12 Hours

In the next twelve hours I will

pray.

brush my teeth.

sleep... dreaming of rows of khaki and plaid clad teenagers, carrying unmarred notebooks and pens with full barrels of blue and black ink.

shower and dress -- what to wear on this most auspicious day?

slurp a cup of coffee and take another along.

check the morning announcements.

greet last year's learners in the hallway on their way to new courses -- a pat on the back, a high five, even an occasional hug.

guide the first 22 students to their seats in Room 214, take attendance, pray, issue books, and ask them to spill just a little of that fresh ink onto fresh paper.

send them on their way to 2nd period.

Unless I don't.

The same could be true of the next 12 months:

No matter the course I map out,

Some surprises are inevitable.

Planning is good; trusting that God knows what He's doing is BETTER.