The daily meanderings of a teacher

Bird Droppings January 27, 2019 Who is at the center of your universe?   “Tung-shan was asked, ‘The normal mind is the way; what is the normal mind?’ He replied, ’Not picking things up along the road.’” From Teachings of Zen, edited by Thomas Cleary, © 1998   One aspect of the Zen teachings is…

Bird Droppings January 25, 2019 Passion: Can it be rekindled?   Many days I wonder who I write for in the morning. Perhaps no one, maybe a teacher who needs just a thought but occasionally I write for me. I needed an uplift, an adrenaline shot so to say. Starting in a new school with…

Bird Droppings January 24, 2019 Quietly listening to Bob Dylan and pondering the word inspiration I woke up a bit earlier than normal although I did have a very good night’s sleep. I left the class room frustrated yesterday I had not taught. My day had been thrown off by two co-teachers being out and…

Bird Droppings January 23, 2019 Amazing how intertwined the strands of life really are I was asked at dinner one night when did I start teaching and I responded at age twelve. The group I was with was thinking I was being my typical sarcastic self. Then I explained I started teaching swimming with my…

Bird Droppings January 22, 2019 LIFE Morning is a special time a beginning. Several aspects make it special first one of taking the dog out and talking with them as he sniffs and does his thing in the yard. Then I go to my writing and reading which has become my meditation for the day…

Bird Droppings January 18, 2019 Our goal in teaching is for students to create new questions   Over the past month now back in active teaching again, I have been pondering. I have received advice through email and even a billboard or two driving home from Mount Yonah on a quick trip with my son…

Bird Droppings January 17, 2019 A chill in the air but not in the heart, thank you Maya Angelou   For several weeks now we have been balancing between warm and cold weather in the early mornings which still is too cold for the crickets and tree frogs who need an ambient temperature a bit…

Bird Droppings January 16, 2019 Examining the threads of life   “Man did not weave the web of life he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.” Chief Seattle, 1854   It has been a few years since I read a National Geographic article where the…

Bird Droppings January 15, 2019 Reconciliation of trust   “It’s the examination of conscience. Unless you examine your conscience, you don’t know what you have to be sorry for and what to confess” Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M., S.T.D., Ten Tips for Better Confessions, The Gift of Reconciliation   Sort of difficult beginning a dropping with a…

Bird Droppings January 13, 2019 Is it counting knuckles, or is it no child will be left behind, doing what we want and that is considered totally normal.   One of my students asked a few years back what day of the month the following Friday would be and I responded January 30. Just as…