Tootsie, Prayer Beads and a School

This morning I was reflecting on a reading in “An Almanac for the Soul” from  .... The Crossing Point by M. C. Richards. “Our so-called weaknesses are indeed the sinew of our humanity....”. As I reflected on these words I thought about living in the world and the pain it can cause; this being alive! We can all relate to the struggles of daily life and the pain and frustration that come with being - and being human. Without the daily detours and trips life would have less sunshine! Pushaw! After dropping the car off at the mechanic for an oil change I came home to find Tootsie had chewed on my beloved reflection book. It was under the table in pieces, some pages ripped, some pulled from the binding. Somewhere between tears and rage I picked up the pieces and thought about taping them back together. But she ate the tape too!

The pieces are now stacked beside me at my desk - in order - waiting to be taped and pieced back together. Tootsie, in her playful seeking made me realize that in the pain of being human we have “plasticity.... these bridges between us - our speaking mouths - where we can extend ourselves like tones, like clay, stretching across.”  I am not so sad or angry about the book any more - I can still use it to reflect; pages tattered and pulled. 

Like the groups of people who are in my life now, the one that makes the prayer beads on Sunday nights and the one with the friends who want to help start a new school - we have new visions - new ways of being, and being human. Together variously abled people in our Faith and Light Community joined in a drum circle to praise the best in each of us. Singing, tapping out a rhythm, smiling, joining hands to lift up our lives, our spirits, and ourselves beyond what we understand. Friends at the table, eating brownies, discussing a school without grades that generally sends young people into the world able and independent - the core of The School at Kirkridge and the Faith and Light Community. We become more whole and able to take care of ourselves and each other by coming together sharing the common joy and pain in living in this tattered and sticky world. The singing, making prayer beads and sharing a meal help us to be thankful for the bridges between us - for when we join each other the abilities and differences fade and for a short time we rest in each others company. Then we head back into the world - fortified with the grace we find in the companionship and the will to see change so we can all “extend ourselves like tones, like clay, stretching across (M. C. Richards )”, being and being human.

The Faith and Light Community meets for a pot luck on Sunday, March 17th at 4:00 pm at the Farmhouse at Kirkridge. Call 610-588-1793 and ask for Jean, or post your name and email or phone to this blog and we get you the information you need. More information is also on this blog at the Faith and Light tab.
If you are interested in exploring starting a democratic school post your name and email or phone to this blog (check the other posts here as well) and we get you the information you need. We meet again on February 24th at 3:30 at the Hermitage at Kirkridge.