During my recent Camino walk through the lush countryside of Spain, I often saw stone houses. Some were small, and others were much larger so they could accommodate the various pilgrims and guests who came along. Many of them were quite old and had been around to witness centuries of Camino walkers. Once I returned home, one of my favorite poems, “The Guest House,” by Rumi, surfaced during a yoga class. The poem reminded me of the stone houses in Spain, and also of these times we are all facing. Several parts of the poem stand out. Here’s how it begins:
“This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.”
The poem suggests we invite each of these unexpected guests into our “house,” even if they are unwanted, because they “may be clearing you out for some new delight.” And finally, we are advised to be grateful for each guest who comes along “because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.”
Rumi’s words are a great comfort at this time of year when so many changes and transitions are in the air. I can feel it on a global level, in my personal life, and right here at the Seed. Since the school’s inception in 1977, the end of the year has always been a challenging time for all of us. It’s similar to how it is when your children grow up and step out into their own lives. You invest years in nurturing them, physically, emotionally, and morally. You guide them in becoming a productive, trustworthy citizen, and hope they learn to be kind and thoughtful along the way. You oversee their decision making process as they refine the art of making good choices. At some point, as a parent or teacher, we have to let them go and wait to see how they do.
This time of year is when we have to let go of students, parents, and even a few of our colleagues. Whether a child has been here from Toddler 1s through 4th grade, or if they’ve spent just a year or so at the Seed, it’s hard to release them to the big world. Each in our own way, we give our hearts to the children in our care. Certainly, when we reach the end of the year we know there is always more we can do, but we also have to accept that our time with them in the current iteration has come to an end, and what we’ve done has to be enough.
Although it’s not easy, it’s a time when what is asked of us is to let go with grace. In doing so we honor all our feelings, celebrate the time we’ve had together, and accept that change is the one universal principle that we can always count on. In taking this approach, we acknowledge the preciousness of what we’ve shared, then release it, as Rumi says to clear the way “for some new delight.” We wish you well in whatever delights life brings your way.