Today is a special day in our lives. 41 years ago, Kathy and I were married. We chose The Prayer of St. Francis was one of our readings and have a simple plaque on our bedroom wall of the prayer.
The prayer is a reminder of how we affect the world, beginning with those closest to us. It is a reminder of how being mindful and present are essential in relationships.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offense, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.
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 and its anticipatory relationship with the future, and hope as an essential element in learning.
Reblogged this on Poesy plus Polemics and commented:
A beautiful post from my friend and fellow blogger Ivon Prefontaine – The Prayer of St Francis has always been a favorite of mine – and the vocal version is beyond lovely
Teacher as Transformer 
Happy anniversary ♥ A beautiful prayer too
Thank you Christy.
It makes a lovely hymn too.
Leslie
It does. I had not thought of it as being sung.
We sing it at our church.
That would be lovely.
It is.
Happy Anniversary Ivon.
Hugs
Thank you David. Hugs back.
Oh, my.. 41 years! Congratulations, and I suppose we should add, “Well done, both of you!” 🙂
Thank you. 41 years flies by when you are having fun.
Aw 🙂 I’m truly happy for you both.
Happy Anniversary! What a beautiful prayer to build a marriage on.
It is. It has a special place in our family.
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
We also wish you a Happy anniversary, and thank you very much for sharing this wonderful prayer. 😉 Michael
Thank you Michael. It was an honour.
Hello, is always a honour for me/ us! Have a nice day! 😉 Michael
Congratulations.
Thank you.
So beautiful. Happy Anniversary Ivon 💕
Thank you Val.
lovely
Happy Anniversary!!!
Thank you Bonny.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY !!!
Thank you Lara
Happy Anniversary, Ivon and Kathy.
Angelina sings the prayer beautifully…
Thank you Carolyn. She does, but I am partial to the song and think it is done beautifully by anyone.
Happy anniversary, Ivon! May you and Kathy celebrate many more together! 😉 xoxoM
Thank you Margarita. We are looking forward to it. There is some longevity on both sides.
😉 xoM
Happy Anniversary!
Thank you Catherine
Beautiful prayer! 🙏Happy Anniversary to you and Kathy! 🥂🌷
Thank you.
😻🌻
Blessings on your special day, Ivon – you’re catching up – I will soon be at 49 – also, the prayer is a favorite of mine
Thank you Paul. Congratulations.
Reblogged this on Poesy plus Polemics and commented:
A beautiful post from my friend and fellow blogger Ivon Prefontaine – The Prayer of St Francis has always been a favorite of mine – and the vocal version is beyond lovely
Thank you Paul.
Happy Anniversary. That is one of my favorite prayers. I especially like the musical version.
I did not even think of a video, until I did a quick search and there were several. It is a lovely way to enjoy the prayer.
So beautiful and wise, Ivon.
Thank you Cynthia.
Wonderful, happy anniversary Ivon!!
Thank you Mary.
Very nice article Sir, I enjoyed the read. I am going to reblog this article for you.
Thank you.
Reblogged this on Truth Troubles: Why people hate the truths' of the real world.