sandragoh

Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words. - St. Francis

[sandragoh]

I am the problem.

I am the problem.

I am both sad and angry. I am sad because our world is broken. I am sad because of lives lost. I am sad because this world is violent, unjust, sinful and wrong. I am angry because I did not say anything earlier, I am angered by inaction and lack of dialogue in my own community. I am angered by complacency, self-righteousness and stiffness to change. But what saddens me the most is coming to the…

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[sandragoh]

friends who give donuts and more.

friends who give donuts and more.

This year, I am thankful for generous, God-fearing, faithful, sacrificial, sweet, donut-giving friendships. This year has been rough. I lost my permanent job in April, only to ‘get it back’ at the end of June. The next day I learned that it was a clerical mistake. A week later I received a full year LTO, in the same school working with the population I love, and staff that I admire. But as rough…

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[sandragoh]

#RedforEd!?

The staff lunch room is filled with red, social media profiles are flooded with angry hashtags and tweets, #nocutstoeducation and #RedforEd fills my newsfeeds. I bring up my calculator as a way to give me hope, reminiscent of my university exam days – trying to see what I need to achieve a pass. But in this case, I calculate how many are below me on the seniority list. 56. If only 56 people lose…

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[sandragoh]

Numbed by Netflix

The credits roll and the small timer starts counting down until the next episode. ‘Might as well’ she thinks to herself, ‘this will be the last one’. Before she knows it, she’s 3, okay maybe 6 episodes in, when she only wanted to watch one.

I could describe many of my nights, and perhaps my days with the little paragraph above. Somehow, I would rather spend time with the people in my laptop than…

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[sandragoh]

Beauty.

I walked into the classroom as he slid down on his rocking chair. Eyes of mischief and with a steady grin on his face, I approached him to say hello. He tilted his head in response, eyes transfixed on my face and with his quiet and gentle tone of voice I hear…” your face, SQUEEZE IT!” He gently reaches his hand up to my cheek and pushes into my face. 

I have been reading a book called “The Reason…

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[sandragoh]

Today.

Today I picture God as a freight train holding up a stop sign with a loud speaker, blowing a horn and gracefully yelling… “you need me…”. All the while, He opens his arms, eyes transfixed on us, simply waiting for us to embrace Him.

Today I picture the Lord wincing at my sin, grieving over harsh words, and yet gently turning me around and saying “right that wrong… not because you can, but because…

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[sandragoh]

From your unmarried friend.

Let me start by saying that this letter is addressed to no one in particular, but rather a summation of thoughts that have been on my heart. I have incredible friends, married and single, and I rejoice in all of them. I have many friendships that have changed over the years as a result of marriage, and new and wonderful friendships that have developed because of it. This letter is a letter of…

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[sandragoh]

More...

More…

I pressed play,  the video started and the words “evangelism, gospel, Jesus, discipleship, God’s love” rang and repeated throughout the one minute and forty six seconds. I was in a secular environment, an environment where religion is respected, but faith is not discussed. I starred, looking forward, nervous and scared of the responses that this video might elicit. Afraid to make eye contact, and…

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[sandragoh]

I vow...

I vow…

Tomorrow is the start of a new school year. I am filled with anxiety of not knowing what is to come, and yet anxious because I do not know what I am anxious about. So here, I write. In all honesty, insecurities have set in. I am going into my 5th year of occasional teaching, not yet securing a permanent teaching job. It is humbling to set foot in yet another classroom for a set period of time,…

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[sandragoh]

My year in 5 words.

My year in 5 words.

Faithful. This year, I experienced the tangible faithfulness of God. If in the future, I ever complain of God’s lack of faithfulness, please remind me of the 2016-2017 school year as an incredible display of God’s faithfulness. I started the year off with no potential LTOs, only to have 5 consecutive ones this year – I got called in for a week long job on the first day of school that turned into…

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[sandragoh]

Expect nothing in return

Expect nothing in return

“Let me tell you the story of an angel that God had placed in my life”. She said to me. She proceeded to tell me about a stranger who had loved upon her within minutes of meeting her, and generously blessed her despite not knowing her. A stranger who took out the government cheque out of her purse, signed the back, and gave it to her without any questions asked, wishing that she had more to give.…

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[sandragoh]

6.

Dear beloved,

The date count has gone up. The total number of dates now that I have gone on has been 6. And while they have been positive experiences, I hoping that the number will stay at 6 until I meet you. Dating is confusing, it brings up more questions that it does answers, and the worst part is when it brings up unanswered questions. Dating is filled with uncertainty and while uncertainty…

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[sandragoh]

Honestly, Honesty

To the student who got to keep the marks that she didn’t actually earn. To the customer that got to keep the extra change that they accidentally received, after being truthful with the cashier… To the teacher who got the job after being honest about her… Oh wait, that didn’t actually happen….  I photocopied my evaluation, took off my jacket, wrote down my references and walked into that office –…

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[sandragoh]

5. dating

Dear Beloved, It has dawned on me recently that in order to marry you, I will, at some point, have to date you. It should seem like common sense, but I guess as I have grown up, I have always expected to befriend someone, for a friendship to grow into a relationship, and for that relationship to one day turn into marriage. I expected courtship to be easy, natural, organic if you will. And here we…

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[sandragoh]

Fat Ketchup

“She is a Fat Ketchup” , he said under his breath as he covered his face with a newsletter, embarrassed that he was saying such a foul, mean phrase. “Fat ketchup” a student beside him repeated, unaware of the shame that the other student was feeling. Fat ketchup – meant as an insult, meant to hurt and meant to indicate the anger, the hurt and the pain that he was feeling. The worst insult that he…

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[sandragoh]

Fat Ketchup

“She is a Fat Ketchup” , he said under his breath as he covered his face with a newsletter, embarrassed that he was saying such a foul, mean phrase. “Fat ketchup” a student beside him repeated, unaware of the shame that the other student was feeling. Fat ketchup – meant as an insult, meant to hurt and meant to indicate the anger, the hurt and the pain that he was feeling. The worst insult that he…

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[sandragoh]

Faithfulness

I have been wanting to write this post for a while, but have never found the time or will to sit down and write it. Three months ago, I was discouraged by the limited amount of interviews and prospects that I was receiving. Two months ago, I was amazed by His faithfulness and His constant provision. Today – I am overwhelmed.

On the first day of school, September 6th, I was unemployed and prayed…

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