via …the little bit of love that I sow now will bear fruits…
Purple Rays shared a beautiful quote from Henri Nouwen, a Catholic priest who spent his early career as an academic and shifted to L’Arche as a caregiver for disabled adults.
I recently read In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership. He wrote not about leadership writ large, but about his leadership during his early years at L’Arche and how much he learned from those he was to give care.
Transitioning from one role to another is always challenging. Nouwen provides insight into the challenges how he shifted away from leadership focused on being “relevant, popular, and powerful” to leadership more aligned with servant and love for others as a shepherd caring for each member of a flock.
How do I serve others? This is an essential question in my life as I transition from teaching in a classroom and to something new and, as yet, undefined. Perhaps, more importantly, it will always remain, at best, ill-defined.
Perhaps, like the mountain, each striation will serve to help me author new stories and embrace the very mystery of the future, based on history and traditions that help me serve and be minful of the needs of others.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
A REALLY GOOD POST TO REBLOG!
Thank you Jonathan.
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
LOOK TO THE MOUNTAINS,,,FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. 😀
Nature educates when we give her a chance.
Yep. In more ways than we are willing to recognize, at times!
Serving others should be our main goal in my opinion. It doesn’t need to be anything of great magnitude but just a sense of caring. Too many feel they have to be paid for everything they do but that isn’t service in my eyes. Spread a little kindness wherever you go today.
I agree. Thich Nhat Hanh say we find the extraordinary in the ordinary and serving fits with that way of thinking. Love and kindness come hand-in-hand.
So you are in the midst of a ‘sea change,’ as well. Me too.
I love Nouwen, and that you and I seeem to have been attracted to many of the same wisdom keepers. 😉
Many authors, non-fiction and poetry, I read came via Parker Palmer.
Wow. Many we share came from the amazing staff of Vermont College, years ago.
I think we begin with one and that changes our reading habits. Or, at least that is what happened to me. I read Parker Palmer, wanted to know more about others he referenced and it led me to others e.g., Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry, Thomas Merton, etc. In turn, they led me to new authors and books.
Fabulous.