AJ and a LATTE

Texas Bandmasters’ Association (TBA) marks the end of our summer every year.  This year, prior to attending the convention, we spent a couple of days in Fredericksburg.  Our travel was very heavy at the beginning of the summer.  We took 73 kids to Austin for solo and ensemble, 108 to Orlando to march at Disney World, then three days after our return headed back to Austin with flowers for the most lovely wedding.  After pretending I was retired and testing out the waters, I determined I still have another good year left in me…at least one. Fredericksburg was wonderful.  When we got to San Antonio I was really jazzed. Our favorite Marriott, The Plaza, has reopened.  It is convenient to the back of the convention center and an easy little walk… or so we thought.  CONSTRUCTION IS AWFUL!!!! A behemoth hotel is in construction right next to my beloved downtown Plaza.  The streets are torn up. To get to the convention center I have to walk two blocks in the wrong direction, cross a construction laden Lutheran Church parking lot, walk two blocks back, cross a dirt street (in downtown San Antonio), then begin the nice jaunt to the convention center.  It is noisy and dirty.  You can imagine the thrilled construction workers as the hoards of “civilians” trample through their hard hat areas.  I have made two very poignant observations through this construction experience.

One–these workers are going through motions. They seem to be “just part of the scenery.”  How sad!!!  When I smiled at one gentleman today and asked if I could still cut through the parking lot his eyes got big and he asked, “Excuse me?”  I continued to smile and asked again if I could cut through the church parking lot rather than adding yet another three block equivalent to my journey.  He was so courteous as he personally escorted me through the parking lot making the other workers steer clear.  Then he ended our exchange with a returned smile and “Have a great day, ma’am. And thank you for asking and being so kind.”  My heart was broken for these people because they are doing a job.  They are putting food on their family’s table just like when I am teaching school.  There are times I feel unappreciated or overworked, but I have never in my career just felt invisible. There is always a kiddo ready with a hug or a fellow teacher’s room to gain encouragement. How sad to be scenery!!!  How easy it would be for those walking by to simply smile at the construction crew.  Oh, and don’t you imagine their jobs are exponentially harder because of the civilians constantly in the way? They are not only having to prepare for and watch their own location on the jobsite but also constantly monitor for people not paying attention or heeding the signs.  Some of the areas are designated construction AND civilian areas!  We are all in each other’s way!

My second observation is on a more spiritual level.  This construction has been frustrating.  I can see where I want to go but I have to walk WAY around to get there.  Now, this site has a full crew working, but it spurred thoughts of construction along roads I frequent where there is never a road crew in site. We drove through construction on a couple of freeway overpasses that have been under construction for YEARS. I have yet to see anyone working on them. The progress is so slow!!! I wonder to myself each time I am here why they aren’t working to finish one project before beginning another!  That would seem so much more efficient and make so much more sense!  Now my little brain hamster really started running her wheel.  AJ, I wonder what God thinks of your construction…  Ouch! How many times has He send a crew to fix a road only to have you destroy it before He has finished his next project?  How about His frustration? How many times have I stood in the way of God while He chiseled to make me new? How many times have I gotten frustrated at the length of time of the construction but gotten in the way or not shown up for my part of the work? How many times has God just shaken His head because I was being inefficient and ineffective with the tools and building opportunities He has given me?  

I am under construction. I don’t want to be scenery, so I will not treat others that way either. I want to be beautiful as God works on His masterpiece in me, so I will try to be more patient with the whole construction process.  I will try to stay out of God’s way but continue to show up to work on the project. 

We will drive through more construction as we come home tomorrow.  We continue to have construction around Lubbock.  My true goal is to use it as a reminder that I, too, am under construction.  I, too, have a tendency to be an inconvenience.  I, too, have a presence and an importance as do others in their own construction sites.  As you navigate life’s construction moments, try to picture the end goal before getting frustrated.  Growth is not always clean and the midpoint is seldom pretty.  The end goal is the prize. We are all under construction.

Until next time.