One of my favorite poems is Understory, by Mark Nepo. It reminds me that I need to get out of the way. It reminds me that I need to seek the truth because I do not always know the truth.
We try so hard to be the
main character when it is
our point of view that
keeps us from the truth.
This is especially important in relationship with education work. As educators, we work in an environment of many “truths”. There are political truths, budgetary truths, cultural truths, generational truths, curricular truths, etc. More significant, is the inner teacher truth.
All of these truths weave together an education story. Yet, each truth has its own version of the story. In order to make progress- there can only be one story- one shared vision of the truth.
If educators operate from a place of learning, empathy and objectivity, they must be able to see and hear all the truth(s). They comprehend the complete story. They recognize that they cannot tell the story because they are in the story.
When educators remove their point of view and see what really stands in front of them, they are able to learn the truth and see the complete picture.
This vision is what leads to progress. This shared truth is what leads to safe classrooms and professional collaboration. When we work for the truth and not our truth- we recognize the point of the story.
Understory
I’ve been watching stars
rely on the darkness they
resist. And fish struggle with
and against the current. And
hawks glide faster when their
wings don’t move.
Still I keep retelling what
happens till it comes out
the way I want.
We try so hard to be the
main character when it is
our point of view that
keeps us from the truth.
The sun has its story
that no curtain can stop.
It’s true. The only way beyond
the self is through it. The only
way to listen to what can never
be said is to quiet our need
to steer the plot.
When jarred by life, we might
unravel the story we tell ourselves
and discover the story we are in,
the one that keeps telling us.
-Mark Nepo
The Teacher Manifesto 