I feel better; more tired and listless than sick today. I lack of creative juices today, opened one of my poetry anthologies, and came across this Rumi poem. It depends on my perspective whether I lead or follow. Perhaps, I can do both and even at the same time?
You’ve seen a herd of goats
going down to the water.
The lame and dreamy goat
brings up the rear.
They are worried faces about that one,
but now they’re laughing,
because look, as they return,
the goat is leading!
They are many different kind of knowing.
The lame goat’s kind is a branch
that traces back to the roots of presence.
Learn from the lame goat,
and lead the herd back home.
Goat sculpture from found objects, by Picasso.
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 
Reblogged this on just telling it as it is.
Glad to hear you are on the mend.
Thank you Tony.
Ivon, seems like you and I both had a similar kind of day – there’s a hard planetary configuration right now – perhaps that’s it. And there’s always tomorrow! ;D
And that there is.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Thank you Shimon. I am feeling better and am on my way to work, but still not quite 100%.
Wonderful post Ivon. Food for thought for months. All best wishes for speedy restoration to feeling 100%. And thanks for being both teacher and inspiration way beyond your classroom walls (or country!) …
I am on my way to work today. Still not 100% but staying at home was becoming a struggle. Thank you Simon. I appreciate the kind words.
Glad you are feeling better.
Thank you.
Wonderful Rumi wisdom.
It is remarkable how it stands the test of time.
Ivon, how wonderful to have stumbled upon your blog. And anyone who loves Rumi has my vote! I look forward to reading more of your posts. Bless xx
Thank you for stopping by liking the post and following. I reciprocated and will take a quick tour of your blog.
I love this,Ivon..both words and images
Thank you.