Bird Droppings October 4, 2012

Pondering is that a word?

 

Today is an interesting day; I am within a few hours of finishing an IEP for a student and preparing several lesson plans for next week. I was thinking back a few years to our last house, it is so welcome to be back in the country and no motorcycles at three in the morning, cars and truck noises and shopping center air conditioners humming all night, just silence as I walk out and an expanse of sky. I was previously confined to the circle of oaks and pines and I could glimpse only one constellation at a time now in a flattering landscape and a more extended horizon I see hundreds and shooting stars every time I walk out at night. Today with a lacy network of clouds a large moon is beginning to shrink.

Sitting here at school in my room with Carlos Nakai flute music coming from the speakers I find I do tend to use the word ponder a lot as I go about in life. It is about thinking, walking, and listening as I walk my dog or just step out into the mornings. My wife has made a statement numerous times since we have moved that really has sunk in. “This was the house she was made to be in or had waited for all her life” I use the term loosely as I explain how life flows to students. At this moment we are where we are to be and for me it is in this house and with my family and teaching the students I am teaching. I am never sure why things happen and or for what reason. Recently a friend was tired of hearing about people telling her everything happens for a reason. I am of the spirit that it happens and the reasons unfold as we ponder and reflect.

Often I use the term coincidence and synchronicity to explain. Karl Jung coined the phrase many years ago and in more recent years James Redfield wrote a book explaining his idea of how life flowed, The Celestine prophecy. I joke about how I found the book. I had taken advantage of a free offer from a consulting firm to review our company and offer business plans back when I was in the publishing business. I knew I was close to closing my doors and perhaps wanted confirmation. Obviously his suggestions were heeded and I did close my business shortly thereafter. However in our talks about life and spiritual matters he mentioned Redfield’s book. I wrote a note and stuck it in my wallet for a future trip to Borders or Barnes and Nobles. Finally as I journeyed among the shelves at my favorite store in the world, a book fell and hit me in the head, The Celestine Prophecy. I did buy it and read and it is an interesting concept.

That was nearly thirteen years ago, I started teaching again after a twenty three year layoff and recently I was involved in teaching as a as an Instructor for Piedmont College. There is a significant difference in college students who want to be there and high school students who do not and only are because state law now requires attendance as a precursor to a driver’s license.

 

“When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.” Charles A. Beard

 

A powerful statement as I read today Beard’s quote. I do recall that first day of class nearly twelve years ago, much of spent in lock down being September 11, 2001 and at that moment I was confused as to what was really going on. It was many days later I really thought about what day I came back to teaching. Charles Beard was a historian and often a controversial one at that. He commented that Roosevelt brought the US into World War II for economic recovery. Interesting historically that has been the case many times over in terms of going to war. When I looked at this quote I was thinking about little children being afraid of the dark and night time. Several times when out camping with youth groups and trying to ease the fear of darkness I have used stars as a focal point and it does have to be dark to see the stars.

But in life so often we lose sight of the stars until trials and tribulations show in contrast and we again can view our own stars. Folks they are there, today although with all that is going on it is often hard to see the shining stars. I found a little book as I was looking for research material for a paper I am working on. The title of the book is, “Thoughts on the East”, by Thomas Merton, who spent a large portion of his life writing before he died in Southeast Asia protesting the Viet Nam war. Merton was a Trappist monk and advocate for peace.

 

“Great knowledge sees all in one and small knowledge breaks down in the many.” Thomas Merton

 

I was listening to students and a substitute discuss how so often we pick a small inconsequential topic or item and make a big issue of it. Yet in life if we see the interconnectedness we can find how all is related and intertwined. I was thinking back to seeing only a few stars at a time at my old house and now seeing so many now. For some people they may still be limited but rest assured the stars are there and they will be shining when we need to see them. So for today dear friends please keep all in harm’s way on your mind and in your hearts and to always give thanks namaste.

 

Wa de (Skee)

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