I think, touch wood, that spring has arrived in Alberta. With it comes the hope of new harvest from natural and human collaboration. When we work together, we can have faith in the emerging hope. Hopefulness gives us a lightness to our steps and words.
Art and Haiku
We are artists the Fridays we attend. I am not an artist, but have the good fortune to have parents who contribute and are quite artistic. A number of the students are good artists as well. Our first artistic venture was Grid Art. I included a couple of pictures today with a little poetry along with images. I used my cell phone camera so I don’t think the pictures turned out well.
winged clouds above
contrasted against blueness
majestic in flight
Brilliant colour
Emerges from black richness
Ever expanding
“Citation du jour” Pensée Navajo
This is a beautiful sentiment to begin the day. Choose your words well, It is the way we always create our world. That is a loose translation from the orginal French. Take care and choose your words well.
Reach into the Heart
I arrive at the end of another busy, fruitful week. I begin the digital sabbath and spend time looking in, reading quietly, writing, and reflect on what is revealed. What is my heart’s purpose?
I gently reach into my heart,
A space not easily entered–
It resists busyness–
Asks for something different.
Here, at heart’s door
I listen carefully,
Patiently,
Then, a faint whisper.
Tenderly emerges…
Here, in delicate quietness;
Here, in exquisite solitude;
Here, in rich frailty;
Here, in soft strength
But, only when I listen
My inner teacher speaks.
What do I hear?
I am uncertain–
It is the soul that speaks
It speaks differently–
Not in human terms–
In spiritual terms.
Wisdom discerned…
Revealed slowly…
In that patience and calmness…
Life animated…
This way
Life’s fruit borne.
Choose a Good One
This is another one of those short, beaufiful, and profound messages that |I receive daily from bloggers. We get to choose the attitude we want to have in each moment. I am learning to say, “This too shall pass” and see the world and my life as a constantly changing place.
Tolerance and Flexibility
Despite the weather, we had a great day. Many students do not attend Fridays. In past years, we attended every second Monday. Our administration changed that this year without consulting parents or me. I struggled with it for several months and made a dramatic shift a couple of months ago. I decided to devote Fridays to art i.e. drawing, painting, and building. I am not an artist in that sense, but was able to get access to resources from a friend who is an artist and an excellent teacher. The students enjoy the change. We built kites today and I felt a positive and life-giving energy in the room. I thought of this poem by Lao Tzu.
Living humans are soft and limber.
Dead they are hard and rigid.
Living, the 10, 000 grasses and wood species are soft and crisp.
So “hard” and “rigid” accompany death.
“Soft” and “limber” accompany life.
So if armies are coercive, they do not triumph.
When wood is strong, the axe comes out.
Strength and dominance reside below.
The soft and limber belong higher.
Kelley Bean
I have a poster with this quote on it hanging in my classroom. Several years ago, a student asked who the man in the poster was. Without hesitation, I replied, “My Dad.” Another student said there was no way that was my dad. I told them to look at the wild hair, facial foliage, and think of the eccentric behaviours. They agreed it could be my dad. Another student pointed out Einstein’s name on the poster, but 5 years later we still refer to Einstein as Mr. P.’s other Dad. Have a good day.
A real simple, straightforward visual. What are the values that I hold close?
Each a Poet
We are each creative in our own personal and unique manner. It requires a mindful, contemplative approach to life to allow us to see ourselves as the poets, authors, and artists of our lives. It is in those gaps between the stimulus or gift we receive and the response or offerings we return to the world. The world and universe surround and envelope us in its richness. We pause and realize our world, its gifts, and our opportunities. It is in those pauses we refresh and create.
We journey
We occasionally pause
Muse a moment…
Soak in the world…
In so many ways;
Our hearts touched.
Its sounds–
A luxuriant symphonic backdrop;
A barely audible sigh;
Scarcely heard
Always there
A gentle pulse.
Its sensual touch–
Soft caresses…
A tender lover
It embraces
Wraps us in its arms
A safe place.
Its smells
Drift on a breeze
A rare restaurant
A delectable menu
Its richness
Appetites soothed.
Its sights
Visually adorn nature’s wall
Blend colours and materials
Masterpieces hung
Set upon the mantle
Shaped from nature’s gifts.
The world expresses itself;
Not in words
Yet, as a poem
We are each poets
Served and serving
We craft a life.
What do I offer on a daily basis? This post reminded me of a recent quote from Jon Kabat-Zinn: “Find a Job with a capital J. Stop doing other people’s work.” What is my raison d’être? This is quiet, self-effacing question.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 