Thoughts on the world of open source
Parker Palmer has been a favorite of mine for a number of years now and this recently released video of his upcoming book, Healing the Heart of Democracy really speaks to a topic that I wrote about yesterday. We have to get past partisanship and bickering to solve our larger issues as a country or we will soon find ourselves no longer a country but a people literally at war with each other.
Follow this link to the video, http://couragerenewal.org/democracy
“I never remember a time when we had such deadlock, paralysis, almost unrelenting rigidity. We were able to work across the aisle and shape what I call American solutions to big issues. Something happened to shatter that essential ability to compromise and build for the future.”
– Former Vice President Walter Mondale on how a new era of partisan division and political paralysis has led to the Minnesota government shutdown. (Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
Earlier this week I heard a couple of conservative folks talking about close minded liberals. I don’t give a damn if you’re liberal or conservative. We’re Americans and we damned well better start acting like we loved each other and our country. This partisan hacking is crap and it does come from both Democrats & Republicans and I don’t give a rats ass who started it but it’s well past time to end it. Real democracies listen to and respect the voices of all people.
Evening has fallen on Lake Murray in Chapin, SC. The stillness is punctuated by fireworks around the lake. Lake Murray’s official 4th of July fireworks occurred on Saturday evening. We viewed them from my brother’s boat in the middle of the lake near Dreher Island State Park. Nonetheless there is a staccato of firecrackers, Roman candles and skyrockets this evening that breaks the lovely stillness of the lakeshore. It’s still warm but very comfortable as I sit on the porch and listen to the laughter of cousins, my brother, sister and our mates. God only knows when we’ll all gather again. Family times are special and the past few days have been remarkable for us. Mom is 84 and it’s really great that she’s still healthy and with us. I love summer nights. I love the warm night air. Deo gratias!
I’ve been reading “The Leader in Me,” by Steven Covey today as I sit in a boat rocking gently on the shores of Lake Murray in steamy South Carolina. It’s been quite a year and just prior to the ISTE Conference I went on retreat. Retreats are restorative. Prior to the retreat I had been burned out. In fact I was so singed I was considering staying home and just giving up. Well, I’m glad I went on retreat. I got the catharsis I needed and then I went to the conference. I prayed that I would keep a beginners mind at the conference and remain open to the spirit. On Monday morning the spirit began to move in me as I listened to the words of Dr. Covey and students from A. B. Combs Elementary School speak of how they applied the principles of the book, “The Leader in Me.”
I’m a person who lives from my heart. In the past two years I’ve taught and worked with children whom I love and for whom I’ve taken some responsibility. Earlier this year I worked directly with our superintendent, studied data and demographics and looked for ways to change the school culture while uplifting students and teachers. Now, thanks to Dr. Covey’s book and the leading of the spirit I have some answers and more importantly a direction in which to move. I already wrote our superintendent who could hear the change in my “voice.” I’m grateful the spirit didn’t give up on me even though I had given up on it. I’m grateful to all who pray for me each day including the wonderful people at Gratefulness.org. I’m grateful to for all the people who sustain me each day with their thoughts and prayers. Namaste!
I am sitting on the porch and looking at Lake Murray. It’s very still and quiet. A restful time for all of us. My Mom is 84 and last night as we arrived and gathered sharing stories across generations. Mom stood up with tears in her eyes and said she was glad we could all be together. Mom’s brood are all in their 50’s. Our own children are mostly twenty something. We’re still cubs in Mom’s eyes. We’ll have some time together, a few days to enjoy each other and share.
It is not hard to live through a day, if you can live through a moment. What creates despair is the imagination, which pretends there is a future, and insists on predicting millions of moments, thousands of days, and so drains you that you cannot live the moment at hand.
–Andre Dubus, “A Father’s Story,” Selected Stories (Vintage, 1995)
In a few hours I’ll be traveling to ISTE 2011 with my wife and two other teachers. Four of us with over hundred years experience in the classroom. We’re veterans. Diane , Kim & Dave are real classroom teachers. I’m just a wannabe. I’m a full time technology coordinator and I teach half of the time. I think its safe to say that we’re all lifelong learners. Each of them is a technology pioneer. Kim, Diane and I cut are teeth on Commodores and the Apple II and IIe. I taught Kim & Diane’s regular classroom students how to use Apple LOGO as we explored the relationship between LOGO, geometry and critical thinking. David came along a bit later and he and I explored “on-line” political simulations and at one time were in a pilot program with the University of Connecticut.
The three of them are technologically savvy teachers. They’ve done it all. Some of my colleagues refer to me as a geek and I frequently have deflected that and sought to downplay it. In the past I sought to separate my personal and professional life. I’ve been writing this blog since 2006 and attempting to keep a business or professional blogs separate. Recently I decided to blend everything together. I was afraid that if people really found out that I’m a Secular Franciscan and that I enjoy visiting monasteries and reading the psalms that they’d think I was eccentric. Truth be told I am eccentric and I do enjoy teaching, learning, educational technology, contemplative spirituality and host of other things. I am a geek. I can program computers and I do speak Mac, Windows and Linux and I do build file servers, web servers and virtual machines. I actually enjoy those activities as much as I enjoy visiting monasteries and other holy places. I enjoy sitting alone in the woods, taking long walks and listening to Gregorian chant. I am no longer trying to live a divided life. I see my life and interests as complementary. I’m praying that we have a safe journey to Philadelphia and that we arrive refreshed and ready to learn.
Today is a day of retreat at Mt. Irenaeus. I’m leaving soon because I promised to help out and I’m sure it will be a restful day. I haven’t been on a retreat since February. I’m overdue. In our highly connected social whirl it’s good to get away for a time apart. A time off the grid. There was a time I thought of being a priest and though I’m glad my life took another direction there is still this ever present longing for union with God. One of my best friends and former spiritual advisor used to love “The Hound of Heaven.” That poem along with Merton’s writings have formed and informed my life.
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains, but where shall I find my help?
From you alone, O God, does my help come, -Psalm 121:1
I’m a Twitter person and I follow a lot of interesting people and groups. Among those groups and individuals is Gratefulness.org. Gratefulness is a part of Brother David Steindl-Rast’s ministry. I can’t remember when I first came across Br. David’s work but it is an important stop for me each day and with Twitter it’s possible to get uplifting tweets many times each day. Frequently these tweets carry me over rough spots or add some deeper meaning to each day. I re-tweet many of their tweets to people who follow me. They thank me at least weekly and suggest people follow a group of us who regularly retweet them. One of the groups they thanked this week was Virtual Abbey (@virtual_abbey). Curiosity got the best of me and I had to check out their website. What I found was an incredibly rich ministry dedicated to praying the liturgy of the hours on Twitter and Facebook. What an incredibly rich use of social networking to reach people. I started following them immediately on both Facebook and Twitter and have been blessed by tweeted psalms.
The King shall rejoice. The words of the psalms written thousands of years ago by King David and others are frequently with me. I sit beside the still waters of Nannen pond. My soul is restored. I walk through the valley of the shadow of death each day. It’s a metaphor for life. Under his wings I find refuge. Next to still waters I am refreshed. I’ve been thinking a lot lately and sitting next to a lot of still water. God I love the smell of the crabapple blossoms behind me. Their sweet perfume, this lovely June evening, and the stillness invite me once again to listen to the silent voice of my creator. What is it that you are calling me too? Is it simply to “be still and know.”