No more training do you require

No more training do you require. Already know you that which you need.

So a wise Muppet once said in the classic film, Return of the Jedi.

I was talking with a friend who was wrestling with the final components of his apprenticeship training, when the quote came to mind. In my friend's case, the quote was quite fitting, as he must complete these training modules out of formality in order to prove the skills and knowledge he has been competent in for quite some time already.

In its original context, Yoda is speaking to Luke Skywalker, who has returned to complete his Jedi training after rushing off to rescue his friends from Darth Vader. Yoda tells Luke that he already knows everything he needs.

I think this situation describes a lot of us, as we continue to worry about personal development which we don't really need. I often feel like I'm under-prepared for things I do, like I've still go so much to learn, and so far to go before I'll be ready to take on big challenges. I think we all feel like that at times as we live for God. We can feel lacking in spiritual maturity, or unqualified to follow God's calling.

But God's grace says to us: no more training do you require. Already know you that which you need. We don't need to wait until we're 'super-spiritual' before we're allowed to follow God. We don't need to feel inadequate to serve God just because of our backgrounds or the amount of time we've been Christians. We can rest assured that we have all we need to connect with God right now. God has already provided us with all we require to live as effective Christians.

As Yoda's dialogue is largely based on Buddhist teachings, this analogy of course can only be taken so far. Obviously, there is a place in the Christian walk for development and continual learning as we strive for Christlikeness. After Yoda's comment, Luke jumped to the conclusion: "Then I am a Jedi", to which Yoda laughed and reminded him that he had not arrived yet. We will never quite "arrive" (Phil 3:12-14), but we can take comfort in the fact that we already know all that we need for what God is calling us to today.

Countdown

Four days until the holidays...! My how the dauntingly long 12-week term has disappeared! Not to mention the second last semester of uni - ever! Anyone else feeling old?

Why would I want to work with children?

I don't consider myself to be fantastic at working with kids, or perhaps even passionate about it to the exclusion of all else. Everyone knows it can be a real headache at times, but then there are those occasions where it's pure pleasure to have the honoured privilege of working with these young individuals. They have such a different way of seeing the world, and the most disarming sense of humour at times. Check this out...

A grade four student, reading the staff room duty roster attached to my work folder, thought he was very clever to discover my first name.

"Is your first name Steffanie?" he asked somewhat cheekily.

"Yes," I answered, and left it at that, which for some reason he interpreted as displeasure.

"Aw, don't be embarrassed," he continued, "My first name's Tom, you know."

Having taught him for six months, I was fully aware of both his first and last names, and could only smile at the complete randomness of such a comment. It makes me wonder at how they come up with these things.

Please note, in all anecdotes students' names have been changed for anonymity.

Inbetween

Yesterday was the last day of LTU semester one. Tomorrow is the first day of LTU semester two. What a strange day today is, the day between semesters. (At least for LTU, that is. UNE semester one doesn't finish for another three weeks, and semester two won't conclude until November. Then throw in your school terms if you want to get really confusing!)

When things just work

I've had a good day today.

It feels like I've been hitting my head against a wall for the last little while, with nothing ever seeming to go to plan or turn out quite right.

Today, a simple word from a colleague encouraged me. The song I had poured so much time into last week was a huge success, and my help with the band practice had been a turning point for one student.

Going about my morning I had to stifle a goofy grin, as I reveled in the elation of when things just work.

May the fourth be with you!

Today is one of my favourite days, ranking right up there with international talk like a pirate day. To all you Star Wars fans out there, "May the fourth be with you!"

Pancakes

It had been a goal for quite some time to eat at a pancake parlour. Since Miners in Bendigo closed down so long ago, I had only ever eaten in a pancake parlour once in my lifetime, and then only as a small child with little recollection. As there was never any local replacement, the novelty factor was high enough for me to plan a road trip to Ballarat.

Another place I had always wanted to try was La Piccolina, conveniently located just near my church. On the down side, La Piccolina closed down before I ever had the chance to visit for more than a hot chocolate. But on the plus side, it was converted into Bendigo's own Pancake Paradise! And so, with my fellow pancake fanatic Cara, I ate at a pancake parlour and completed my mission.

While at first sticking to my childhood vow of avoiding the senseless "savoury pancake", formed from my only hazy memory of Miners, I found myself eating a vegetarian crepe. While thoroughly tasty, I was disappointed in my missed opportunity for that stack of pancakes smothered in ice-cream, fruit and condiments, the pancake stack of my dreams.

So a new plan was made: Eat sweet pancakes at a pancake parlour.

This plan seemed simple enough to follow through on, since I no longer needed to hike over to Ballarat to complete it. However, the Sundays passed by one by one, filled with midday meetings and lunch appointments.

Until today.

Matt and I were determined not to be thwarted today. We resolutely decided on the Banana Paradise, a dreamy triple stack with ice-cream, banana and maple syrup. However as I perused the menu it was not long before I once again fell into the temptation offered up by the savouries, subsequently finding myself munching on a bacon, cheese and potato pancake, while across from me Matt consumed bolognaise atop his pancakes.

Not to be defeated, we pushed on and made our banana a split. Mission deliciously accomplished!