Special Post-Message

I chose this piece of literature after realizing that I should not seek for simply one meaning when reading literature. Instead, I should be open to gaining as much information as possible even more than what I imagine. While reading, I felt as though this piece of literature fit perfectly with what I have been experiencing recently and might also be relative to those who read it. This poem aroused various questions that many of us think every day but may also be those questions that many times we tend to avoid. Reading this poem may be viewed as just as some writing or it as an amazing art piece expressed through writing. This poem having been read with an open mind may change and even bring about some sort of transformation.
After having read and reread this poem I wasn’t entirely sure of what the different meanings of this poem were. One could simply restrict the poem’s meaning when just focusing on nature and not viewing it from any other perspective. The end result of that you then have chosen to be ignorant instead of acknowledging and learning from viewing it from different perspectives. Another very powerful thought that Mary Oliver presents is learning to be astonished. I think that thought definitely caught my attention because I had never thought about it before reading it in her poem. I constantly ask myself what exactly learning to be astonished even mean? Then I think, its not forgetting about the little things that come your way. Learning to appreciate a growing mushroom the same way as being blown away by the scenery of an enormous killer whale diving into the ocean as the water reflects the red-orange colors of the setting sun. Also, this poem may mean sending the message of how human and nature surround each other; we all live together. We live rejoicing in the beauty of the earth. Thus saying that the mouth serves as the messenger announcing with joy the greatness of living in this beautiful earth. Appreciating both humans with animals, but also a special emphasis on embracing the beauty of nature. In this poem we are encouraged to rejoice with our surroundings instead of simply complaining. Mary Oliver encourages us to pay attention to our surroundings- to stop and listen. She encourages us to observe and take notice of the beauty within. Overall this poem has helped me realize the importance of using the mouth as the messenger declaring joy instead of always complaining. It’s the mouth that spread knowledge of how great it is to live forever.

Mary Oliver ,
“Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me
Keep my mind on what matters, which is my work,”

A few sentences that follow Mary Oliver states that her job is to love the world. Reading this section of the poem almost seems as if she’s worried about her job. Not what her job is but whether she is still apt to doing it well. She questions whether or not she’s qualified or has enough experience to continue her job. She asks if her boots are old and if her coat is torn. She then asks if she is just too old for the job. With all these thoughts in her mind I’m sure she wonders if she will be able to keep up with all that her job requires of her. So many questions flood her mind causing showers of doubt from deep within. Where she was once certain and sure, she now finds herself questioning. How many times do we experience just as much doubt as Mary Oliver. As a college student, one who will be student-teaching in the fall for that matter I find myself asking similar questions as those of Mary Oliver. As a teacher you are required so much inside of the classroom as well as outside, instructing is simply one aspect of teaching. There are certainly other aspects to being a teacher that we usually don’t think about. I ask myself not whether I am too old or if my coat is torn but, whether I am ready for this new experience. I wonder if what I do will be enough to cause them to dream and dream big. I wonder if what I believed I would be like is actually who I will be in the classroom setting? I wonder if its what I think it will be like? I feel as though Mary Oliver and I have similar questions concerning our purpose. Mary Oliver questions her abilities to continue with her job, while I question if I am at all capable to doing a job well done.
I am amazed at how quickly Mary shifts her thinking from questioning whether she is capable of doing such a wonderful job to remembering her focus. Mary’s focus is her job-embracing nature, and loving the world. Though she might not have as much charisma or strength as she once had she set her mind in doing her best. Although her boots were old and her coat was torn she has a great desire to continue observing and appreciating beauty as it presents itself. Mary Oliver passage has helped me come to this realization, although you may be afraid for what is ahead just make sure to not lose sight of your focus. Whatever you have set as a goal or something to accomplish don’t give up although it may seem quite difficult to do and or help. Mary’s questioning and doubt did not stop her from doing her job and therefore should serve as an encouragement for those who doubt and us who constantly question. Get back up and don’t lose sight of what your purpose/calling is.

Love

In the essay written by Dr. Fettke he calls us to love. To not worrying so much about whether we can change a person or find a cure necessarily but just loving them for who they are. Spending time with homeless people has helped me gain a better understanding of what it means to love. As a quick overview, every Friday evening a group of students go out and help serve food and fellowship with the homeless people around Parker Street. This last Friday, my roommate and I spent most of the evening with Mary who recently lost her dad. Having read A Grief Observed, and discussed so much about death and darkness in class I thought I would be able to handle a situation like this. But boy was I wrong. As Mary ran her skinny, calloused fingers through her hair and questioned why me, why me I couldn’t help but hold back tears. I wished I had the answers, I wished I could say exactly what she needed to hear but I just couldn’t find the right words. Over and over she would say to us, “it hurts baby, it hurts so much”. She was hurting so much all we could do was be there for her. My roommate and I both loved on her in whatever way we could think of. As she cried and expressed her heart and thoughts we were able to give her a shoulder to cry on. What amazed me even more was how thankful and loving she was towards us. Through her sobs and tears she took time to thank us for being with her, she took the time to share how much she loved us. Here is this lady who is in so much pain and feeling so much anguish due the the death of her father but still finds an opportunity to love us. As Mary strongly embraced my roommate and held my hand tightly, all I could think of was love. This is love, although we may not have had the right answers or the right things to say just being there with her through her darkness was enough. We prayed for Mary before we left and said good bye.

Love is not always about having the right answers or finding a cure but just being there.

Am I able?

I really enjoyed reading this play and especially visiting AFI. I found both to be great learning experiences. As I read through the play and thought about each one of the characters I was struck at how much these adults seem more like kids. Although they are adults by age and although they might even appear to be adults their mentality is that of a child. In many cases they are not able to do things on their own and need assistance. This experience reminds me of the what I with experience as an Elementary school teacher. I wonder whether or not I am able to handle or am prepared to work work with them. I ask myself whether I will ever feel fully prepared to meet the need of the children placed in my classroom. I wonder if what I do will be enough to meet the child’s individual needs. Will I be able to effectively teach, as well as mentor and most importantly love unconditionally.? Will I be willing to put that extra time and effort to provide the necessary accommodations my student needs? Not doing it simply as a job but as something I am truly passionate about and again doing it all in and out of LOVE? I pray that God will teach me to love as he does. I pray that I may never grow weary in well doing; not seeking to meet my own needs but those around me. And may I never lose sight of God’s greatest to his children-love.

Art

Being at the museum really is a great learning experience. When I go I usually like to go alone so that I can spend as much time as I want on one painting. I tend to linger on a single painting more than my friends which sometimes causes them to become annoyed so I find it best when I go alone. Being in the museum provokes a sense of learning because I am introduced to a wide variety of art work which majority of the time I am not familiar with. As you walk along the Pre-Columbian are and then into the different exhibits/ galleries they have displayed you are able to see art expressed in various forms. Whether its through sculptures, paintings, or ceramic bowls and plates its all art. I think art is just a free expression of one's emotions or thought through their own unique creation. There's really no right or wrong in art,it can be freely expressed. A rely cool aspect to art is that it can be interpreted in various form. What one may think of the Mona Lisa may be the complete opposite thought of another person and still there is no wrong answer. although I don't consider myself to be very artistic I do enjoy art..

One of the paintings which really caught my eye was by Maurice de Vlaminck titled Country Lane 1957. (Its posted above the post) As I admired this painting my thought ran to then come up with this:

As I walk down these streets

My thoughts run as I think of my childhood.

I am reminded of

our neighborhood pets,

and my neighborhood friends.

I am reminded of the soccer games won

and the sidewalk paintings done.

I remember that keen smell-

the smell of mama's glorious pies cooking in the oven

Ready to be shared with those in need of some lovin'.

In those times up an down these streets we was a family.

I wonder where everyone is at now

I wonder if the sweet couple Aby and Michael are well

I wonder if aunt Aida's sprained ankle was feeling better…I wonder.

We were a family but we no longer are.

As I walk up and down these old streets I used to call home

I thick of what could be done

to make these streets someone else's home

To make this

a place of hope

a place of true fellowship

a place to be free and most importantly

a place to call home.

Questions

This handout definitely took me back to the discussion we had as we read through A Grief Observed by c.S. Lewis. Again I was reminder that quick fixes don't work well in times of darkness. You can't just give an easy answer and expect change. It takes time to get through a difficult situation, and it definitely takes more time than just giving a quick answer. I'm not sure what grief feels like but I have experienced some tough situations in which a quick answer would have caused more pain than to actually help me. For me, this serves as a reindeer to not be so quick to answer but to take time to be quiet.

"Important questions create silence"-Laurence Freeman

Such a simple sentence with such profound meaning. As I read this statement it was as though a light bulb immediately lit up; it just made sense to me. If something is important to me, I usually take as much time as needed to think about it. Whether its a decision I have to make or a situation I am faced with, I choose to spend just enough time so that the decision I take will be the best. The same with questioning. In a given case, I would question whether what I am going to will be effective or if their are other possibilities for me to take. The more I think about it the more I realize how powerful questioning really is. In classes I have learned that questioning is such an effective learning tool for all of us to practice. As a suture teacher I have learned to use higher order thinking level questions to ask my student because questioning is so important. And also my students will be strongly encouraged to ask questions whenever doubtful or just because. Question, an effective learning tool for life!

Simple Practices

I find it interesting how much I learn if I would only stop and actually pay attention. In the Notes on Nature and Poetry as Spiritual Practices handout by Professor Corrigan he listed a variety of ways in which we could practice to engage with nature in our daily life. As I read through the list I began checking off ways listed which I have done. Once I was done with my checklist I looked over it and realized that there were so much more ways to put to practice. I had done just a few of what was listed.

I went through the list again and again I was amazed at how simple and easy these practices are. They're not impossible to do but then I ask myself why is it so difficult for me to actually do them. Taking time out to sit under a tree and appreciate the shade I'm receiving from its greatness. When I have the opportunity- paddling a boat on a pond or lake to appreciate and listen to the soft, soothing flow of water. Also, sitting in front of a fish tank to just sit and watch how the fish interact with one another. Observing how they chase each other and how their gills open and close with every breath they take. As I do these things I hope to at least get a glimpse of what Mary Oliver experiences through her poetry. While observing nature, I hope "…Nature is ….where the poet (I), can discover the joy and terror, the sustaining truths and feelings that conventional religion and modern society seem unable to provide"-Anthony Manousos And as I observe nature,may I be able to look deeply into his works because of my love for him just as that of the religious poets stated by Mary Oliver in "Musical Notation". May my love for him be so strong causing me to marvel at the simplest things found in creation. All because it has been crafted by the Craft Master himself.