Until one is committed
Providence is our alignment with the universe that we are not alone. Our commitment put in place. Why would we not enact what we intend?
In these troubled times, have you, who are teachers, chosen to hesitate, to draw back, to stay out of the glare of publicity? With so much coming at you: angry parents, unruly students, righteous politicians, demanding supervisors, all now overrun by Trump’s meteoric dismantling of society, particularly education.
Most of us chose to become teachers, to be committed to it. But if we choose to close our door, do what’s expected, cause no ripples, we back away from our commitment, our passion perhaps; we will be giving in. Should we choose to become cynical, we let others win. We will let down our students and will be showing them that what they may want will not be worth it.
Teaching, all professions, require commitment, fortitude, persistence, and hope. Without these, we imply that we are giving up. But Murray offers the way out: “[T]he moment one definitely commits oneself, the providence moves too.” We recognize that when we choose to commit, we see the path before us. We pursue it, doing what needs to be done.
Others will join us, comrades, allies, friends. With the plethora of opportunities to express ourselves on social media, we find others doing the same. We live in a new form of community, much of it digital. But in these communities we realize we are not alone. We can do what we commit to without fear.
And don’t forget, Americans before have had to struggle. John Lewis, a paragon, showed us this. He might well have said what Murray said before him: “Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” Why hesitate!
