Praise You In This Storm. Suzanne's storm is over but it continues for her family. They may feel that much of the beauty has been sucked out of their lives. My prayer is that they know in an ever deepening way what it means to worship the God who gives and takes away and that they keep trusting in his mercy so they can be sorrowful and yet always rejoicing.