Category Archives: Reflective Moments

It Is I Who Must Begin – Vaclav Havel

Posted on October 12, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I made a promise coming into the school year. I would keep my head, do only what I can, and not flounder. I won’t let things get me down. I find solace in writing, nature, with Kathy, and in reading poetry. Some days I just open a book and find a poem which speaks to me in such a clear voice I think the poet stands or sits across from me sharing their words. That is what happened with this poem by Vaclav Havel.

It is I who must begin,

Once I begin, once I try—

here and now,

right where I am,

not excusing myself

by saying that things

would be easier elsewhere,

without grand speeches and

ostentatious gestures,

but all the more persistently

—to live in harmony

with the “voice of Being,” as I

understand it within myself

—as soon as I begin that,

I suddenly discover,

to my surprise, that

I am neither the only one,

nor the first,

nor the most important one

to have set out upon the road.

Whether all is really lost

or not depends entirely on

whether or not I am lost.

26 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Reflective Moments and tagged Mindful Practice, philosophy, poetry, reading poetry, teacher as transformer, Vaclav Havel, writing. Bookmark the permalink.

Thanksgiving

Posted on October 6, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

We are in the midst of Canadian Thanksgiving weekend and honouring Sabbath holds more meaning although maybe it should not. What if I were grateful and thankful each day-each moment?

Gratitude and thankfulness

Celebrate each moment

Turn to beloved others

Hold tight

Recognize worth

Share sacred

Moment by moment

Recognize extraordinary

Revealed in ordinary

What I take for granted

It is there

In each moment.

The rich bounty

Feel blessed.

That is Kathy standing on a rock right above Rearguard Falls on the Fraser River in Mount Robson Provincial Park. Two things I am grateful for.

9 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged canadian thanksgiving, creativity, Mindful Practice, Mount Robson, mount robson provincial park, nature, poetry, robson provincial park, teacher as transformer, Thanksgiving. Bookmark the permalink.

Two Toasts by Parker Palmer

Posted on October 4, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I find it interesting how when we need something to help us it falls into our laps or our Facebook folder. Parker Palmer is one of my favourite authors and thinkers. He is also a very good poet. I needed this poem today. It was not busy, but I sensed I needed quiet and space to let the words form. I began a 24 hour run with three meetings scheduled and spent most of my day in front of the computer completing ‘necessary paperwork’. I felt fried at the end of the day and, as I drove home, I thought of this wonderful poem that Parker Palmer shared on Facebook. It calmed me and I found myself at peace at the various lights and stops on the way home.

2 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments, Synchronicity and tagged Mindful Practice, Parker Palmer, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Silence, Solitude, Sabbath

Posted on September 22, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I head into my Sabbath – I disconnect to reconnect. Last weekend we spent time in silence and in that space solitude appeared. I enjoyed a good week in a place I often struggle to find peace of mind. Besides the retreat, it was made easier as I participate in a wonderful group on a monthly conference call and we met this week. I also interviewed for a radio show about mindful servant-leadership. This was an incredible experience and will share a schedule, when it is available, for those who are interested in listening to it.

I can only say the peace I felt this week was a result of the silence and solitude at the retreat. This and sharing that experience with Kathy was a great time.

Spacious silence and solitude…

Within you I sought refuge

Peaceful and compassionate place.

There lovingkindness discovered me

The heart breaks open

Each moment its reward.

Silently the spirit reveals itself

Able to speak

Softly, gently, tenderly,

Begs for its quiet voice to be heard.

Solace finds me

An unmarked path emerges

One step at a time.

At week’s end

Gratitude for wisdom revealed

For week’s beginning.

9 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Photography, Poetry, Reflective Moments, Sabbath and tagged Leadership. Servant-Leadership, photography, poetry, servant-leadership, silence and solitude, spirituality, teacher as transformer, writing. Bookmark the permalink.

The Bridge

Posted on September 18, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Kathy and I enjoyed our break at the retreat this weekend. I feel a little under the weather, but during the retreat itself that simply found a backseat in the peaceful environment we were in all weekend.

When I attend spiritual retreats, I find part way through I question myself. We often talk about compassion in these settings, but I struggle at times to be kind to those who I feel have offended me in the past. I am sure it is human nature. This weekend, I recognized there is worth in the small offenses, I find the good as I turn a little on the circle and shift my senses. I can see the world slightly differently. It is the bridge I need to walk across the abyss that appears, but it is only visible one step at a time. I trust my judgement and that of those who help me take those steps.

I know some might look at this picture and say,”That isn’t much of a drop or bridge.” I am so afraid of heights even this was a challenge the day I crossed.

I stand on the edge

The abyss yawns

Take the first step

The bridge is safe.

Built on compassion

Crafted from wisdom

Supported by community

It will carry my weight.

If only I trust my self

Take the first step

Trust my instincts

And those who travel with me.

18 Comments

Posted in Community, Mindful Life, Photography, Poetry, Reflective Moments, Uncategorized and tagged community, creativity, Mindful Practice, nature, photography, poetry, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Open Heart; Open Mind

Posted on September 12, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I walked out of the house and looked up at a clear sky. The Moon stood out in the sky and just below was a morning star. It is not a great picture, but it reminded me I live in a metropolitan area of over 1 million. I find my self rewarded when I take the time and see nature in that place. They are there; I only have to look for them.

See what I want

Hear what I choose

Instead, open my whole self.

Behold nature’s gifts

Hold close to the heart

Hidden only when I choose.

Nature waits for me

Quietly reveals its self

Open my whole self.

6 Comments

Posted in Community, Haiku, Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged creativity, Mindful Practice, nature, photography, poetry, teacher as transformer, Wendell Berry. Bookmark the permalink.

September

Posted on September 10, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I walked the path along the North Saskatchewan River yesterday. The valley is changing as nature takes its course and readies us for autumn.

Leaves fall by the path.

New colours slowly emerge

Nature paints herself.

Summer slips away

Seamlessly meets the equinox

Harvest our bounty.

5 Comments

Posted in Haiku, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Reflective Moments, Uncategorized and tagged creativity, haiku, nature, north saskatchewan river, photography, poetry, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Tern, Tern, Tern

Posted on September 8, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Kathy and I walk in the North Saskatchewan River valley 3 or 4 times a week. As we walked today and came across this scene, it reminded of the Pete Seeger melody Turn, Turn, Turn using words adapted from Book of Ecclesiastes.

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven.

6 Comments

Posted in Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged creativity, Mindful Practice, nature, north saskatchewan river, photography, poetry, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Conversation Circles

Posted on September 7, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

In our classroom, we use a conversation circle. I use it as a time to clarify things from my perspective and allow students to speak about what they would like to do. At other times, we talk about upcoming events. Today in the conversation circle, each student introduced themselves to the group, which seems like a small thing, but sometimes goes unattended in classrooms. I also asked the students about what they want for complementary courses. This is an outgrowth of the conversation circles we held last year. Students want a voice in their learning.

We use a ‘talking stick.’ The person with the ‘talking stick’ is the speaker and others listen. In an era of digital technologies, the stick reinforces a protocol of face-to-face conversation which we increasingly need in our world. The ‘talking stick’ was a gift from a parent last year. She is a member of a First Nation so it has some traditional meaning attached to its design.

The wood is driftwood which came from a local lake and reflects nature’s contributions to the circle. Someone carved a bear head into the top of the stick. In some traditions, the bear symbolizes courage, freedom, and power. The feather is from a hawk. Hawks are visionary and guide the person. The coloured ribbons represent the four directions in the circle. The parent attached a medicine bag. The medicine bag heals, guides and protects, and has materials or objects of value to its carrier.

25 Comments

Posted in Community, Education, Photography, Reflective Moments, Uncategorized and tagged community, conversation circle, conversational journey, education, learning, medicine bag, photography, school, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

The Booker Award

Posted on September 5, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I compare the world of blogging to living in a small community. We meet each and acknowledge each other. We get to know some people better than others, but recognize something unique in each other.

Mimi from Waiting for the Karma Truck recently honoured me with The Booker Award and I am grateful she recognized me.

I look forward to Mimi’s each day. She shares various gifts and lessons from life, work, and, family. She provides wisdom drawn from those sources through her blog, public presentations, and writing.

The fun and challenging aspect of this particular award is to list my five favorite books. Similar to Mimi I can’t do that, but I offer five books which I found compelling at some point. I enjoy reading and this list is sorely incomplete. I read very few fictional books, but that is a product of the doctoral journey I undertook.

The Alchemist – Paolo Coehlo (actually any book by this Brazilian author is a worthy read).

To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee (I cheated and left this on from Mimi’s list, but it was and remains an outstanding social justice reminder).

The Executioners – John D. MacDonald (I read almost anything by this author. This book became Cape Fear, but he is famous for a pulp fiction character Travis McGee).

The Courage to Teach – Parker J. Palmer (I first read Parker Palmer’s Let Your Life Speak before returning to university for my education degree and read this author extensively.

Why I Wake Early – Mary Oliver (I could have included a number of this poet’s books or books by Wendell Berry, Billy Collins, Robert Frost, etc. I love poetry).

I nominate others who I hope can add into our libraries and expand our literary worlds. I tried to expand and move beyond those who received earlier awards from me. I think their blogs are diverse and we will receive a range of new ideas for our ‘cosmic library.’

I tap into the libraries of:

Elizabeth’s Ramblings

Practical Practice Management

Sylver Blaque

Elke Teaches