I never thought about it much – what I said every school day morning when the teacher took attendance.
Here.
I am here. I exist in this time and place. This unrepeatable day brought me here, of all places. In this space, with these people.
Here.
This is where I live and breathe.
Here.
To be fully in the present moment. To be called by name. If I’m at all aware, then this is a sacred moment.
But that’s a big if…
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me – I am too often unaware.
I love all these reflections on school days. September is always such a time of new beginnings, which I miss every year I am not in school. I miss the time of new beginnings.
When I left my time as a children’s librarian at the Bennington Free Library last year around this time, my co-worker, Karson, gave me a card. On it, these words: Always Remember, new beginnings can happen at any time. It’s a truth that sits on my bookshelf. Thanks, David!