I injured my hand years ago playing hockey and later a dog bit it badly causing even more damage. It is badly bent and scarred. We walked as a family weekend mornings when our sons boys were young. One son would check my hands and quickly change sides if he had not chosen the ‘gnarled one.’
What made him choose that one? One person suggested it was to touch the hand in a way that offered a healing touch. We each need this whether it comes from those close to us or from a divine source. We need the comfort of being cared for in ways that heal.
Rabindranath Tagore wrote this beautiful poem which described the need for the intimate touch of loved ones when we stumble which I do on life’s journey. I am not alone on this journey.
Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,
but to be fearless in facing them.
Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but
for the heart to conquer it.
Let me not crave in anxious fear to be saved,
but hope for the patience to win my freedom.
Grant me that I may not be a coward, feeling
Your mercy in my success alone; but let me find
the grasp of Your hand in my failure.
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 
Jus beautiful..
Thank you Mimi.
I see much wisdom in the poem you shared, Ivon. Except perhaps the part about not stilling pain.. ;-D! When I’m in pain I’m usually more than happy to have it “stilled”.
Russ
I agree Russ. What I am learning now is that suffering and pain are separable. We choose suffering, but not pain. I find that if I do not ruminate on the hurt for too long it does not lead to suffering.
Having said this, I am still with you Russ. I prefer less pain.
Gut geschrieben.
Gruß, Wolfgang
Thank you.
Fabulous choice of poet, Ivon, I love Rabindrath Tagore. This one reduces me to tears because I have the same prayer in my own heart. Thank you for posting this.
You are welcome Yaz. I was not familiar with his poetry so it was very educative to learn a little about the poetry and the poet.
I love the story about your son seeking to hold your injured hand! Such a profound and beautiful image. Thank you for the lovely, inspiring post.
Thank you and you are welcome.
Beautifully expressed… Thank you, Ivon!
You are welcome Amy.
I loved the poem. I often hope to have the courage to overcome the challenges that life sends at me. Thank you for sharing it, I had never heard of Rabindranath Tagore so I am grateful for the education! 🙂
Thank you Jonathan. I had heard of him, but was not very familiar with his poetry. I learned he was a Nobel winner so it was educative for me as well.
Beautiful post. Loved it. 🙂
Thank you Renee.
YOU are so welcome. 🙂
Reblogged this on Legacy of Stone.
very beautiful story
Beautiful…
Thank you Bette.
My pleasure, Ivon. Have a blessed and beautiful weekend!
Thank you Bette and right back at you.
A joyful memory for you to recall, Children just know how to heal, from a deep level, their love is so precious. Thank you for sharing and also the poem by Rabindranath Tagore, a wonderful poet.
Yes on each point. Children like to know we are well, too and their love is unconditional. Thank you for taking the time to comment