May All Your Goings Be Graces - LER 2013

motto badge  - each attendee received one

The bells from the courthouse chimed out the national anthem as I sat on the porch early this morning.  I was sitting in the speckled morning sun, thinking about this past weekend at the Living Education Retreat.  The unity of the community gathered there was a  slice of heaven.  I had shared with  my fellow teachers an article titled "Unity" at the beginning of the last school year.  Rereading the article, I sense that we captured some of this at our retreat.  Here are some of the words of an eyewitness at a CM teacher's conference about 100 years ago -

Unity - the spirit of unity - it is precious, it permeates, it leaves traces on the countenance and it beautifies even the outer garments as spirit is at unity with spirit.  And was there ever a more democratic gathering of people (who as someone said the other day, would never meet each other socially) than that which met...it was not only the great personal joy of meeting, but the feeling of strength and courage which unity of thought brings.

One of the many things we did was to have a morning meditation out on the observation deck overlooking the prairie.  "May All Your Goings Be Graces" was part of the closing prayer.  I shared bits of poetry, Scripture, literature selections and an entry for July 26th from The Friendly Year by Henry Van Dyke.  Perfect timing, Henry.

Do you suppose that this wondrous stage of earth was set, and all the myriad actors in it taught to play their parts, without a spectator in view?  Do you think that there is anything better for you and me to do, now and then, than to sit down quietly in a humble seat, and watch a few scenes in the drama?  Has it not something to say to us, and do we not understand it best when we have a peaceful heart and free from dolor?  That is what in-dolence means, and there are no better teachers of it than the light-hearted birds and untoiling flowers, commended by the wisest of all masters to our consideration; nor can we find a more pleasant pedagogue to lead us to their school than a small, merry brook.

Richele closed the conference with her plenary on math and the Great Recognition.  It was a beautiful talk about the sacredness of all we do, each subject, every truth.  I love the last paragraph from the aforementioned Parents' Review article on unity -

A Whitsuntide Conference of Teachers, whether parent or governess, school teacher or Educational Authority, is specially consecrated by the remembrance of The Supreme Teacher, the Holy Spirit, and Miss Mason has written that if the College bore a dedication it should be known as the "House of the Holy Ghost." (The Parents' Review, Vol. 5, 1995, "Unity" by an eyewitness.)

I am thankful for all those who helped make the weekend such an inspiring event (Heidi, Karla, Bobby Jo, Kristin, and Sally - aka The LER Team!)

From joy to joy,
Nancy