Teaching as Gardening: A Short Meditation for Educators

Though it may feel overly-full, this is the moment to rest the soul and witness harvest.

​T​he space living between ends (end of class and end of semester) is such a unique time to let the wisdom sink in, for the wonder-work to activate. ​The pause in-between the end of the end, invites a gentle breaking, and hopefully a sprouting forth. 

The seeds have been planted. The dates and concepts can begin to ​t​ake root​, to break open in the ​quiet, in the pause and begin some grounding. The pause is sacred. It should ​be a time to release ​stifling anxiety​. 

An anxious, excited culmination​ is OK. And we wish the most gorgeous culmination to meet them, every student, moved to ask: What out of all that has happened this semester, is for me? What wisdom has made its home in my bones? What other information and lessons won’t leave me, and what do I want to do with them?

Between ends is the germination period. Enjoying its sacredness can remind ​us of why we do what we do. In curating the classroom experience we can midwife revelation for someone.

But we must use the right technique—a mix of firm and gentle reminding. The informing is the beginning, but the slow and mindful tending is the grueling work. Have we been diligent, gentle, observant, and praying our work into a form that any spirit can recognize as divine care? 

The end of the semester provides us chance to see our fruit and better understand our technique, where we have invested our time, and what we might want try the next time. I wish us the attention and desire, the excitement and eagerness to await the diversity of our harvest. 

I wish us the joy of awaiting the bloom.