When I retired from teaching in an inner-city high school in Fresno, California, I thought I was done with the local school district.  Twenty-one years as a teacher was enough for me. My retirement plan was to move to San Francisco and get a job with a  nonprofit. But I could not get a job. I returned to Fresno and was at loose ends. What did I want to do with the rest of my life? More importantly, what did God want me to do with the rest of my life?
            At lunch at a local church, I sat with a man who was a chaplain in a neighboring school district. I was intrigued by what he did and wondered if my local district had such a program. The chaplain worked at a school, offering care and comfort to students and staff, and he also worked with first-graders to build resiliency. He said he thought I would be very good at this, but I laughed. I loved the concept of social-emotional education and believed someone should be doing it, but not me.
            Then I saw a notice about the Fresno Police Department Chaplaincy working with the Fresno Unified School District, the district where I had taught for 21 years. Again, I thought it was a good idea — for someone else. Then another notice caught my attention, only this time I saw the words “school chaplain.” My interest was piqued.  I read that there were chaplains in Fresno schools and a need for more. I could hear God prompting me to send in the application.    r ead more at . . .