Teacher as Transformer

I Go Among Trees

Posted on October 23, 2013 by ivonprefontaine

I begin with an apology to followers. The email feed of those who I follow has not worked the last two days. This is the second this has happened in the last couple of months. I am not sure what has caused the malfunction at the junction, but I will look into it this weekend after my classes wrap up for the week.

Wendell Berry wrote this poem about taking time and waiting for the right time to do the work. It has been busy and I will have time with a three-week break from classes to sit among the trees hopefully literally and figuratively

I go among the trees and sit still

All my stirring becomes quiet

around me like circles on water.

My tasks lie in their places

Where I left them, asleep like cattle…

Then what is afraid of me comes

and lives a while in my sight.

What it fears in me leaves me,

and the fear of me leaves it.

It sings, and I hear its song.

Then what I am afraid of comes.

I live for a while in its sight.

What I fear in it leaves it,

And the fear of it leaves me.

It sings, and I hear its song.

After days of labor,

mute in my consternations,

I hear my song at last,

and I sing it. As we sing,

the day turns, the trees move.

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Sacred

Posted on October 23, 2013 by ivonprefontaine

We need to weave the sacred throughout our day. That line caught my attention. When I take time and mindfully navigate my way through the day, it makes all the difference in the world.

Cast Light

“Life is precious. Life is sacred. And it ought so to be observed.” – Gordon B. Hinckley

The sacred quiet of the morning. Time to reflect, restore and simply be.

I have been pulled a hundred directions this week, starting projects and getting pulled to something else. Bouncing from one thing to the next. Each day, I had the intention of writing an article that’s due next week, to get ahead and meet the deadline. Everytime I started, I got interrupted by an email popping up, the phone or someone coming in my office. And spending five to ten minutes isn’t enough to allow ideas and thoughts that connect to unfold. This morning, I have gotten more done in the past thirty minutes than the last thirty hours.

We need to weave “the sacred” through each day. To quietly be in awe, floating in gratitude and connected to our life. To objectively observe instead…

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Palm Tree, poem by Rabindranath Tagore

Posted on October 22, 2013 by ivonprefontaine

If only it had wings. What a beautiful line.

Silver Birch Press

PALM TREE (Excerpt)
by Rabindranath Tagore

Palm tree, single-legged giant,
topping other trees,
peering at the firmament –
It longs to pierce the black cloud-celing
and fly away, away,
if only it had wings.

Photo: Chris Palmer

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Natural Selection

Posted on October 22, 2013 by ivonprefontaine

The last couple of classes we talked about the way things seem to run below the surface. Life is full and richer due to paradox. What happens below the surface goes unnoticed. It is interesting to examine events that seem chance and realize they emerged out of necessity. Frequently, we acknowledge in the retrospective rear-view mirror.

Alan Shapiro wrote this poem which has multiple meanings, but I found it speaks to life lived.

proceeds by chance

and necessity

becomes nonrandom

through randomness

builds complexity

from simplicity

nurtures consciousness

unconsciously

evolves purposely

creatures who demand

purpose

and discover

natural selection

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Posted on October 21, 2013 by ivonprefontaine

It has been a late start to the day. I met with a colleague to begin preparing a presentation for next month. I am just getting settled into the normal routine. This is a wonderful set of guidelines for any day.

Lvsrao's Blog

1. One should either find a way or make a way.

2. Never let defeat have the last word.

3. To aim is not enough, must hit.

4.Winning is not everything but the effort to win is.

5. Success is a destination, not a journey.

6. Failure is an event, not a person.

7. There is no substitute for hard work.

8. Insincerity is manipulative.

9. Take time to quiet.

10. The secret of concentration is the secret of life.

11. One must be on top of change lest change will be on top of that one.

12. Human beings can do all things only when wills to do.

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The Need to Win

Posted on October 19, 2013 by ivonprefontaine

Yesterday, I was writing and getting ready for class this morning. I pulled The Promise of Paradox by Parker Palmer off the shelf and looked for a reference. When I opened the book, it was to the page with this poem on it. When I focus on the need to win, as Chuang Tzu suggested, I am drained of power and divided against myself. The way to victory is to let go of the chase for victory and the avoidance of defeat.

We talked about the binary world we live in. Winning and losing are part of this binary. They sit at extremes and point in opposite directions. When I let go of and let myself enter the between space, I find my way better.

Take care and enjoy Sabbath.

When an archer is shooting for nothing

He has all the skill.

If he shoots for a brass buckle

He is already nervous.

If he shoots for a prize of gold

He goes blind

Or sees two targets—

He is out of his mind!

His skill has not changed. But the prize

Divides him. He cares.

He thinks more of winning

Than of shooting—

And the need to win

Drains him of power.

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The problem with effectiveness

Posted on October 19, 2013 by ivonprefontaine

I apologize for not posting last night, but it was a class night and things got crazy with time or its absence. Parker Palmer is one of my favourite authors and David at The Jog shared this wonderful video about a need for new measures in life. Take care and enjoy a wonderful day.

Grits and Grains

We have become obsessed with effectiveness which, according to Parker Palmer, means that we take on smaller tasks. For the bigger tasks, like love, mercy and peace we need a different measure. That measure is faithfulness.

From effectiveness to faithfulness from Center for Courage & Renewal on Vimeo.

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tea’s reveries

Posted on October 18, 2013 by ivonprefontaine

I love a cup of tea. I never drink coffee. Tea has a space that allows me to be and savour the moment. My cup is just within reach most of the day.

Sirena Tales

“Cozy”

I sip in stillness

tea’s rare silent solitude

sweet, deep reverie

****

“Swift Transition”

Ev’ryone comes back!

reverie? no! upheaval

now, where was I, tea?

****

“GAH! (epilogue)”

sinking in too late

how did it and I become

so noisy, my fate

**blessed,

grateful **

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Thank you

Posted on October 17, 2013 by ivonprefontaine

Sometimes it takes time for wisdom to appear. This is an incredible koan for me to hold close and remember when I am impatient.

Dr Bill Wooten

“After a long and arduous journey a young Japanese man arrived deep in a forest where the teacher of his choice was living in a small house he had made. When the student arrived, the teacher was sweeping up fallen leaves. Greeting his master, the young man received no greeting in return. And to all his questions, there were no replies. Realizing there was nothing he could do to get the teacher’s attention, the student went to another part of the same forest and built himself a house. Years later, when he was sweeping up fallen leaves, he was enlightened. He dropped everything, ran through the forest to his teacher, and said, “Thank you.”

– John Cage sharing an old Zen story in his book Silence

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The Rest

Posted on October 17, 2013 by ivonprefontaine

I struggled for sometime with the concept of being retired, so to speak. I reflected on the concept. The etymological roots of retire come through the French–retirer–which connects with the idea of shoot, throw, and draw. It means to re-shoot or start over again which has a much different meaning than I had applied before. I am starting over, but with much support and it is a good place to be. It is good to begin this part of the journey without reservation which is the way I am fashioning retire today.

Lawrence Rabb wrote of waiting because we are too young and not doing because we are too old. My current concept of retire looks at the possibility that lies ahead.

You’ve tried the rest,

You’ve waited long enough.

Everything catches up with you.

And you’re too old,

or too young.

Or you don’t have the money

or you don’t have the time.

Maybe you’re shy, and maybe

you’re just afraid.

How often have you heard it,

have you promised

yourself you’d try