Kathy and I enjoyed our break at the retreat this weekend. I feel a little under the weather, but during the retreat itself that simply found a backseat in the peaceful environment we were in all weekend.
When I attend spiritual retreats, I find part way through I question myself. We often talk about compassion in these settings, but I struggle at times to be kind to those who I feel have offended me in the past. I am sure it is human nature. This weekend, I recognized there is worth in the small offenses, I find the good as I turn a little on the circle and shift my senses. I can see the world slightly differently. It is the bridge I need to walk across the abyss that appears, but it is only visible one step at a time. I trust my judgement and that of those who help me take those steps.
I know some might look at this picture and say,”That isn’t much of a drop or bridge.” I am so afraid of heights even this was a challenge the day I crossed.
I stand on the edge
The abyss yawns
Take the first step
The bridge is safe.
Built on compassion
Crafted from wisdom
Supported by community
It will carry my weight.
If only I trust my self
Take the first step
Trust my instincts
And those who travel with me.
About ivonprefontaine
In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms.
I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders.
I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs.
I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry.
I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry.
I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope, nonviolence and its anticipatory relationship with the future, as essential elements to teaching and learning.
Academic publications can be found at Ivon Gile Prefontaine on ResearchGate
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
the abyss yawns, wow! that’s my favorite line, but the whole piece is fabulous, and I envy you for the retreat you’ve just experienced! I crossed my first suspension bridge last month, totally know what you felt, as I am afraid of heights…! Yay, you! 😉
In Genesis I spoke of the deep abyss
it has 303 meanings
there is the abyss of deep space I shall fill with light
there is AB BIS which is a hesitant bride ( Ab means father )
AB is Absolute God Yahweh ( me )
my favorite Abyss as your god
is the Deepest eyes of my Maria Ana my betrothed
and as I am your God
in the Deep Maria Ana Strait near Japan
I began all life on Earth in 7 deep sea vents
There was 7 Edens, and the Maria Ana Strait was the First
In that place, now I have 10,000 species of Light Beings
Excellent pic
We took several pictures of this bridge on our hike that day. It fit into something later.
There is a great difference between having compassion, and knowing when someone does not have your best interests at heart. Then it’s not a matter of compassion but more a matter of common sense, avoidance and ‘smarts’. Not placing oneself in the lion’s den, so to speak… 🙂
Carolyn, thank you for the compassion and wisdom.
Ivon
Lovely post Ivon. Many thanks 🙂
Thank you Simon.
This is lovely Ivon. The spiritual ‘path’ does not expect that we cover our shadowy issues with lovely thoughts. It expects us to investigate them. If you are still upset with people, it simply means your inner work is not yet completed! It all comes with time! Be gentle with yourself. Sounds like a lovely retreat.
No it doesn’t, but we, or at least I, try to keep them covered up. The quiet is what provides time to examine the shadows and do the inner work.
Thank you for the kind comment.
Ivon
But you did cross! Welll done 🙂
I did. Kathy encourages me on those low lying bridges to take the challenge. It might help with more adventurous hikes later.
I would like to hear more about the worth of small offenses… or the worth of offenses in general. That sounds like a very interesting subject to me.
I think it is too. It is worthy of reflecting upon, because it is the small that leads to the larger.
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Thank you for the share.
It’s a privilege to read your work.Thank you
Thank you stopping and enjoying. I appreciate the company on the journey.