Graduations loom large once again. The next generation begins its legacy as they collect their diplomas and start the next chapter of their lives. It is a scary time for these graduates. The world is a much different place than when I graduated. But as these new graduates face a brave new world, they should be comforted by the fact that they have been taught and prepared by teachers who they will come to respect in a whole new light not long from now.
I recently finished re-reading a book called Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom. I'm amazed every time I finish that book. It touches me deeply, and I am haunted by its lessons.
The book is about a man named Morrie Schwartz and his battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. Actually it's less about Schwartz' fight for life than about the incredible lessons he teaches the author, Mitch Albom, during their weekly visits. Albom was a former student of Schwartz' at Brandeis University. The two had lost touch after Albom graduated, but were reunited when Albom saw his old professor featured on a segment of Nightline. Their friendship renewed, the pair began visiting with each other on Tuesday afternoons, during which time Schwartz imparted the wisdom of a dying man. Lessons that could only be taught by a man facing his own mortality.
I cry every time I read this simple little book. It challenges me to think about life and death and friendship and what we are taught by others. It makes me think about the responsibility we have in how we live our lives, and subsequently how we face our deaths. It makes me think about what an effect human beings can have on one another, and what an incredible gift that truly is.
The last paragraphs of the book always hits home with me:
“Have you ever really had a teacher? One who saw you as a raw but precious thing, a jewel that with wisdom, could be polished to a proud shine? If you are lucky enough to find your way to such teachers, you will always find your way back. Sometimes it is only in your head. Sometimes it is right alongside their beds.
“The last class of my old professor's life took place once a week, in his home, by a window in his study where he could watch a small hibiscus plant shed its pink flowers. The class met on Tuesdays. No books were required. The subject was the meaning of life. It was taught from experience.
“The teaching goes on.”
The raw emotion of those words touches my soul and reminds me of the absolute power of human relationships. Especially that of teacher and student. It reminds me of my teenage years when I was all but lost in life and suddenly I had all these wonderful people placed in my path who helped guide me into adulthood from that tenuous place that is adolescence. Some of these people ultimately became my teachers, my counselors, my friends, and my mentors. Many are still in my life. And I owe them a world of thanks. I have been blessed with some of the most magnificent teachers. People who inspired me and helped me to find my way in the darkness. People who helped me to find my voice and become confident enough in myself to raise that voice for a higher cause. These people have guided me and supported me through some of the worst times and have celebrated with me through some of the best, and it is an honor for me to call them my teachers and my friends. Mrs. Campbell in third grade, and Mr. Lemminen in fifth. Mrs. Lyons, Mr. McLaughlin, Mr. White, and Mr. Costello in Junior High. And in High School, Mrs. Cosgrove, Mrs. Publicover, Ms. McKay, Mr. Weisner, Mr. King. In college, Profs. Littlefield, Hunter, Prageant, and Young. There are more, too many to name. Not just traditional school teachers, but teachers in life, ministers, colleagues, advisors.
A lot of time has passed since I have seen many of these people. But they have never stopped teaching me. And when I call, they are there, ready to listen or offer advice or a loving word. They have always done so without judgment and with unconditional understanding. They have never given up on me, their student.
We don't get together often, most of us. But I have come to rely on their presence as a stabilizing force in my life. Their lessons stay with me. My life is a work in progress. The goal is not to be perfect, but to do the best I can. My teachers have never required perfection of me. Only the willingness to be honest with myself and with them, and the resolve to do my best. I live my life according to the lessons taught by these people, my teachers.
Mitch Albom and Morrie Schwartz lost touch after Mitch graduated from Brandies. Their friendship was renewed when Mitch found out that Morrie was dying. I feel fortunate that the friendship I have with some of my former teachers continued after I graduated. I was lucky enough to find my way to such teachers. And I know I can always find my way back.
For the graduates of 2004 I would say only that it is time for you to come into your own. Adulthood awaits you, and you have been well-prepared by these wonderful people we call our teachers. Take the lessons they taught into the world and make it your own. This is your time; the world awaits your contribution.
I woke earlier than I intended this morning. I had opened the window in our bedroom last night to breathe in the cool, crisp air of a late spring evening. The dogs next door started their daily bark-fest around six a.m., and I woke from a peaceful slumber, never to return to the dream I had reluctantly given up. But all was not lost. I pulled the covers over my head, leaned in close against my sleeping husband, and slipped back into a state of semi-consciousness.
It was the first day in over a week that Joe didn't have to get up before the sun to do a limo run. Not having to set the clock last night was heavenly. Getting to wake up in each other's arms and know we didn't have to be anywhere or do anything for several hours was even better. We spent the better part of the early morning hours half awake, cuddling, and talking with great enthusiasm about our impending road trip later this week to Kentucky. All the while Sasha lay snoring contently, curled up against us deep in that puppy dream world she dissolves into each night. We could hardly stifle our giggles when her snoring overtook our whispering pillow talk. So romantic is our bedroom just before the sun rises, with the cool mist of the morning resting heavy in the air, as my husband and I gaze longingly into each other's eyes and our dog snores deeply and sighs in response to whatever dream her mind's eye plays. Man, are we geeks. I do so love my life.
Donald Rumsfeld is an ass. I'm sorry, but he is an ass to the Nth degree. During his surprise trip to Iraq recently to throw water on a fire *inspire the troops*, Rumsfeld said in response to the media coverage over the current prisoner abuse scandal, “I've stopped reading the newspapers.” [Then he waited for applause] “It's a fact. I'm a survivor.” [Then he waited for more applause].
OK, now what in the hell did Donald Rumsfeld survive? Having--at least for now-- to resign in shame amid the controversy? Yeah, that's not a sure bet just yet, Donnie. What did he survive? I really want to know. He's a mondo A-S-S. I can't even write about this any more right now.
Today is an historic day in Massachusetts, and it will likely have far-reaching consequences. On Monday, May 17, gay marriage became legal in my state. And you know what? I'm pretty proud that the state in which I grew up is the first to honor the rights of ALL its citizens, and not just the ones “they” deem “normal.” Marriage is about two people who love each other and are committed to spending the rest of their lives together. It's something all human beings are capable of, whether that love is for a person of the opposite sex or not.
And you know, a funny thing happened on the way to the State House...my marriage held up just fine at the stroke of midnight when the first gay couples signed their intent to marry notices and received their marriage licenses. The fact that the law now allows two women or two men to marry will have absolutely no effect on my marriage whatsoever. I love my husband, he loves me, and we believe that if any two people feel the way we do about each other, they should be allowed to demonstrate that love in the eyes of the law. They should be allowed to marry.
Archbishop O'Malley says that gay marriage “will not strengthen the institution of marriage, but only weaken it...”
Yeah, 'cause with a 50% divorce rate, the institution of marriage is really strong as it is. Please. Live and let live. We have far greater worries this night than who will marry who and what it will do to the “moral fiber” of our country. Can you say Abu Ghraib? Let's worry about the fact that the current Administration is torturing its prisoners of war and weakening the already precarious reputation of this great country. Let's concern ourselves with the lies and venom spewed forth by Bush and his cronies, and the fact that Bush's approval rating is still at 42%. Let's consider for just a moment that we are fighting a war whose beginning was brought about by the play on our vulnerability by our highest leaders. While we railed from 9/11, Bush marveled at his luck and planned his revenge on the bully who tried to kill his daddy.
This also marks the anniversary of Brown v. the Board of Education. This country has indeed come far in a short amount of time. Let's not regress.
I can be a wimp about the cold, but one of my goals is to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro before its ice cap is gone.
I think reality TV is a blight on the modern world, but secretly I'm a fan of The Restaurant and I've watched The Real World since its inception 12 years ago.
I think hiking is great, and I try to get out regularly, but when night comes, there's nothing like a warm bed in a cozy room.
I'm disappointed to see the US-centric homogenization of world culture, but how cool is it to have a Starbucks in Tokyo.
I'm fascinated with and admire many foreign cultures, but I worry about the long-term effects of immigrant populations that don't assimilate into their adopted countries.
A big part of my career has been based on computing technologies, and I don't go anywhere without my laptop, but I occasionally wonder how much net benefit we derive from personal computers.
I'm grateful for having been born in the US, and love much about my country, but I sometimes think I might be happier somplace kinder and gentler.
I'm ambiguous, at best, about religion, and haven't practiced my personal religion (Lutheranism) in some time, but I want to make the kora around Mt. Kailas, the Tibetan trek that is said to cleanse past sins.
I dream of visiting far-away places where history comes alive and we become acutely aware of our existence and how it relates to generations past, but I'm horrified by the thought of actually doing the traveling so instead I translate my dreams into words and let my mind travel wherever my heart desires.
I'm a tree-hugging hippie at heart, but I drive a gas-guzzling, environment destroying SUV.
I try to keep healthy by practicing yoga and martial arts and following a vegetarian, organic diet, but put a pizza and a beer in front of me and I'm all done.
I find that as I cast off possessions, I become happier, but that doesn't stop me from wanting an iPod.
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 23.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
Okay...
"In seeing you will realize that you must live consciously, not for your sake or for someone else's sake or for the sake of some goal or belief or idea, but for the sake of being fully engaged in the moment."
Context...
The buddha-dharma's fourth truth contains eight aspects, which is why it's also called the eightfold path.
Just what is this path? It is, first of all, to see what our problem is, and then resolve to deal with it. In seeing you will realize that you must live consciously, not for your sake or for someone else's sake or for the sake of some goal or belief or idea, but for the sake of being fully engaged in the moment. Once you see, you will speak, act, and maintain your life in a conscious way. Wise speech, action, and livelihood then follow naturally. These provide the foundation for a morality that actually works.
From Buddhism Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen (which I've just begun reading and have found to be absolutely wonderful).
I went to a going-away party today for my friend Matt, who has joined the National Guard. Matt joined, like so many others, essentially for college money. He wanted some direction in life, and thought the National Guard was the way to go. Without being too negative, I tried, in vain, to understand his decision, given the current state of our country. I was mortified when Matt said to me that the National Guard was safe to join because they “wouldn't be sent to Iraq.” Oh, Matt. What the f*** are you thinking? This isn't the '60s. They'll send you straight into the heart of hell without even blinking. This Administration has sold its soul to the devil and young soldiers are the collateral.
Matt's sister Niki cries at the mention of Matt's name right now. His absence is new and painful to her. She isn't used to life without him in the house. I can't imagine how she'll react if he gets deployed to some god-awful place after finishing his training 16 weeks from now. She cries at the mention of his name now and he's only in Oklahoma. What happens if he ends up in Iraq or Afghanistan. It may happen no matter what; it most assuredly will happen if Bush is re-elected.
I pray for Matt every night. I pray for him and for our nephew Tony and for my friend Brian, and for so many others who are serving their country with honor and pride. So many who are away from loved ones, alone in strange lands, fighting for the things that once made this country great...and will again if we act now to preserve our moral authority and integrity in the eyes of the world and in the hearts and minds of our own countrymen.
For tonight all I can do is pray for our soldiers, their families, and our nation.