In second grade, I was in the King and I play. I didn’t have any speaking role or any singing role, I was simply supposed to be one of the many children that the King had. At one point, I was carried by an high school student to the King to show my respect, but my favorite part was sitting in a circle and listening to the song, “Getting to Know You” because I got to watch the character Anna pretend to be the our teacher.
There’s something about the cultural class that the King and Anna have (much like the cultural clash between Marie and Captain von Trapp) that reminds me that when I am starting in a new step of life, I not only have to get to know the people around me in my new setting, but I have to get to know myself all over again.
I have to set apart more time than usual for reflections and to embrace and be able to hold onto the change that is surrounding me.
At these times, it’s not just important to take sabbath, but to plan time to write and read and think about how I am becoming.
I like these times, but at the same time, they are hard for me to embrace when I know there is work to be done. I’m so thankful for the people who surround me to help support me through these changes.