I finished the first leg of my journey and have a 5-6 hour drive tomorrow. I plan on missing Calgary and going up right in the shadow of the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies. We drove that way several years ago and it is beautiful driving in the foothills with mountains right there.
Driving provides a break and I spend time meditating differently. Today, I thought about how important my work is to me and how it should serve a greater good. During my time in Spokane, I discovered teaching is in who I am. It makes me complete.
John O’Donohue wrote this beautiful poem about the sacredness of work. I love the line about not becoming lost in bland absences. I retired when pressures from outside the classroom took away from what I was doing in the classroom. I became concerned those “bland absences” would become real and teaching would become a formulaic, technocratic, bureaucratic process.
Whatever we each do in life, should make our lives richer and the world a better place. Several years ago, Kathy and I went to a fast-food restaurant outside Portland, Oregon and staff greeted us in a way that indicated they were happy to work there. When that happens, work is sacred, heals, make itself light, and reveals beauty.
May the light of your soul guide you.
May the light of your soul bless the work
You do with the secret love and warmth of your heart.
May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul.
May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal to those
Who work with you and to those who see and receive your work.
May your work never weary you.
May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement.
May you be present in what you do.
May you never become lost in the bland absences.
May the day never burden you.
May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams,
Possibilities and promises.
May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.
May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected.
May your soul calm, console and renew you.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
“Life is for working hard in whatever manner is right for you.”
I heard this the other day, Ivon,and ca’t help but agree. It seems we humans are at our best when we have a goal, and enjoy the journey.
Excuse my typos – the new iPad isn’t familiar as yet. 😉
When I have typos, I just blame it on my big fingers.
That is so true Carolyn. When we let go a bit, have goals, the journey takes care of itself in many ways.
Oh my gosh, John O’Donohue is one of my favorites too. And I have used this piece of his work before. We sure seem to have similar likes when it comes to literature. Blessings, N
I became familiar with his work through David Whyte who was a close friend of John O’Donohue and write in a similar style.
Oh I shall have to check his work out too. Thanks for the info. 🙂
Thanks for posting this beautiful prayer.
You are welcome Marie. He was a beautiful poet who had a deep spiritual connection in the world.
Drive safely Ivon and have a wonderful trip.
I am. Thank you Tina.
I wish I could feel this way after 33 years in the classroom. It was never the kids that ruined it but ever changing rules to suit this or that agenda, power crazed administrators and all the high school diversions that distract an already distracted population of teens. I think I would like to have been a paleontologist.
I agree Carl. I loved going into the classroom and being with the students. Even on tough days with tough characters, I always had a sense that I was making progress. There is too much attempt at control from outside classrooms and that grew frustrating.
It is a loss to our future generations that you and other dedicated teachers are leaving the classroom. The remaining ‘teachers’ are merely program directors for government programs designed to control thought and pigeon-hole children by personality or government need the mind and body of youth.
I agree. There is a lot of indoctrination and management going on with little focus on discernment.
God bless you in your future goals. I do enjoy your postings and hope you will continue.
Thank you on many levels. I appreciate the likes and comments.
That’s great to hear you enjoy being a teacher so much Ivon! You are very fortunate to find yourself in something that is perfect for you, so many people seem to never get that chance, and, there is nothing more deadening than a job that your soul can’t agree with. 😐
I remember a lot of teachers from my secondary school just didn’t want to be there, they had no interest in what they were teaching or their pupils. The whole school was dysfunctional, and bullying was out of control. I decided it was not a place my thirteen year old ‘soul’ wanted to remain in, so I left, much to the horror of my parents! I was lucky I had parents who could see other options, and I got a home education in the end I survived!
That experience really taught me a valuable lesson (Don’t remain in a job you don’t wish to do – if you can – change it).
I hope you have many more enjoyable years doing that job you love!! 🙂
Thank you for the lovely comment and sharing so much. School is a place where adults need to want to be. Too often, it is not their calling. An administrator I am acquainted with suggested his dream job was being a school principal. Mine was being a classroom teacher and I struggle with a person who is teacher saying there dream was to be outside the classroom.
Beautiful words! Have a wonderful adventure, Ivon.
Thank you Catherine.