School and the Psalm of the Week

This was a good week at school in many ways.

I stood up to the rudeness of the young fellow English teacher,

telling her that I was not going to work with her

if she continued to talk to me rudely.

She momentarily bristled.

I stood my ground

letting her know I was not going to scold her or run to others;

I was simply going to remove myself from working with her.

Eventually the principal would wonder; she knew that,

and she also knew that since she has talked rudely to him

he would look to her first as the problem.

He also knows that if I've done something wrong and am called into his office,

I will 'confess'.  I will not lie or sidestep.

I will admit when I'm wrong and am open to constructive criticism.

I am one of the few in our school who is like this.

Her treatment became much more respectful

and my week was shaping up to be a good one.

Then Friday came.

Second period.

The "bad boy club."

They behaved and did their work well,

so I gave the class five minutes of free time.

I watched these particular boys closely as I sat with a group of girls.

They were in a far corner talking.

But apparently one had come up to the table behind me to get a Kleenex and blow his nose.

I didn't even realize anyone was there; I was listening so intently to a girl.

Until ------

I felt hands caressing my head and roving through the strands of my hair.

I jumped up and whirled around in record speed.

My right arm was raised and my hand was a fist ready to strike.

(We legally have one reactive punch, and that's what it would have been).

I stopped the fist in mid-air.

The words hissed out of me.

Something like:

Don't you ever touch me!  Keep your hands off me!

You are NEVER to touch me!

You get the drift.

His buddies in the far corner had their mouths open and their eyes wide.

The girls were shuddering and had horrified expressions on their face.

(This guy is repulsive in that his thoughts are filthy as in perverted not dirty as in hormonal).

It did not help matters that he had a leering grin on his face when I first turned round.

That changed to being a bit surprised at seeing my fist

and my aggressive stance and attitude.

He put both hands palms up in front of himself

signifying surrender.

I told him to get out of my room.

He did; then the bell rang.

The principal was not there.

A referral slip with a separate letter awaits him Monday morning.

That's all I will say for now.

Oh, I guess maybe one more statement: I have been in more danger

here in this tiny country school than I ever was in the huge urban one.

Here's the Psalm of the Week.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord,

He is my refuge and my fortress; my God is Him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,

and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with His feathers,

and under His wings shalt thee trust:

His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;

nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

A thousand shall fall at thy side,

and ten thousand at thy right hand;

but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see

the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the Lord,

which is my refuge,

even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For He shall give His angels charge over thee,

to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands,

lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thous shalt tread upon the lion and adder:

the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon Me,

therefore will I deliver him;

I will set him on high,

because he hath known My name.

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him:

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him,

and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him,

and shew him my salvation.

Psalm 91: 1 -16

I guess you can figure out why these verses appealed to me this week!

The last photo is of my dad getting read to perform his last ministerial task:

the baptism of two of his grandchildren and his daughter-in-law.

My dad lived a long life and was always grateful for God's salvation.

He taught me that salvation,

so I thought this photo appropriate.

I ran from God for a little while this weekend,

so this post is late.

But I'm back in His Arms.

Blessings to you all.