A poor prophet, but (hopefully) a better teacher

Here I sit: dressed, fed, and ready for the day.  If only I was in this same condition an hour ago.

The last week or so, I have noticed a change in my sleep patterns.  I have been going to bed early (around 10 PM), stirring around 3 AM, and often getting up with the first sub call around 5:30 AM.  This has held even on days that my sub job does not begin until 7:45 or later.  Over the weekend, I worked overnight asleep shifts at my other job, and the pattern of early waking continued. 

This morning, I woke to my alarm at 6 AM, and I realized that I had yet to get a call from the automated system.  Due to spring break in some districts, I figured there would not be jobs available, and resolved to allow myself to sleep longer.  My first call came at 6:50 AM--a half day job in art!  I pressed 2 to listen to the job again (lest my ears deceive me) and then accepted.  Knowing it didn't begin until after noon, I thought I'd return to my slumber.

Ring went the phone six minutes later.  High school science, half day, beginning at 7:30 AM.  Looking at the clock, I realized it would be nearly impossible to look up directions to the school, make myself presentable, and get to the school on time.  So I rejected the job while getting up.

My alarm goes off at 6 AM Monday through Friday so I can get myself ready in anticipation for an event such as the above.  I have been thinking lately about faithfulness, and wanting to exercise it in all areas of my life.  In particular, I have been thinking of faithfulness in regards to personal gifts.  I know that I have been gifted in art and teaching, and I want to be faithful with those gifts.  Yesterday I had been thinking about faithfulness in subbing as serving the students to the best of my ability in every classroom I enter.  This morning, I felt unfaithful by not getting up and ready in anticipation for a potential job.  Rather, I became a person of hopelessness, deceiving myself into the impossibility of getting a substitute job today.  There were, however, opportunities to teach, even to teach a whole day.  I will begrudge the situation no further, but be thankful for the opportunity to teach in my specialty area this afternoon.