Tag Archives: teacher as transformer

I Dwell in Possibility

Posted on December 20, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Emily Dickinson wrote this beautiful poem. With questions, I dwell in possibility. Poetry calls gently to me, leaves a space that I can peer into, and observe that which moves my soul. Without questions, there would be no answers and no certainty. That seems odd and paradoxical, but seems very real to me. Questions allow me real faith and a belief in those things I cannot touch. They are there and I know they are.

I dwell in Possibility–
A fairer House than Prose–
More numerous of Windows–
Superior–for Doors–

Of Chambers as the Cedars–
Impregnable of Eye–
And for an Everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky–

Of Visitors–the fairest–
For Occupation–This–
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise–

15 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged creativity, eloquent questions, Emily Dickinson, Mindful Practice, poetry, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Questions

Posted on December 19, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Questions, real questions, are scary. They need me to face the unknown. What don’t I understand? It is easy to chase real questions away and deal with the easy ones.

Each day I ask:

What is my question?”

What wonder is there?

Can I live curiously?

Can I touch my questions?

Be honest,

Be awake,

Open my heart.

Refuse false questions–

Those I obsessively chase,

Leave me unfulfilled,

Sullied and dirty.

Real questions raise turmoil—

They cause fear–

Am I ready?

Can I navigate turbulent,

Uncharted seas?

Can I delve deeper?

Lay a foundation–

Not on sand;

On rock;

Where I am grounded.

14 Comments

Posted in Leadership, Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged conversational journey, creativity, eloquent questions, leadership, Mindful Practice, poetry, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Blog of the Year Stars 4, 5, and 6

Posted on December 17, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I thank Tiny at Tiny Lessons Blog, Renee at Positive Boomer, and My Pen and Me for providing the last three stars for my blog for “Blog of the Year 2012” award. I am grateful for this generous honour and the people who follow Teacher as Transformer. It is a reflective, creative, and transformative journey. This is a result of the wonderful blogs I discover along the way, the support I receive from that community, and from the more immediate community of my day-to-day life.

I know I will miss some bloggers who deserve this award and I know others do not accept awards. To the first group, I apologize and, to the second group, I am deeply grateful for your contributions.

The ‘rules’ for this award are simple:

Select another blog or other blogs who deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award;
Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award;
Include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award at the Thought Palette and provide these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)
Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them
You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience
As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

There are stars to collect! Yes, there are stars to collect!

Unlike other awards which you can only add to your blog once – this award is different!

When you begin you will receive the 1 star award, and every time you are given the award by another blog, you can add another star! There are total of 6 stars to collect.

You can check out your favourite blogs, and even if they have already been given the award by someone else, you can still award them again and help them to reach the maximum 6 stars!

For more information check FAQ on The Thought Palette

The blogs I follow are truly an eclectic group, but they share one thing: they each bring joy into my life on a daily basis. Here are the bloggers and their sites I would like to nominate:

Nizy’s Life Compendium

The Obamacrat

LaDona’s Music Studio

1 Earth United

The World According to Dina

Lvsrao’s Blog

Pat Wood Blogging

The Future is Papier Mache

Francine in Retirement

Lizzie Joy’s Photo Suite

ABC of Spirit Talk

Lyrics and Sentiments

Waiting for the Karma Truck

Retiree Diary

One Hot Mess

Elisa Ruland

The Other Side of Ugly

The Secret Keeper

4 Writers and Readers

Marsha Lee

67 Comments

Posted in Awards, Blogging, Community and tagged awards, blogging, community, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

What Can I Do?

Posted on December 16, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

It has been an extraordinarily sad day and that was clear in the blogs I follow. A profound sense of sorrow and loss echoed through the digital world. What was extraordinary was the sense what has happened in Connecticut needs to end. This centred on the question: “What can I do?” I think we can do much, but the change begins with us and moves out. As I take my weekly pause, I want to give some thought to what can I do?

On a sombre day–

Grief and sorrow the order,

A message heard:

Change begins in me.

I am a catalyst

I look inside:

Call forth a gentle spirit–

Give it voice.

In light, love happens–

Resonates,

Reaches out its hand

Beckons others join.

Rings on clearest pond,

Ripples of love touch,

Right cascades forth,

Good people meet.

Good touches good,

Prayer meets prayer,

Love conquers hate

Join together.

Good people summoned–

Their tears catalyze,

Grieve and heal as one,

We are change.

Be a community–

It is not a distant loss:

It is our loss–

Feel it.

Small change is ours–

We each contribute,

Love multiplies:

Heals the world.

19 Comments

Posted in Community, Leadership, Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments, Sabbath, Social Justice and tagged community, creativity, eloquent questions, leadership, Mindful Practice, poetry, sorrow and loss, spirituality, stewardship, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Love

Posted on December 15, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I heard the news in my classroom today: 27 killed in a school across the continent. Words cannot describe the sadness we should feel. I watched a video where President Obama wept openly. This is an unimaginable act that seems sanctioned by the lack of laws and a lack of courage to do what is right.s

Such sadness

Strong people weep

Shed tears

Shed not innocent blood.

A tragedy

Senseless, deplorable

Words do not express–

Certainly, do not replace.

In this moment

Plead, beg, pray

Where is our courage?

Certainly not in violence.

The right to bear arms

Holds us each close

Embraces one another

We should never let go.

Use one’s arms–

Bear arms for one purpose–

Love–

And to be loved.

15 Comments

Posted in Education, Leadership, Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged community, creativity, education, leadership, Mindful Practice, poetry, relationships, stewardship, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

A Real Christmas Gift

Posted on December 14, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I struggled to get the words together. I find I forget the message of this time of the year. Jesus was marginalized at birth, but I can imagine the regal presence and bearing of his parents. He was devoted to those in need. I think of Jesus as rebel as he helped the marginalized. He disagreed with political and religious leaders of the time and sought out those on the margins; those in the most need.

Along a dusty road–

A carpenter strode,

The expectant mother rode,

A donkey her only transport

Her regal carriage–

Back straight, head high

Refuge sought–

Turned away countless times.

Marginalized–

He arrived humbly

Born in a stable,

Cradled in a manger,

Welcomed by beasts,

Royal gifts showered upon us–

Without cost;

Priceless.

He only asks, “Can you open your heart?”

He returns each year–

Lights our way,

A source of strength,

Humbly receive gifts,

Restock spirits,

Replenish the soul.

34 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged creativity, faith, servant-leadership, spirituality, stewardship, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Make Music with Your Life

Posted on December 13, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Bob O’Meally wrote this poem. As I read it, it reminded me whatever I choose in life, it is music. I am grateful for creative spaces as a learner and teacher. They provide music in my life.

I left the poem on the left margin to stress the way the poet formatted the poem.

Make music with your life
a
jagged
silver tune
cuts every deepday madness
Into jewels that you wear

Carry 16 bars of old blues
wit/you
everywhere you go
walk thru azure sadness
howlin’
Like a guitar player

20 Comments

Posted in Education, Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged Bob O'Meally, creativity, education, Mindful Practice, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Lasting Change

Posted on December 12, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I began writing this a couple of months ago. Each day, I feel increasingly certain lasting change begins and ends with me. I am unsure what that will mean, but am more able to hold the tension in the uncertainty that surrounds that certainty. This is the paradox of life.

I change–

Proceed patiently,

Wisely,

Prudently,

Trust new road signs

Set aside vanity,

Proceed without ego

One that demands others change

And the me remains unchanged.

Real change–

Change of substance–

Feels glacial,

Is worthwhile,

Invites me on the journey

Casts a new light

Softly, oh so gently

Shines outwards.

Be present in each moment.

What I seek finds me–

No search required;

Sit and await its arrival–

It will be on time

Cease the chase,

The hunt concludes–

Rest in this moment

Only its reality exists.

9 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged creativity, Mindful Practice, poetry, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Unmanaged, Fully Lived

Posted on December 11, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I find I want certainty, but it is impossible to orchestrate. Life is a series of complex, chaotic, messy events and relationships that defy the logic. Life is not unplanned. I need to be awake and attentive for moments outside my plans. What do I do then?

I engineer life,

Manufacture it

Driven–

Overstimulated–

Drown in options

To what end–

I ask.

Try and manage,

Plan,

Organize,

Pursue material wealth–

Seek false power

An ego massage

But no real choices.

One choice–

Live life,

Experience it fully;

Dig deep,

Find what animates

Sow seeds,

Be patient.

Tend barren ground–

Await the richness and bounty–

Trust what emerges

These are the real gifts–

Not easily found,

But always near at hand–

Unmanageable life

But fully liveable.

14 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged creativity, eloquent questions, Mindful Practice, poetry, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Lost

Posted on December 9, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

David Wagoner wrote this poem. It reminds me, as I enter Sabbath, there is a need to be still, to be quiet, and listen attentively. It is in the quiet I hear answers and sometimes those are new questions without the certainty of a ready answer I sought. Those answers sought are often formed before the question is posed.

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you,
If you leave it you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.