11/28/2021

Slowly but surely time is edging towards Christmas. 

The past couple of months have been very stressful. On one hand, there's the school. Everyone is tired and irritable, both teachers and pupils (which, I think, is normal in pitch-black and muddy November), plus at some point we held the embarrassing No 1 place of Covid infections' rate (if not in the world then definitely in Europe). The state schools in Tallinn closed their doors for a couple of weeks but as we are a private school, the leadership could make their own decisions and they decided to keep the school open. Evey time I heard about someone getting sick with whom I had been in close contact at school, I counted the days in my head - and sighed a sigh of relief when it became evident that I had managed not to catch the virus. Now things seem to be calming down - the infection rate is down, I've gotten my third jab, and we are being speed-tested 2-3 times a week. I am under no illusion about dodging the virus forever but right now my goal is to stay healthy until Christmas. Whatever happens after the New Year will happen after the New Year. 

In November, we had a couple of weeks when the sixth- and fifth-graders had to work on a big project. What was supposed to be fun and more fun turned into a real drama. Emotions ran wild, some of them spilled over to parents, and I got caught in the middle of it all. I understand (even if only theoretically) that an occasional angry email from a parent is a normal part of a teacher's job but it still gets under my skin. So when the project had its grand finale last Monday, I was so relieved it felt like I was walking above the ground. The first snow that was falling when I left the school looked like a personal gift from above and a burden was lifted from my shoulders. One big thing down, a few others to go.

The main reason why it is so important for me to stay healthy these days is that I have finally started my practical doctoral project which the last two chapters of my dissertation will be based on. As homiletics is my field of study and of interest, my project is a preaching series. So I am preaching in my home church for five consecutive Saturdays, collecting written feedback from the congregation each time. Two sermons down, three more to go! Yesterday afternoon when I walked back from the church, I felt for the first time that I might actually survive the whole thing. Before that it had seemed like a terribly high mountain, impossible to climb. It takes a lot more energy and effort to prepare for these sermons than the regular ones but the vibe is really good and if it didn't send some Covid police officers spying on our church, I would even let you in on a secret about the church being packed these last two Sabbaths. On top of friends from other Adventist churches and our own members who do not come that often, I have seen at least five or six people whom I have never seen in church before. And for a church of 30 members, that's really something!

I survived mom's birthday on Friday. 

Now it's three more sermons for the series. And one more for the National TV's Christmas service (sometimes beautiful opportunities arise). Some 30 or so irritable early teens to handle. One evil virus to dodge. And then it is Christmas and holidays and Sweden and all the other good things in the world. :)